The southern press., 1850-10-02
The Last Dodge for Making a National
Reputation.

. . u . r .
Persons connected with the press or with
politics in this metropolis, have had good oppor-
tunities of Judging of the various "dodges" re-
sorted TO by politicians, TO maze "a National
reputationr' Some adopt both plans recon-
mended by Mrs. Lobkins in Paul Clfford-and
try not only "bluster' but sinsiniyation" ALSO
buster on the boards of Senate or House,
msinivation" through the medium of some
manifold letter r-writer"-always "relable and
welllniormed' as to the particular sayings and
dongs OF that particular person, and kept regu-
larly posted-up for the purpose
Very small men have been over and over
again magnified into perfect giants before the
national eye when viewed through this medium
and fourished for time on the @National
reputation thus aequired--but when removed
from behind these patent million magnfying
glasses, and inspected by the naked eye have
dwinded down and seemed only the more
dwarfish because of the previous over-estimate
put upon their altitude Another plan for es-
tablishing National reputation is by establish
ing the utter absence of any sectional sympa-
thies--a kind of patriotism in the abstract, which
gives the reputation on the same principle that
the 'coon-dog" obtained his. When the indig-
nant purchaser expostulated with the former
owner us to the utter worthlessness of the ami
mal-he cooIly responded, that g finding him unfit
for everything else, he had concluded that the
creature must be good for that"
But short and easy as these plans may seem,
the calculating genius of our Northern brethren
has devised yet shorter path to that great de-
sderatum, a Naiiinal reputation. The Omnibus
did not offer half as certain d through passage
to posterity, as the advent of JENNY LIND and
the genius of BARNUM have jointly opened to
and famous, amounts to the same thing. aE
How GENIN in New York became the national
not the sectional halter; and how like other
great public characters he figured in the public
prints, and multiplied his image through the
letter writers, what American is ignorant? 3
But never yet was there great star without his
little duplicatc-and neither CLAY nor GENIN
can bear the palm of Nationality aone-for be-
hold how one of Bostons artful dodgers has
followed in his footsteps, and even outstriped
BYRON, inquire What's fame? and answer
"'Tis but to fill
A certain portion of uncertain paper
for very uncertain are the paper testimonials of
merit now-a-days, particularly those endorsed
in blank from this city.
We defy any one to read this puff extra, with
out being irresistbly reminded of national re-
putations bought as cheap, and paraded be-
fore the public quite as ostentiously
1t is headed
g DODGE AT THE CONCERT"
"The Boston Transcript, in noticing Jenny
Linds concert, thus refers to the appearance Of
Mr.. Dodge, who boughtthe sS625 ticket
A few minutes before eight o'clock, a conimo-
ton among the ushers in the aisle near us indi-
Gated that something extraordinary was about to
happen. We heard one Of them whisper to an
other, who replied aloud, " Certainly Y. and then
exclaimed, in still louder tone of voice, This
way Mr.. Dodge! Will gentlemen please to
make passage for Mr. Dodgew AT once a
very decided sensation was created in our neigh
borhood, and spread immedistely throughout the
entire audience. Ladies rose on all sides and
lifted their opera glasses. A buzz of curiosity,
followed by applause from the gentlemen, sue
ceeded. In the midst of it all modest looking
gentleman, with quite an intellectual east of fea-
lures, made his way politely to his seat, where
he stood moment bowling to the audience, and
then took his seat amid reiterated applause
This was Mr. Dodge, the comic vocalist who
bought the S625 ticket and, as he placed his
hand on his heart, his smile seemed to say "La-
dies and gentlemen, this is the proudest moment
of my litew