ALARCON, JUAN RUIZ DE (c. 1581-1639), Spanish dramatist, was born about 1581 at Tlacho (Mexico), where his father was superintendent of mines, and died at Cordova on Aug. 4, 1639. Alarcon was educated in Spain, then, after a brief stay in Mexico, returned to Spain and occupied a small post under the Council of the Indies. His plays were published in 1628 and 1634 ; the most famous of these is La Verdad sospechosa, which was adapted by Corneille as the Menteur. Alarcon was pre occupied with ethical aims, and his gift of dramatic presentation was as brilliant as his dialogue was natural and vivacious. It has been alleged that his f oreign origin is noticeable in his plays, but in El Tejedor de Segovia he had produced a masterpiece of national art, national sentiment and national expression.