hostile to the spirit and constitution of our government, as could well be imagined. We commend to the perusal of any one who contemplates joining this most modern party, the following extracts from a certain instrument of which they may, or may not, have heard. The 6th Article, Section 3d of the Constitution of the United States, reads as follows:"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." Still another Article, as follows:-"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Whatever claims to our sympathy and support the doctrines of this party may possess, it certainly offers none which appeal to our regard for the Constitution and its obligations. Indeed, in all the political nostrums which ambitious men, of our day, vend under the name of "Reforms," we detect a systematic disregard for that instrument, which might be mischievous were it more shrewdly concealed. In former times, parties were formed on broader principles, and for more substantial purposes. Questions were constantly arising which were to be decided by a reference to the common standard of the Constitution. It was not to be expected that, in reference to an instrument by no means absolute in its provisions, all should think alike. Accordingly, upon differences, not so much of principle as of opinion, parties were organized. All were patriotic, and all pursued one common object, the welfare of the country and the perpetuity of her institutions. But now, men rally under one idea, as if there were no other worthy of their attention. They charge valiantly against some gigantic evil, which their own imaginations have furnished them, very much as Don Quixote charged the windmills, and often with the same disastrous consequences to themselves. There have been false prophets in all ages: men whose own ambition is never so satisfactorily ministered to, as when successful in detecting lurking danger in apparent safety. The masses of men are tranquil by nature, and must be disturbed by artifice. We recognize in many of the Reform organizations of our day, the influence of this artifice; applied, too, in most cases, with much shrewdness. Just enough truth is interwoven with every such movement as to disguise the error which pervades it. The founders of the Know-Nothing party find in the history of Roman Catholicism many vulnerable points, and to these they point men, while they hope, under the cover of a disinterested philanthropy, to subserve, in some way, their own ambitious purposes. The modern crusade against our foreign population and their religion, is as ungenerous as it is unjust. We furnish them with a refuge from persecution in one form but to renew it in another. We invite them to a participation in the advantages of a free government, and then offer an organized resistance to such participation. We insure to them the largest toleration in matters of opinion, whether moral or political, and then insist that, in both, they shall conform to our own. To such an inconsistent position, as a nation and a government, will we have come when this new party, not inaptly called the "Know-Nothing," shall have acquired the supremacy which it seeks. Archibald Braxton. CHAPTER II. "Oh! how impatience gains upon the soul TIGHE "TICKETS for New Haven! Tickets! Tickets, gentlemen!" cried the Conductor as he passed our friends, withdrawing for a moment their attention from the distant scene. The train was just whirling round the bend, whence in the far off vista rose the white spires and the roof-tops from their emerald setting. Blending with the misty clouds beyond them, frowned the dark Rocks on the "fair Elm city"—spreading in calm quietude before it was the silver bay, scarcely a ripple shivering its polished surface. Rolling a gorgeous coronet around it, hovered the darkblue, and the purple clouds fringed with the golden grandeur of a setting sun. "How magnificent!" Percival almost involuntarily exclaimed. "You should see the city in mid-summer, or in one of our glorious sunsets from the Rock, sir," said a voice from behind them. "We shall probably have opportunity for both," said Percival, turning to see the speaker-" we intend remaining there some time." "About entering our College there I hope?-Glad to make your acquaintance, gentlemen! My friend Mr. Watson,--have just one year the start of you, I presume, or shall we be fortunate enough to have you also among us?" 'No, I believe we 're in for four years, are we not, Archie? By the way, Mr. Mr. "Ledyard," said that gentleman, producing from his pocket, in company with what seemed a list of names, tobacco-box, and “Traveling Companion," a card case, from which he drew forth the following card: Aug. Dowlas Ledyard, K. 2. 0., Yale College. "Mr. Ledyard,-Mr. ; my name you will find is Percival, sir," said Ned, handing at the same time his card. Mr. Aug. Dowlas Ledyard was a tall young man of about one and twenty, dressed in cut-and-easy style, turned down collar, and a hugely careless tie, sporting moustache, long hair, and a "Banger;" bearing in spite however of his Sophomoric ease, the stamp indefinable of polished manner and an educated mind. For description of George Watson, vide Ledyard,-minus three years and moustache, plus spectacles and seal ring. For the further information of our readers, we would state that they composed the "Electioneering Committee" of the Linonian Society, stationed between Bridgeport and New Haven, to prevent the "gobbling" of Freshmen by those unprincipled young men, Messrs. King and Page, similar "Committee of the Brothers." Messrs. King and Page, on their part, protesting that their only object was the protection of "gobbled Freshmen" from the ruthless clutches of the Linonian Committee. Doubtless they would have stated this fact to our friends, had they not been at the time zealously engaged tending three