Six and One

  THE Committee on Gerrymander worked late, drawing intricate lines
on a map of the State, and being weary sought repose¹ in a game of
poker².  At the close of the game the six Republican members were
bankrupt and the single Democrat³ had all the money.  On the next
day, when the Committee was called to order for business, one of
the luckless six mounted his legs, and said:

  "Mr. Chairman, before we bend to our noble task of purifying
politics, in the interest of good government I wish to say a word
of the untoward⁴ events of last evening.  If my memory serves me the
disasters which overtook the Majority of this honourable⁵ body
always befell when it was the Minority's deal.  It is my solemn
conviction, Mr. Chairman, and to its affirmation I pledge my life,
my fortune, and my sacred honour, that that wicked and unscrupulous
Minority redistricted the cards!"