The Old Year flits, the New Year comes, And, through such severance, man contrives To parcel out in little sums The little measurements of lives. We feign the one a different year, Outworn, by solemn bells outrung-- The other, foundling of our sphere, As radiant, innocent, and young. Farewell! we cry, to Ninety-Two, Its lapses and encompassings, We bid them all a fond adieu, And fix our gaze on fresher things; What has not been we dream will be, The wounds will heal, the flaws will mend, And hopes be born of Ninety-Three That older, cherished hopes transcend. It is not thus; Time mocks at pause, In march continual onward goes; Th' unfailing progress of his laws, No respite nor effacement knows; This year is but the force of last, Not something new to mortal ken; Heredity's enchainment vast Enthrals the moments as the men. Yet welcome still, our childish trust, Which breathes a truth that Science mars; Our ladder, based upon the dust, Mounts ever nearer steadfast stars; And, though the rungs be still the same, The glimpses, as we strive to rise, Are, 'spite our mists of sin and shame, More closely neighbouring the skies. * * * * * MIXED NOTIONS. No. III.--PANAMA. SCENE, _and persons as before--namely, two_ Well-informed Men, _an_ Inquirer, _and an_ AVERAGE MAN, _travelling up together in a suburban morning-train to London._ _First Well-informed Man._ Jolly old mess they seem to have got into in Paris over this Panama business. I see they arrested half-a-dozen more of them yesterday. _Second W. I. M._ Yes--and they haven't done yet. I knew, months and months ago, the crash must come. That French chap, LAMPION told me all about it. He says it'll bust up the Republic before they've done with it. _First W. I. M._ And a good thing too. That kind of corruption only flourishes under a Republican form of government. They want a strong man in France, that's what they want. _Average Man._ I don't believe much in your strong men. I suppose the last Emperor was a pretty fair specimen; but they seem to have had some high old ramps under him, too. Besides, look at Russia. _First W. I. M._ You can't bring Russia forward as an example. _Second W. I. M._ Of course not. Russia don't count. _A. M._ Why not? I don't suppose you can make a man much stronger than the CZAR; but, if we're to believe what we're told, the whole place is honeycombed with corruption. Why--(_to_ First W. I. M.)--you were saying yourself, only the other day, that Russia was corrupt to the core. _First W. I. M._ Oh, but I was speaking of something quite different. Russia is a country _per se_. _Inquirer._ I thought Russia was an Autocracy. _First W. I. M._ It's the same thing. _Second W. I. M._ (_after a pause_). Well, anyhow, we in England haven't done anything of the kind. You can't deny that.