WHENEVER any body of men finds that a good portion of the talent which formerly aided in its quarrels has become unwieldly, and its ideas tarnished, there is generally some quiet proclamation of a new creed, and proposals to new supporters. This done, the heroes of the old strifes are wo-begone to find themselves stored among the nation's respectables, while a crowd, more pliant, and exponents of the remodeled ideas, are no less astounded to find themselves towering among the nation's notables. Before the wry face of this obsolete, and the wondering face of this nascent politician, the best of written comedy wants marrow; a richer mine for gems of the ludicrous no man has yet discovered, and that playwright will make fortune and fame, who shall prolong the laughter which agonizes the nation at these revolutions. But these faces in sorrowful and joyful anger give us some questions.

What brings about these transitions?

Talent which has worked on the men and measures of an age without being crippled by defeats, is, generally, for farther use, good enough, and safe enough, if it has not gained too long a succession of triumphs. A succession of defeats, of course, discourages its farther use. Triumphs identify the victor with the times of their occurrence. They tie him to his old policy, no matter how unsuited to new ideas. He is likely to worry his adherents by considering their interest in his old successes equal to their eagerness for his new ones, and more than this, we may infer from a thousand facts, that such elated party leaders too often remember the tricks and subtleties which aided in their victories, long after their memory refuses them a good portraiture of those nobler strokes which

wrought out their glories. It is a grand thing to see men go on from triumph to triumph; but with us it seems the rule, to which exceptions are few, that one grand round of triumphs ends all of a statesman's course which is honorable or profitable. To gain the triumph, the statesman almost always forms such an alliance between casuistry and conscience as shall not soon be again available. He who is thus swollen into an embodiment of some hobby of to-day, is hardly likely so perfectly to embody the opposing hobby, which, in the natural course of things, will rule to-morrow. Whether the man in such an action avows himself a rascal, or saint, his changed covering must be gashed by the critics, and all the chances are that he falls under their stilettoes.

But how stand these two elements with us at present? Collating in the progress of our leaders, great and small, what they have promised and not done, what they have done and not promised, and what they do in accordance with principles previously avowed, we have materials for a most extensive induction. Noting the examples thus obtained, we find, first, an older class of thinkers and workers, with which, so far as the thought of a nation can be ruled, has been the dynasty of rulers over the prevalent national opinions. This body, in its best examples, owes something to some superficial study of ancient polity-much more to careful readings of English models, and most of all to a steady use of its common sense, in gathering just such knowledge as avails it. Sedate, and wanting in perpetual brilliancy, it bears elements of power with which it will ever contest stoutly for the immunities of the grand directing body. One of these is the grasp which it has on those portions of our political history which those in training for official work most admire. Another is its general identity with the solid and respectable in diplomacy, another, the fact that it strikes quickly, for, in its constitution are principles, and discipline, and general tactics, well known at the commencement of a struggle by all its allies. On these accounts there are continual accessions to it from avowed adherents to the younger party, as well as from those who are making their first choice. The grand idea of this portion of the existing parties seems to be, that, in working out courses of political action their glory and emolument will come much more from grappling with the prosaic real, than toying with the plausible ideal. Their grand dread seems to be the coming of emergencies, when they must generalize hastily from scanty facts. Their grand study seems to be that of past disorders and remedies in the state, in order to prophesy, on the third principle which Compte recognizes, what shall be the law of the future.

Turning to what may be called Young America, we find that its great motive, in appearance, is eagerness for a quick national development. But there is another element, equally powerful, though not so showy,—the principle that veneration for past triumphs should not exclude fresh talent, which may be available for future triumphs. This is not necessarily a selfish element. It influences many who profit nothing, if it gains the mastery. No more is it altogether supported by men who have a curiosity to see younger and keener intellects pitted against each other, for it rules many whose whole life shows them admirers of the aged and dignified, rather than the young and shrewd. Those also greatly mistake the characteristics of these parties, who recognize in the older form the conservatism, and in the younger the radicalism of the day. The younger party clings to many ideas hatefully conservative, which the former will drop at its first opportunity. Some old theories, and rallying cries, which the former have been striving for a century to bury decently, have been energized by the latter, and put forth as things vitally important. To lead among the former, one must often cling to the common place; to hold a primacy among the latter, some noted examples seem to warrant us in saying that stoutly to maintain some magnificently impudent lie, to make unbounded faith in national destiny atone for thievery, and to sneer at all common argument, is all that is needful. Take for instance a case where rights are withheld, and where the national dignity demands some excuse that it may keep a decently straight face before its neighbors. The former at once allow, as every reasonable man must allow, that the rights exist—that in time they may be asserted, but that at present they are overruled by expediency. The latter will probably laugh at your arguments, put some ridiculous misconstruction on your historical evidences, and overawe you by the supremely brazen position that these rights do not exist. This younger party is, to all appearances, liberal and flexible. Its reasoners seem to have fermenting in their minds as many kindly elements, as have any thinkers, yet there is among them a fondness for prompt and stern measures, which would argue that, like John Adams, a leader in an opposing school, they had gained from all ancient history the single truth, that the mortal defect in ancient constitutions was the incertitude of the sovereignty. The quarrels between these systems are worth notice. To see some bully of the new school, wriggling in the logical grip of the older thinker, to see his knaveries ooze from him in that merciless squeeze, is great gain to bystanders, if mirth goes for anything. So, too, when some meek old fop of the other school, elephantine in fooleries and bigotries, is badgered by young ene

