19 VENTRILOQUISM. 



tions, depends on the accuracy of the ear the intellec- 

 tual ear, I mean, or, as the phrenologists would say, tlu 

 organ of time. The perception of musical sounds, evi- 

 dently belongs to a distinct intellectual faculty, for the 

 ear may be able to distinguish very accurately, common 

 sounds, and yet the individual be insensible to the per- 

 ception of musical sounds. 



Emily. And yet we hear it observed every day, 

 that this, or that person has no voice for singing. 



Dr. B. Such language is incorrect, for if a person 

 can talk, he can utter the notes of music, and this is all 

 that is required of the voice in singing. A person's voice 

 maybe harsh, weakj or unpleasant in any Way, but if 

 the tasle be good, the voice is always capable of inton- 

 ating correctly within certain limits. In good singers, 

 indeed, the vocal organs exist in a state of great perfec- 

 tion, so that the mere sound of their voice imparts a 

 pleasurable sensation to the physical ear. But the most 

 wonderful perfection of the vocal organs, is probably 

 found in ventriloquists. 



9 Emily. I am glad that you are going to speak, be- 

 fore we quit this subject, of ventriloquism. Do explain 

 wherein consists the secret of this curious art. It would 

 appear at first sight, that these persons had some pecu- 

 liarity of construction in their vocal organs, but I believe 

 this is not the case. The name ventriloquism, would 

 indicate that the voice is formed in the abdomen. 



Dr. B. This name was given to it when a great 

 mistake prevailed in regard to its nature, and is alto- 

 gether improper now. The voice of the ventriloquist 

 in fact, is formed in the larynx, as in ordinary speech. 

 You recollect when we were speaking of the sense of 

 hearing, it was observed, that we easily learnt to 

 distinguish the distance and direction of sounds by 

 a certain peculiarity of tone not easily described. 

 The sound of a person's voice undergoes different 

 modifications, according as it is near or at a dis- 

 tance, comes from above or below, from the room or 



