VENTRILOQUISM. 
tlieni at the veiy time the sounds! are lieard, 
instead of deptaiding on the memory. The 
leading condition of performance is that the 
voices and sounds of the dramatic dialogue 
to be exhibited, should succeed each other 
so rapidly that the audience should lose 
sitfht ot the probability that one actor gives 
effect to the wliole, and that where the busi- 
ness is simple the aid of scenery or local 
circumstance should be called in. 
We have seen an eminent philosopher of 
our own time, wlso liad no previous prac- 
ticc of this art, but wlien speaking on the 
subject in a mixed company, took np an 
hat and folding the flaps together said, by 
way of example, “ Suppose I had a small 
monkey in this hat and then cautiously 
putting his hand in, as if to catch it, he im- 
itated the chatter of the supposed strug- 
gling animal, at the same time that his own 
, efforts to secure it had a momentary im- 
pression on the spectators, which left no time 
for them to question whether there was a 
monkey in it or not: this impression was 
completed when, the instant afterwards, 
he pulled out his hand as if hurt, and ex- 
claimed “lie has bit me.” It was not till 
then that the impression of reality gave way 
to the diversion arising from the mimic art ; 
and one of the company, even then, cried 
out “Is there really a monkey in Ihehat?” 
In this maimer it was that, at tlie begin- 
ning of the last century, the famous Tom 
King, who is said to have been the first 
man who gave public lectures on experi- 
mental philosophy in this country, was at- 
tended by the whole fashionable world, for 
a succession of many nights, to hear him 
“ kill a calf.” Tins performance was done in a 
separated part of the place ot exhibition, 
into which the exhibitor retired alone ; and 
the imagination of his polite hearers was 
taxed to supply the calf and three butchers, 
besides a dog who sometimes raised his 
voice and was checked for his unnecessary 
exertions. It appears, from traditional nar- 
rative, that the calf was heard to be drag- 
ged in, not without some efforts and con- 
versation on the part of the butchers, and 
noisy resistance from the calf;; that they 
conversed on the qualities of the animal, 
and the profits to be expected from the 
veal; and that, as they proceeded, all the 
noises of knife and steel, of suspending the 
creature, and of the last fatal catastrophe, 
were lieard in rapid succession, to the 
never-failing satisfaction of the attendants ; 
who, upon the rise of the curtain, saw that 
all these imaginary personages had vanish- 
ed, and Tom King alone remained to claim 
tlie applause. 
A similar fact may be quoted in the per- 
son of that facetious geiith man who has as- 
sumed and given celebrity to the name of 
Peter Piada-. Tliis great poet, laughing at the 
proverbial poverty of his profession, is some- 
times pleased to entertain his friends with 
unexpected effusions of the art we speak of. 
One of these is managed by a messenger an- 
nounciiiff to fiie Doctor ' (in the midst of 
company) that a person wants to speak 
with liim: he accordingly goes out, leaving 
the door a-jar, and immediately a female 
voice is heard, which, from the nature of the 
subject, appears to be that of the Poet’s laun- 
dress, who complains of hei- pressing wants, 
disappointed claims, and of broken pro- 
mises no longer to be borne with patience. 
It is more easy to imagine than describe the 
mixed emotions of the audience. The 
scene, however, goes on by the Doctor’s 
reply ; who remonstrates, promises, and is 
rather angry at the time and place of this 
unwelcome visit. His antagonist unfortu- 
nately is neither mollified nor disposed to 
quit her ground. Passion increases on both 
sides, and the Doctor forgets himself so far 
as to threaten the irritated female ; she de- 
fies him, and this last promise, very unlike 
the former ones, is followed by payment; 
a severe slap on the face is hoard ; the poor 
woman falls down stairs, with horrid out- 
cries ; the company, of course, rises in 
alarm; and the Doctor is found in a state 
of perfect tranquillity, apparently a stranger 
to the whole transaction. 
A very able ventriloquist, Fitz James, 
performed in public, in ,Sobo Square, about 
four years ago. He personated various 
characters by appropriate dresses ; and by 
a command of the nm.scles of his lace he 
could very much alter his appearance. He 
imitated many inanimate noises, and among 
otheis, the repetition of noises of the water- 
machine at Marli. He conversed with some 
statues, which replied to him; and also 
with some persons supposed to be in the 
room above, and on the landing place ; 
gave the watchman’s cry, gradually ap- 
proaching, and when he seemed opposite 
the window, Fitz-James opened it and ask- 
ed what the time was, received the answer, 
and during his proceeding with his cry, Fitz- 
James shut the window, immediately upon 
which the sound became weaker, and at 
last insensible. In the whole of his per- 
foi inance it was clear that the notions of the 
audience were governed by the auxiliary 
