The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-08-07
NATIONAL WING.
From Blackwood's Magazine.
THE DOG OF ALCIBIADES.

n
In Plutarch's Life of Alcibiades the fol-
lowing passage occurs =
Alcibiades had dog Of an uncommon
size and beauty, which cost him seventy
mino and vet his tail, which was his prin-
cipal ornament, he caused to be cut of.
Some Of his acquaintance found great fault
with his acting so strangely, and told him
that all Athens rang with the story OF his
foolish treatment of the dog. At which he
LAUGHED. and said, "This is the very thing
wanted for would have the Athenians
salk Of this, lest they should lind something
worse to say Of me-
This anecdote, more popularity known
in France than in England, has there been
the origin of proverbial metaphor. When
a minor vice, folly, or eccentricity is as
sumed as cloak for greater one, with a
view to throw dust in the eyes of an inqui-
sitive public, and to veil from its curiosity
real motives, intentions, and inclinations,
the pretext paraded is called the Dog Of
Alcibisdes. The true application Of the
term may be better illustrated than exactly
defined, and the former course has been
adopted in French book Of no distant
date, entitled LIE Chen d. .aIcibiade. A
single volume, the only one its author has
produced-its wit, elegance of style, and
general good taste would do credit to the
most experienced novelist; whilst the
warm reception it met from the Partisan
public, ought, one would imagine, to have
encouraged repetition ofthe attempt On
its titls-page was found the assumed name
of Major Fridolin, the same under which
noted Partisan turtle entsrs his horses for
the races at Chantilly and the Champ de
Mars. The gentleman-rider (ride the
Anglo-Gallic vocabulary patronized by the
Paris jockai-clubb) who owns the fantasia
cal pseudonyme, is more esteemed for
wealth than wit, better known as Judge Of
horse-Aesh than as cultivator of literature,
and generally held more likely to achieve
renown by the strength of his racers legs
than Of his own head. So that when an
ably-writfen novel appeared under his
nom-de-guerre, people asked one another if
he were possibly its author, and had previ-
ously kept bis candle under a bushel, only
to dazzle more when the shade was with
drawn. There could be no doubt that the
book was from the pen Of man of talent
and refinement, accustomed to good socie-
~, and seizing with peculiar felicity its
phases and foibles. The characters were
20 true to life, that it was impossible for
those moving in the circles portrayed to
avoid recognising the originals, not as in
dividuals but as types Of classes. The
gsy world Of Paris was painted with
sharp and delicate pencil, without exag-
geration or grotesque colouring. Some
similarity might be traced to the manner Of
Charles de Bernard, but in one respect the
new author had the advantage. His wit
was as sparkling, his tone quite as gentle
manly and agreeable, but he eschewed the
caricaturs into which De Demands perpe
not unfrequently seduces him. The name
Of the new aspirant for literary fame soon
oozsd out, and to Monsieur Valbezene was
decerned the honour of having produced
one Of the most attractive novels of the
day. It at once gave him reputation for
ability, and is even said to have conduced
to his shortly afterwards receiving a gov
eminent appointment. 1t brought him I'M
der the notice of the bestowers Of loaves
and fishes, as man whose fnesse d'esprit
and knowledge Of the world might be rem
dered serviceable to the state. M. Valbe-
zene il now consul of France at the Cape
of Good Hope. 1t is to be desired that he
may there find leisure to cultivate his lit
erary talents, and add others to the favora-
bic specimen of them he has already given.
In Paris we should have had less expecta-
ton Of his so deing, for his book denotes
him, if writer may be judged by his writ.
ings, to be man Of ease and pleasure,
more disposed and likely to sink into far
niente and form the chief ornament of |
brilliant circle, than to seclude himself in !
study, and apply seriously to literature.
The opening scene of M. Valbezene,s
book is brilliant ballroom in the Faubourr
st. Honore. Alta whist-table sits the Count
de Marsanne--a man Of forty years Of age,
at most, of robust health and handsome
person. His figure is stout without being
corpulent; his ruddy countenance, tanned |
by exposure to the weather, is not without,
distinction and grace; his blue eyes are re-
markably fine and intelligent; he wears his
beard, and bis thick strong hair is cropped
short. His dress denotes the gentleman.
Ills linen is exquisitely white, and the cut
OF his coat can only be attributed to the
skilful hand Of Bin or Chevreuil. The
Count, who served previously to the July
revolution in the hussars Of the Guard, and
who, since leaving the service, has sought
IN Tablespoons the peril, excitement, and ac-
fvIty essential to his ardent and impetuous
character, drives his dowager partner to
despair by his blunders at whist. He pays
less attention to the game than to the face
nous whispers Of his cousin, De Kersent--
. young man Of five-and-twenty, short, fat,
always happy and good-humored, an eager
sportsman, and much more at his ease at a
bsttue than ball. The rubber over, the
count leaves the heated card-room, TO seek
Sooisr ar IN an outer apartment M. Val
bezene shall speak for himself.
Whilst poatoJ =. IL. r..