A Letter To Sir Walter Scott Bart PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833 edition. Excerpt: ... such an extraordinary power;p. and he considers that the imagination, when seconded by such powers of imitation as some mimics possess, is quite suflicient to account for all the phenomena of ventriloquism which he has heard. This opinion, however, is strongly opposed by the remark made to Mr. Stewart him A 'self by a ventriloquist, " that his art would be perfect if it were possible only to speak distinctly without any movement of the lips at all." But, in"(lependentof this admission, it is a matter of absolute certainty, that this internal power is exercised-by the true ventriloquist. In the account which-'the Abbe Chapelle has given of the performances 'of M. St. Gille and Louis Brabant, he distinctly states that M. St. Gille appeared to be absolutely 'mute while he was exercising his art, and that no change in his countenance could be discovered. He aflirms also that the countenance of Louis Brabant exhibited no change, and that his lips 'were close and inactive. M. Richerand, who at'tentively watched the performances of M. FitzJames, assures us that during his exhibition there Was a distension in the epigastric region, and that he could not long continue the exertion without ' fatigue. The influence over the human mind which the ' Ventriloquist derives from the skilful practice of his art is greater than that which is exercised by any other species of conjuror. The ordinary ma'gician requires his theatre, his accomplices, and 'the instruments of his art, and he enjoys but a ' local sovereignty within the precincts of his own 'magic circle. The ventriloquist, on the contrary, has the supernatural always at his command. In "the open fields as well as in the crowded...