Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-10-16
ART OF vENTRlLoQuiSM.
known to the Priests of Ancient
Egypt 1900 Years Ago.

known to the Priests or Ancient
Egypt 1900 Years Ago.
Ventriloquism is a curious illusion.
| We have watched 1t, declares maya
zine writer, under the workings of cele-
| brated stage performers. There are two
erroneous popular notions regarding it.
One is that it is a special gift unattain-
| able by ordinary mortals, and the other
| that the yentriloquist produces the
sounds he utters from his stomach, as
the word appears to signify, and
| throws" them this way and that, as
he pleases. AS to the first point, any
one can learn to ventriloquiZe who is
willing to work at it hard and long
enough, and, regarding the second
point, the fact is that no man can pro-
duce vocal sounds otherwise than with
his larynx. 1t is simply matter Of
| cheating the ear.
l have read that Professor Helmholz,
| to whom modern ophthalmic science is
almost wholly due, often said that the
eye was an imperfect and rather poorly
| devised instrument; but many think
that the ear is much more justly to be
complained Of. And 1t Is the defect Of
the latter organ that makes ventrilo-
quism possible. The auditor cannot at
little distance tell at all accurately
whence the words uttered come, and
tie performer needs only a facility in
speaking without moving his lips, and
a little skill in misdirecting the atten-
ton of the spectators, in order to sue
cessfully mislead.
Ventriloquism was known to the
Egyptians more than 5000 years ago,
and is said to have been much used by
priests of old to make the oracles talk
and for other miraculous purposes. The
simplest ventriloquial trick for the be-
gipner to try is performed by going to
the door of a room full of people and
opening it slightly, thereupon conduct
ing a conversation with an imaginary
person in the hallway. The deception
can be made effective if we'll carried
out.
sort the writer saw one day, when. upon
entering room in big Office building,
l found a red-faced man conducting a
violent quarrel through a speaking tube
with somebody five floors higher His
own remarks were loud and fierce and
the replies were family audible. / was
not little surprised to find such a
thing going on and it was not until
afterward that learned that the red
faced man was doing the whole CONVEX
sation. VeE.riloquists often play such
quaint jokes.
At church one Sabbath day, an ex-
ceedingiy wicked and accomplished ven
triloquist was present The preacher
had habit of stepping from behind his
pulpit to the right side of it, while H.
Illustrating his ideas. On this occGsion,
when he stepped to the right, voyce
that seemed to be directly under his
feet, cried:
you are standing on my head! Do
please get off,"
The astonished and startled divine
got off as quickly as he could. He
looked at the spot, then at the audience,
then at the spot again, perfectly be-
wildered. He avoided that place dur
ing the remainder of the sermon, but
the temptation to step aside while IL
Illustrating his thoughts with anecdotes
was so great that he next took posi-
ion on the left of his pulpit.
"Oh, sir, you are standing on my legs
and it hurts! Do please get orr
The congregation and minister were
too astonished for utterance. A hasty
benediction was pronounced and the
services ended. They made a search
under the platform for the unfortunate
individual and the ventriloquist aided
them. They never knew who he was.