carpet-bags and a valise, the property apparent of three aforesaid endangered Freshmen. Messrs. King and Page, not being able to save all, had magnanimously resolved to save whom they could. Messrs. Ledyard and Watson, on the Linonian side, grieving over the sad misfortune of the others, prepared all their energies for the preservation of our friends. "Perhaps, sir, if you are a stranger, you had better take my arm," said Ledyard, as with a shrill whistle the train dashed through the dark underground apartment of the Depôt. "The fact is, there is one unpardonable custom here, exceedingly annoying to all strangers; the Brothers Society, sir, reduced by circumstances, have been obliged absolutely from year to year to recruit their numbers by stationing Committees at the cars for the express purpose of inducing gentlemen who enter College to join also in their ranks." "That is so! sir, by gad, that is so!" emphatically responded Mr. Watson. "Of course," continued Mr. Ledyard, "they would never think of forcing you, but there are many that they humbug in this style, and if you'll just follow us and pay no attention to the crowd, you'll save much annoyance." Thanking them for the attention, our friends taking their advice and proffered arms, worked their way out upon the platform. Here they were met by an unexpected, almost an indescribable scene; the entire landing, with the small exception of the part allotted to the hackmen, was thronged by students crowding to the cars. The appearance of our friends and their attendants seemed the signal for a general rush. "Here, Miller! Jackson! carriage!" shouted Ledyard, and at the same time nodding to the crowd, the whole party were surrounded and shoved gradually toward the stairs, thence by some mysterious process taken up them, and placed safely in a carriage. 66 Tontine, Miller!" and before they had recovered fully from amazement, Percival and D found themselves whirled rapidly along a busy street. "Well done, nicked 'em that time anyhow," said Watson, as he threw himself back upon the cushions, indulging in a hearty burst of laughter. "Why do the Society resort to these means?" inquired Archy, vague suspicions flashing on his mind as he remembered the apparent unity which had actuated their self-constituted escort at the Depôt. "Why, you see they thus prevent the Linonians” "Linonians!" "Oh, perhaps I forgot to mention to you," said Ledyard, "that there are two societies in College,—the Linonian and Brothers; but the fact is, there's so little doubt of your connecting yourself with Linonia, after fair comparison, that I'd quite neglected to electioneer you; to-morrow will be time enough for that, however," continued he, as the carriage stopped before the Tontine, "to-night we'll improve the opportunity, discussing what we need most-videlicet-the good things and the creature comforts of the earth." College surely must divide its time between the cars and hotels, thought our friends, as registering their names, they entered a large reading-room, thronged with students, laughing, chatting, or puffing with the most impurturbable sang froid, thick, white clouds of smoke into their very faces. Passing through these, with here and there a significant look, word, or nod, their new friends motioned Percival and Braxton to vacated seats upon the sofa, from which they were soon summoned by the rolling gong, glad to be relieved from the annoying gaze bent unblushingly upon them from all quarters of the room. "I tell you what, Braxton," said Ledyard, as they entered the dininghall, "if Watson 'll just get the 'dumbies,' we'll cram you and Mr. Percival on examination points this evening; no trouble, give us both great pleasure," seeing the latter attempting to refuse the offer. "Wat, you meet us then at No. 45-that's your number, I believe?—with the needfuls; just bring along some good cigars-you smoke, of course, Braxton ?—and we'll manage to post you all up." And having given his orders with the freedom of a magnate, Mr. Aug. Dowlas Ledyard seated himself with very much the air of one who had accomplished all things to the satisfaction of himself and friends. This was however unnoticed, in Braxton and Percie's gratitude for what seemed disinterested kindness. Disinterested!--oh, ye unsophisticated Freshmen!--perchance it is better for you that no contact with a rough world hath made evident how rare the jewel is; perchance it is better, for the culture of heartfeelings, that experience draws late the truth-hiding veil of human selfishness! The expression of George Watson's face, as he left the room, would have formed a study for a painter; could you have seen this, could you have known the thoughts there passing in the breast of your companion, or could you have realized that their only object was, in hampering you in No. 45, to prevent your making the acquaintance of some over-anxious "Brother;" perhaps then, this grand scheming of Sophomoric manufacture would have failed; perhaps then, disgusted with the fallacy of College kindness, two most polite electioneerers would have found themselves and books outside the door. But most luckily for them, and we doubt not for our friends too, the latter, though edu. cated and born gentlemen, were as unsuspecting as most young men at the first essay of the world. The service was received then in all frankness; nor, after an evening spent in mastering the passages proclaimed "Prof. Blink's favorites," or cramming up the rules "Tutor Jolt was sure to call for," had Percival or Braxton any idea that on bidding them good night, Ledyard's handkerchief was between his jaws, halfway down the staircase, or that Watson's first ejaculation was, that most astounding phrase, “My eyes, how fresh!" Who was it that said once,"Man finds his greatest pleasure in his expectation ?" Elia? or was it not our |