Five thousand children in New York, each year, Gasp for bare life, in cellars damp and drear, 'Neath the street level. Deprived of sunshine, chill'd with vapor-blights, Say what are _their_ "inalienable rights," Social and civil? The right to starve, the right to beg, to float Among the city's scum--perchance to vote Some day as "freemen." Ah! yes, the _polls_ their sovereignty declare, Not so--in sordid chains they're oft led there By Faction's Demon. "The rich and poor are equal," says the State, But the strong laws of destiny and fate, O'erride its polity. Both have a right to _seek_ for "happiness;" But, with such different chances of success, Where's the _equality_? Here wealth like a Colossus doth bestride With legs of gold, the sorrow-troubled tide Of Want and Squallor. Nay, more, Law, Justice, oft becomes the tool Of that bright tyrant, callous, calm, and cool, Almighty Dollar! "All men are equal," where? Why, in their dust, Your worm cares little for your "upper crust!" (What impropriety!) And heaven receives alike all spirits pure, On equal terms, and heaven is therefore sure Of good society. SEEING THE ECLIPSE.--_Anon._ [To be spoken without gesture, as if the speaker were telling a friend his experience.] Did you ever see an eclipse? No? Well, you _did_ miss a sight, got up for the especial benefit of darkies, perhaps, but every white man, of good _standing_, could enjoy it--_if_ he was up. I'll tell you _my_ experience, and you may judge what you have lost by not seeing the eclipse. Well, I got up at three o'clock Wednesday morning. Looked for the sun, but couldn't find it. Concluded that I was up too early. Went to bed. Got up again at half-past five. Saw something they called the sun. Looked red. Went down town. Sun looked whiter and bright as a tin pan. Thought I would go home and get breakfast. Noticed the breakfast-room looked dark. Opened the blinds when it looked lighter. Seven o'clock. Went down town again. Sun shining very bright. Tried to look at it but couldn't. Thought I would take a glass. Took one. Smoked it. Thought that I could see better, but wasn't satisfied. Didn't see any eclipse. Eight o'clock. Took another glass, thinking it might be a better one. Smoked. Could see a patch on the sun's face. Grew bigger. Took another glass--smoked. Looked first-rate. Half-past eight. Things didn't look right, but could see something. Thought the trouble might be in the last glass. Took another. Saw the biggest kind of an eclipse. Saw the sun and moon. Took another glass and looked again. Saw two suns. Smoked and took another glass. Saw two suns and two moons. Took another glass. Five or six suns and ten or fifteen moons all mixed up and seemed to be drunk.