The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 2, January, 1851 - Softcover

Various

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798182701310

Publisher: Toridreams, 2026

Synopsis

vife has been subjected to many ingenious comparisons: and if we do not

understand it any better, it is not for want of what is called "reasoning

by illustration." Amongst other resemblances, there are moments when, to

a quiet contemplator, it suggests the image of one of those rotatory enter-

tainments commonly seen in fairs, and known by the name of "whirligigs

or roundabouts," in which each participator of the pastime, seated on his

hobby, is always apparently in the act of pursuing some one before him,

while he is pursued by some one behind. Man, and woman too, are natu-

rally animals of chase; the greatest still finds something to follow, and there

is no one too humble not to be an object of prey to another. Thus, con-

fining our view to the village of Hazeldean, we behold in this whirligig Dr.

Riccabocca spurring his hobby after Lenny Fairfield; and Miss Jemima, on

her decorous side-saddle, whipping after Dr. Riccabocca. Why, with so long

and intimate a conviction of the villany of our sex, Miss Jemima should re-

solve upon giving the male animal one more chance of redeeming itself in

her eyes, I leave to the explanation of those gentlemen who profess to find

"their only books in woman's looks." Perhaps it might be from the over-

tenderness and clemency of Miss Jemima's nature; perhaps it might be that,

as yet, she had only experienced the villany of man born and reared in those

3 VARIOUS

cold northern climates; and in the land of Petrarch and Romeo, of the cit-

ron and myrtle, there was reason to expect that the native monster would be

more amenable to gentle influences, less obstinately hardened in his iniqui-

ties. Without entering farther into these hypotheses, it is sufficient to say,

that on Signor Riccabocca's appearance in the drawing-room, at Hazeldean,

Miss Jemima felt more than ever rejoiced that she had relaxed in his favor

her general hostility to man. In truth, though Frank saw something quizzi-

cal in the old-fashioned and outlandish cut of the Italian's sober dress; in his

long hair, and thechapeau bras, over which he bowed so gracefully, and then

pressed it, as if to his heart, before tucking it under his arm, after the fashion

in which the gizzard reposes under the wing of a roasted pullet; yet it was im-

possible that even Frank could deny to Riccabocca that praise which is due

to the air and manner of an unmistakable gentleman. And certainly as, af-

ter dinner, conversation grew more familiar, and the Parson and Mrs. Dale,

who had been invited to meet their friend, did their best to draw him out, his

talk, though sometimes a little too wise for his listeners, became eminently

animated and agreeable. It was the conversation of a man who, besides

Edition details

• Publisher: Toridreams
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798182701310
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 44