Mythology For Some People

And it came to pass that, one night in the chilly November, the Chancellor of the College took it upon himself to set up a great statute of himself (no, not statue, that was Nebuchadnezzar) and claim the title of Great Visionary. For this was one of the few titles not in common use since the time of the Great Helmsman. And many saw this, and some were made to bow down before it, but it was all in jest, although those who ingested were not all of good digestion thereafter.

Outside, the leaves turned red in embarrassment and the skeletons knocked their bones together in the closet. Many who had worked on earlier statutes were in uproar and disquiet. But some smirked merrily to themselves.

Then the wise men of the Family came together, and some younger of the wise men asked, "Should this be done with the lucre that we have raised for the youth of the nation?" But the older and wiser said, "Is it not great theatre and a worthy appendage to the year? For how else should we gain entertainment and have something to laugh at during the dying days of the year?"

And the younger men went away appeased, for they saw the truth, and the truth made them laugh quite a bit.