EFFECTS OF REVOLUTIONS. 19 



It is only in the large towns and villages 

 near the coast, and on the low flat ground, 

 that the effect of these revolutions is felt. 

 In the forest and amidst the hills a man may 

 remain in perfect quiet for a few months, 

 and on going to the capital may learn, for 

 the first time, that everything is changed: 

 on inquiring for some of his old acquaint- 

 ances, is told they have been shot, and that 

 others, from occupying the lowest seats at 

 the political table, have promoted themselves 

 to the highest ; but that another revolution 

 is expected in a few nights, when those 

 highest will, most probably, be laid low 

 alongside of their predecessors. 



Not but in the forest there maybe " rumours 

 of wars," but it is impossible to get at the truth 

 of any rumour; and to the dweller in the 

 woods, or calm observer, the reason of all 

 these emeutes is as mysterious as the refrain of 

 the old song — 



" Friends and foes, 

 To battle they goes, 

 But what they all fights for, nobody knows ! " 



In truth, these revolutions, like many other 

 agitations, are invariably got up for the per- 

 sonal profit of a few, and at the expense of 

 the great majority. 



