Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-02-22
ART OF vENTRILoQUlSM.
known to the Priests of Ancient
Egypt 5000 Years Ago.

known to the Priests of Ancient
Egypt 1000 Years Ago.
Ventriloquism is a curious illusion.
We have watched it, declares q 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 u matter of
cheating the ear.
I 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 it is the defect of
tho latter organ that makes ventrilo-
quism possible. The auditor cannot at
a 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
Il little skill III misdirecting the atten-
tiop of the spectators, In order to sue
cessfully mislead.
N~entriloquism was known to the
Egyptians more than 5000 years ago
and is said to have been much used hy
priests of old to make the oracies talk
and for other miraculous purposes. The
simplest ventriloquial trick for the be-
gipner to try is performed be 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 well carried
out.
A more difficult thing Of the same
sort the writer saw one day, when, upon
entering a room in a big Office, building,
I found a red-faced man conducting a
violent quarrel through a speaking tube
with somebody five floors higher. His
W remarks were loud and fierce and
the replies were family audible. / was
not a little surprised to find such a
thing going on and 1t was not until
afterward that I learned that the red
faced man was doing the whole CONVEX
sation. yentriloquists often play such
quaint jokes.
At church one Sabbath day, an ex-
ceedingly wicked and accomplished ven
~triIoquist was present. The preacher
| had a habit of stepping from behind his
pulpit to the right side Of It, while IL
Illustrating his ideas. On this occasion,
when he stepped to the right, a voice
| 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 of. 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 a posi-
ion on the left Of his pulpit.
ooh, sir, you are standing on my legs
; and It hurts! Do please get off "
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 yentriloquIst aided
them. They never knew who he was.
| And Tircless.
Talking about autos, I have q wife
xv%,o o,,to no pr,ye at homo