Recently, an original long lost manuscript resurfaced having been discovered in an ancient bookshop in the back waters of the southern states.
Ventriloquist – Don’t Strain Your Vocal Chords
In taking up ventriloquism, the student should be careful not, in his eagerness to get ahead, to strain or overwork the vocal organ in any way, for he will only delay his progress by so doing, and perhaps might permanently injure his voice. Especially should this caution be observed by boys who have reached the period of their lives where the voice changes and finally takes on a deeper and more manly tone than the childish treble which has hitherto distinguished it.
Occurring usually at about fifteen years of age, sometimes a little before, this period, which is a critical one for the voice, lasts from one to three years, during which the vocal organs should not be overtaxed in any way. While the physiolog¬ical changes are taking place in the throat which brings about this alteration of tone, the voice often breaks badly or is accompanied by great hoarseness and is sometimes lost entirely for days and even weeks at a time. The altera¬tions chiefly affect the larynx, or so-called Adam’s apple, which often becomes noticeably prominent.
In the light of these facts, it need hardly be reiterated that boys who take up the practice of ventriloquism at this period should be extremely careful, as the efforts required tend to bring about an unusual degree of sensitiveness in the throat and lungs. For this reason the chest should be kept warmly covered to guard against sudden variations in temperature. A travelling ventriloquist whom I once saw kept a band of flannel constantly around his throat, except when on the stage, but this is neither necessary nor de¬sirable, and would indeed be very likely to make the lower part of the neck unduly susceptible to changes in the weather.