The true Democrat., 1855-01-17
ABSENCE OF MIND,

Monsieur Bruyere has given us the charac- ter of an absent man with a great deal of hu- nor, which he has pushed to an agreeable ex- travagance:
 Menalcas says that excellent author, comes down Tn the morning, opens his door to go out, but shuts 1t again because he perceives that he has hls nlght-cap on; and examining himself farther finds that he Is but half-shaved. that he has stuck his sword on his right side, that his stockings are about his heels, and that his shirt IS over his brooches. When he is dress ed he goes to court comes into the drawing room, and walking bolt upright under branch of candlesticks his wig is caught by one of them, and hangs dangling in the air All the courtiers fall laughing, but Menalcas laughs founder than any of them, and looks about for the person that is the jest of the company.- Coming down to the court gate he finds coach: which taking for his own he whips into 1t; and the coachman whips off not doubting that he carries his master As soon as he stops, Menal- cas throws himself out of the coach, crosses the court ascends the staircase, and runs through all the chambers with the greatest fa- miliarity; reposes himself on couch, and fam. cies himself at home. The master of the house comes in; Menalcas rises to receive him, and asks him to sit down; he talks, muses and then talks again. The gentleman of the house is tired and amazed; Melancas is no less so, but Is every moment in hopes that his impertinent guest will end his tedious visit Night comes on, when Menalcas is hardly undeceived
 When he is playing at backgammon, he calls for full glass of wine and water; it is his turn to throw; he has the glass in one hand and the box 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 a letter and filings the sand into the ink bottle; he writes second, and mistakes the superscriptions nobleman receives one of them, and upon opening it reads as follows: "I would have you, honest Jack, immediately upon receipt of this, take in hay enough to serve me the winter"
 His farmer receives the other and is amazed to see in it, "My lord, received your grace's commands, with an entire submission too" If he Is at an entertainment, you may see the pie- ces continually multiplying round his plate. It Is true the rest of the company want 1t, as we'll as their knives and forks, which Menalcas does not let them keep long. Some times in morn ing he puts his whole family in hurry, and at last goes out without being able to wait for his coach or dinner, and for that day you may see him in every part of the town, except the very place where he had appointed to be on busi- ness ofimportance.
 You would often take him for everything that he is not; for fellow quite stupid, for he hears nothing; for a fool, for he talks to him. self, and has hundred grimaces and notions in 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 ot 1t 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 succeeded. They held la fambeau to his throat, and bade him deliver his purse; he did so, and coming home told his friends he had been rob- bed; they desired to know the particulars; "Ask my servants" says Menalcas, "for they were with me-"