tible to those who accompany them, as are the revolutions of our
planet to its inhabitants."

"And the gyrations of the patriots, of which the judge has just now
spoken," added the brigadier, "are much the same as the eccentric
movements of the comets that embellish the solar system, without
deranging it by their uncertain courses."

"No, sir, we should be poorly off, indeed, if we had but ONE public
opinion," resumed the judge. "Ecod, I do not know what would become of
the most patriotic patriots in such a dilemma!"

"Pray, sir, let me ask, as you draw for places, if you have as many
places as there are citizens?"

"Certainly, sir. Our places are divided, firstly, into the two great
subdivisions of the 'inner' and the 'outer.' Those who toe the mark on
the most popular line occupy the former, and those who toe the mark on
the least popular line take all the rest, as a matter of course. The
first, however, it is necessary to explain, are the only places worth
having. As great care is had to keep the community pretty nearly equally
divided--"

"Excuse the interruption--but in what manner is this effected?"

"Why, as only a certain number can toe the mark, we count all those who
are not successful in getting up to the line, as outcasts; and, after
fruitlessly hanging about our skirts for a time, they invariably go
over to the other line; since it is better to be first in a village than
second in Rome. We thus keep up something like an equilibrium in the
state, which, as you must know, is necessary to liberty. The minority
take the outer places, and all the inner are left to the majority. Then
comes another subdivision of the places; that is to say, one division
is formed of the honorary, and another of the profitable places. The
honorary, or about nine-tenths of all the inner places, are divided,
with great impartiality, among the mass of those who have toed the mark
on the strongest side, and who usually are satisfied with the glory of
the victory. The names of the remainder are put into the wheels to be
drawn for against the prizes, on the rotatory principle."

"And the patriots, sir;--are they included in this chance medley?"

"Far from it. As a reward for their dangers, they have a little wheel to
themselves, although they, also, are compelled to submit to the rotatory
principle. Their cases differ from those of the others, merely in the
fact that they always get something."

I would gladly have pursued the