mies, until their stabs and stings make him declare his willingness to receive inklings of a new creed, and to renounce his schisms.

In combining the various materials furnished for the public weal, the former seems more reliable; but to manage the combinations, the latter use an energy and tact which not unfrequently gives them the preference. The latter, in making these combinations, are often heedless, and sometimes wanton. Often they see, rising from their careless mixtures, political disasters, which scare them, as the Alchymist was scared, seeing the Afrite rising from his alembic. To us, neither of these systems seems hopeful. The world has seen their glitter often, and gained nothing worth keeping. There is complete heartlessness in either, though less perhaps in the older party. Both refuse at times to distinguish the cleric from the laic-the principle which evidently has a mission, from the principle which evidently has not. There is, in either, too great haste in the recognition of comfortable exceptions to the uncompromising rule, too great zeal in nourishing patriotism, and too little in nourishing justice, too much incense burnt before intriguing power and brawling power, too frequent blasphemies in setting aside the principle that truth cannot be gyved.

W.

Trout Fishing.

BY SUI GENERIS.

PERHAPS the reader never went a-trouting. Perhaps, also, he can fish better than the writer, who is, at best, "no great" of an angler. In either case, he would be pleased with the ground-a rough sort of a place, called Waterville, in New Hampshire-a place where there are no steam engines, but yet features of original grandeur and natural simplicity, that eclipse the passive beauty of artificial adornment.

A better playground for an amateur geologist can hardly be imagined. From all sides of a little valley, steep mountains rise, like that "which might be touched," and adown them, and among them, dash and race a great many water-courses, which form a rushing, foaming stream, appropriately named Mad River. Huge bowlders dam up the channels, and the debris of the spring freshets present a continual chevaux de frise to the resolute sportsman. After leaping about for a few days over the

rocks, which is, in fact, the only way of getting along, you would be as nimble as an Alpine hunter.

If you care to explore this place, go by rail to Plymouth, N. H., and thence as you like to Farmer Greeley's, who owns the best house among the seventeen that constitute the town. The district school is kept in his garret during the winter, and other good things are kept in his cellar and pantry all the year round. The road runs tilt against his door, and, when you get there, you will be obliged to stop. The exercise you will endure upon the road, and also your fish-catching, will make you very "valiant trencher-men," and you will eat at least fifty cents' worth at each meal, which is Mr. Greeley's entire charge per diem.

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It is amusing to see how precision will relax her stiffness, and etiquette unbend her haughtiness, as soon as the country breezes blow their soft and careless welcome into the face of either precisian or fashionable cit. Perhaps the driver wears a seedy coat and a foxy hat, but you chat with him pleasantly for all that, heedless of what le beau monde would say. It is quite surprising what a reputation for bonhommie one may create in a very short time. On the other hand, too, you are liable to be set down as stuck up," before you are aware that a carelses word has escaped your lips. The country people generalize very rapidly in regard to one's manners. You meet a farmer by the road-side, and he nods to you, though a stranger, in a neighborly way. Be sure and return a polite salute, or else, like honest Dogberry, he will thank God that he is rid of a knave. The best method of conciliation is, to be generally affable, exceedingly irreverent towards Lindley Murray, and all his tribe, to eat with your knife edgewise, and to drink from the saucer rather than the cup. But this talk is hardly trout-fishing, although it leads to it.

You must be sure to go to Waterville barbarously dressed. Whatever raiment will best resist the elements, that wear-stout cow-hide boots, well greased, answer a good purpose, and a ball of twine with a darning needle to "sow tares," is necessary. More obstinate stubs, to scratch and tear withal, you can never find, and many a tumble-down will contribute to mortify the flesh.

The trout in these cold mountain streams, are not fastidious. They will jerk a mud-worm as snappishly as a fly-hook,—and you may talk and make all the noise that is desirable. All your shouting will not drown the ceaseless roar of the waterfalls.

With what delight you feel the sharp jerk at the hook, and lo, the witless fish gleams suddenly in the sunlight, quivering, writhing upon the barb; every crimson spot aglow, the delicate fins outspread and translu