Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-12-09
Absence of Mind.

Monsieur Bruyere has given US the char
acter of an absent man with a great deal of
humor, which he has pushed to an agreea-
bic extravaganza:
Menalcas, says that excellent author,
comes down in the morning, opens his door
to go out, but shuts it again because he
perceives that he has his night-cap on; and
examining himself further, finds that ne is
but halt shaved, that he has stuck his sword
on his right side, that his stocking are
about his heels, and that his shirt is over
MS breaches. When he is dressed, he goes
10 court. comes into the drawing-room and
| walking bolt upri ght under branch of
c%andfestlcks, his wig is caught by one of
them, and hangs dangling in the air. All
the courtlers fall laughing, but Menalcas
laughs louder than any of them and looks
about Tor the person that is the Jest of the
company Coming down to the court gate
ne finds coach, which taking for his own.
he whips into it; and the coachman whips
OFT not donbting that he carries his master.
AS soon as he stops. Menalcas throws him
self out of the coach, crosses the court as
cends the staircase, and runs through all
the chambers with the greatest Familiarity;
reposes himself on couch, and fanciies
himself at home. The master of the house
comes in; Menalcas rises to receive him.
and desires him to sit down. he talks.
muses.. and then talks again. The gentle.
man OF the house is tired and amazed:
Menalcas is no less so, but is every moment
IN nope that his impairment guest will end
his tedious visit Night comes on, when
Menaeas is hardly unieceiyed.
When he is playing at backgammon. fe
calls for full glass of wine and water it is
his turn to throw he has the box in one.
hand and his glass in the other; and being
extremely dry, and unwilling to lose time,
he swallows down both the dice, and at the
same time throws his wine into the tables,
He writes letter and filings the sand into
the ink bottle; he writes second. and
mistakes the superscriptions. A nobIe1nal
receives one of them, and upon opening it
reads as follows: 81 would have YOU. honest
Jack: Immediately upon receipt of this, take.
IN hay enough to serve me the winterU
His farmer receives the other. and is
amazed to see in it, envy lord, received
your grace's commands, with an entire
SUBMISSION too" If he is at an entertain-
ment, you may see the pieces continually
multiplying round his plate 1t is true the
rest OF the company want it, as we'll as their
knives and forks, which Menalcas does NOT
let them keep long. Sometimes in morn
ing ne puts his whole family in hurry. and
at last goes out without being able to wal.
tor his coach or dinner, and for that day YOU
may see him IN every part of the town, ex-
cept the very place where he had appointed
to be on business of importance. You would
often take him for everything that he is not;
Tor fellow quite stupid, for he hears
nothing; tor a fool, for he talks to himself,
and has hundred grimaces and motions i'm
his head, which are altogether involuntary:
for proud man, for he looks full upon YOU;
and takes no notice of your saluting him.
The truth OF II is, his eyes are open. but he
makes no use of them, and neither sees YOU.
nor any man, nor anything else. He came.
once from his country house, and his own.
footmen attempted to rob him. and succeed
ed. They held fambeau to his throat, and
babe him deliver his purse; he did so, and
coming home told his friends he had been
| robbed; they desired to know the particu-
lars; Ask my servants" says Menalcasr
for they were with me-"
"ZE NEBRASKA BILL."-We presume the
witty Frenchman alluded to in the follow.
ing anecdote is not the only one who has
been perpIexed in the extreme at the phi
losophy of "Ze Nebraska Billo
Among our Numerous acquaitances, we
have the honor of being rather intimate with
a gentleman recently from France, who is
endeavoring to become acquainted with all
the details Of the American system of Gov
eminent The other day he said to US:
"Ze Nebraska Bill, he'ave passed ze
House, as you call HIM"
eyes," we replied.
"Ze Slavery will go TO re Nebraska %
queried he.
.The friends of the bilf in the North saws
it will not go there"
But re Slavery may go zae if he like,
Ell a'
eyes, but we are doubtful Of its going
there.u
"But re law is he may go zare! Ze law
say he ave right to 60 zarew
ayes"
'And re man vat make re bill, says he
will not go zare7
aYesU
Eat is very foolish. Suppose you marry
one woman; you have re right to one vo-
mans you will not 90 to her, ven you have
re right to her? You marry one vomans
and not live wis her? Vat for you gel mar
ried, zen, Ell y'
MENAGERIE KNOCKED DowN.-At East
New York yesterday, the great collection Of
animals known as Barnum's Menagerie;
ewned by Barnum, Howes and Stratton-
father Of Tom Thumb-were sold at auction.
The sale was attended by the partners and
Messrsr Sands Titus, Quirk, Cushing, Ma
thans, Robinson, tof Cincinnati and some one
hundred people.
The two Girafes, valued at $500 each,
were bought by Mr.. Barnum, and will win
ter at the museunn The Rbinoceros found
NO buyer Seven elephants were put up in