Indeed, if anything, both the letter and the spirit of the fundamental law have been made to lean a little against the practice; but having been cleverly introduced, in the way of construction, it is now bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh.

Well, sir, these two great political landmarks being fairly drawn, the first effort of one who aspires to be thought a patriot is to acquire the practice of 'toeing the mark' promptly and with facility.

But should I illustrate my positions by a few experiments, you might comprehend the subject all the better .-- For though, in fact, the true evolutions are purely moral, as I have just had the honor to explain, yet we have instituted a physical parallel that is very congenial to our habits, with which the neophyte always commences." Here the commodore took a bit of chalk and drew two very distinct lines, crossing each other at right angles, through the centre of the room.
When this was done, he placed his feet together, and then he invited me to examine if it were possible to see any part of the planks between the extremities of his toes and the lines.

After a rigid look, I was compelled to confess it was not.
"This is what we call 'toeing the mark'; it is social position, No.

1.
Almost every citizen gets to be expert in practising it, on one or the other of the two great political lines.