Chapter 17 - Page 2

and minister-plenipotentiary of the republic to
the king of Leaphigh, a nation from which we originally sprung, but
which we have left far behind us in the race of glory and
usefulness. I ought to acquaint you with my name, sir, in return for
the advantage I possess on this head, in relation to yourself."

Hereupon my new acquaintance put into my hand one of his visiting-
cards, which contained as follows:--

General-Commodore-Judge-Colonel
PEOPLE'S FRIEND:

Envoy-Extraordinary and Minister-Plenipotentiary from the Republic
of Leaplow, near his Majesty the King of Leaphigh.

"Sir," said I, pulling off my hat with a profound reverence, "I was
not aware to whom I had the honor of speaking. You appear to fill a
variety of employments, and I make no doubt, with equal skill."

"Yes, sir, I believe I am about as good at one of my professions as
at another."

"You will permit me to observe, however, General--a--a Judge--a--a--
I scarcely know, dear sir, which of these titles is the most to your
taste?"

"Use which you please, sir--I began with General, but had got as low
as Colonel before I left home. People's Friend is the only
appellation of which I am at all tenacious. Call me People's Friend,
sir, and you may call me anything else you find most convenient."

"Sir, you are only too obliging. May I venture to ask if you have
really, propria persona, filled all these different stations in
life?"

"Certainly, sir--I hope you do not mistake me for an impostor!"

"As far from it as possible.--But a judge and a commodore, for
instance, are characters whose duties are so utterly at variance in
human affairs, that I will allow I find the conjunction, even in a
monikin, a little extraordinary."

"Not at all, sir. I was duly elected to each, served my time out in
them all, and have honorable discharges to show in every instance."

"You must have found some perplexity in the performance of duties so
very different?"

"Ah--I see you have been long enough in Leaphigh to imbibe some of
its prejudices! It is a sad country for prejudice. I got my foot
mired in some of them myself, as soon as it touched the land. Why
sir, my card is an illustration of what we call, in Leaplow,
rotation in office."

"Rotation in office!"

"Yes, sir, rotation in office; a system that we invented for our
personal convenience, and which is likely to be firm, as it depends
on principles that are eternal."

"Will you suffer me to inquire, colonel, if it has any affinity to
the social-stake system?"