Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-12
From the London Magazine for February'I
THE BLUE MAN.

from the London Magazine TOT feofua!I
THE BLUE MAN.
Ard wbv should there not be blue man as
- well ,s blue woman III there De oiue s'o:A-
. inc in one sex, why should there not DC o'"e
yai,era Blue is an epi,bet hitherto Always ap-
nlied 10 women; but when dld nature even con-
En- . ,nscies TO one sex2 if there be female
tie ofrourse there must be male blue, and
th.y generally herd together, and are always to
DE found together; and every body is asquaint-
cd with blue man, though no one as yet has
known him by that name. When l say there
are men blues, of course do not mean great
be-puardsman who never wrote book IN his
lie or even contributed TO an album. Sflil less
do mean real literary man, who has written
a readable book, and may contribute TO some
magazine. Tie man l mean is something a
hove a mere collector Of autog, apis for ladies,
though Of course, he possesses collection; and
beyond a mere COPPER Of Lord Byron's poetry
into a album, though he undoubtedly contri-
ba,es his original stanzas," or impromptu SON
net a female blue can hardly exist without a
male blue to whom she looks up tor her daily
br, I'D Of lattery, and admirss has talents IN pro-
Io-tion Us he eXaggerales hers. But II female
bin. cannot exist without male blue, certainly
,hsre could .s 70 male blue without female
hine. teca, d iro,a her, and from no other, does
hi 1--WE as very existence, name, and fame
r. IS completely out of the pale OF any other
sotieu, being much too shallow Tor men OF Ia
ent ana ought, 100 deep ior those who have
none tie h 5 20 rursui, or conversation IN
COS. .non with The generality Of young men, VINO
either think him a bore or coxcomb Il think
him both;) his eSment, then, is the drawing
room of a literary lady. There you may see
him about the hour OF nine in the evening, Che
is no, often asked at the more valued hour oil
seven) before the gentlemen have come up
from The dining room, and about quarter oil
an hour after the ladies have LETT it, stationed
with his back against the mantle piece, his &C.
neral position, either playing with the chimney
ornaments, OF the pages ola magazine, or with
new book, or scrap OF poelized paper ne IS
phaie tims 70 hia yet Re xsds. Ettk fe7ss 81
ladies clustering about him, like the Pleiades,
the object to which each lanquishing or eager
eye is turned; that is, when it is not TUNED up
,oards in eloquen, admiration Of his "oeautiful
, sentiment" He talks 10 them like an encylo-
2sdia, (Which book, by the bye, is a very IA
Yorite and convenient study Of his,) but for the
most part disd lining the common every day
topic Of "the beautiful character OF so and so
in SCOTS last aoveis;", takes his stand on the
reviews, as common a position certaiiy, but
higher enc in thessphere Of ladies' literary con-
yersatiou 1t is received rule with Glue men
to get up the Reviews, for they are always safe;
they are an easy abstract Of the literature OF he
day; i short Cut to knowledge, and always
afford a ready subject for conversation. How
ever the Blue Man at the mantle-pieee, when
ever have strayed iato the drawing-roon and
observed him, does not always give his fair 10.
ditory dissertation on this and that artic e, Or
refu,ation of This or that argument; that m hi
livery duli3p them, and very unsatisfaetOr! .
bimseli: He may, perhaps, eulogise senr
ment, or refer 20 a "beautiful passage, or re-
peat good thing Of Sydney Smiths which he
has cot up, but chiefly does he cell 20 his inquir-
ing and admiring crowd who ,crose this and who
toyoie that; what the ask,bers, and the names,
and the talents, in the neY dynasty Of the Quar-
terly; or perhaps, the alterations he Suggested
to young Macauley in his ''reallYvSerl Notable
article" in the Edinburgh. Being fond Of great
names which give him the ssmblanee Of great
man, he opens yet wider the Starry eyes of his
constellation Of listeners, making them fixed
ssrs, al he tells r,em how his friend Soulhey
called on AialG breakfast che other day, and
hurried him. OF witsut his seeou3cu of tea
to-, in Order to look over 4 manuscript
o. He tells them how often and how
vainly Colbu.n, and, indeed, Campbell himself
had begged he would give them another article
Tor tue new NohtnisS Jul iuuSco NC haO no
time now. He hints that man may pick up
good deal, and with very little trouble, by con-
tributiug to "these magazines" He used to DO
so when he first came to town, but now other
and higher matters Che mdst not say what just
at presently prevented him thinking of these
things. Sinner and slave that he is, not one
penny Of any body's money did he ever touch.
Not one line Of his ever appeared in print, save
in "poet's corner" or letter to the editor ct
some newspaper; bu, in his drawers, if any DO.
dy would take :he trouble to look, they would
find sundry rolls Of Ms. tied up with tape; and
in his desk would be found (if he has not burnt
them, but kept them as autographs Of celebrat-
ed editors and publishers various notes. which
run in the following easy, informal, and friend
ly styles
"The editor Of the presents his
bliged BY his polite offer Of the accompanying
article. There are objections, however, as re-
CARDS its suiting the pages Of the --
70 well Is some others which have preceded -