THE VENTRILOQUIST AND THE DOG. –

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 19 June 1914, Page 8

THE VENTRILOQUIST AND THE DOG. -

The art of ventriloquism, as a vocation, produces few millionaires. Hans (rrausbeek frequently found it a difficult matter to get oven a square meal, although, he •was a finished artist. Under stress of poverty he was obliged to part with his dog, to which he was much attached. One day they entered a restaurant together,, the decorous animal occupying the chair opposite his master. "I'll have a steak," quoth Hans. "T'll have a steak, too," said the dog. The waiter's astonishment may he imagined, hut his guests preserved a demeanour as if nothing had happened. When the. steak came Hans immediately complained: "This steak is frightfully tough." "Mine's tough, too," said the dog. "What a wonderful dog!" exclaimed the waiter. "Did you train him to talk?" "Oh, yes," replied the genial Fans; "he's talked for a long time." "Tt's the most wonderful thing T ever heard. T must tell my master about him. He'll want to hear him, and T think he'll want to buy him." Whereupon Hans gave a gesture of disapproval. When the owner of the restaurant appeared, the dog treated him to a bit of conversation, and the restaurateur waxed enthusiastic. "T'd Two. anything for that rioo-." ne doclnrpd. "He'd be the o-vontpst advertisement in tKe ivorld. T'll srive you five pounds fr>r him." "He's very dear to me," trutK■Pvllv asserted Hans. "T'll ffivo you ten pounds for him." Han? shook his head. _"T?ut T must have him. "I'll frive yon twenty pounds for him.'* Whereupon Hans appeared to be on the verge of tears. "Times are very hard, mister, and T need the money. Tt's like a man losing his wife, but T cannot afford to keep a dog worth so much money." The money was counted out forth with, and Hans put it in his pocket. "He's very fond of me. Pretzel is. nud you'll have to bring a ropn and. let me tie him to this table until T'm out of reach." The doty tied, and his attitude harmonised with the event of senaration. Jnst as the knot' was tied and Hans-started to rise, there en me this ultimatum from the dog— "You have proved yourself a very ungrateful master, and I shall never speak again as long as T live." ■■"