A Prophet of Evil


  AN Undertaker Who Was a Member of a Trust saw a Man Leaning on a 
Spade, and asked him why he was not at work.

  "Because," said the Man Leaning on a Spade, "I belong to the 
Gravediggers' National Extortion Society, and we have decided to 
limit the production of graves and get more money for the reduced 
output.  We have a corner in graves and propose to work it to the 
best advantage."

  "My friend," said the Undertaker Who Was a Member of a Trust, "this 
is a most hateful and injurious scheme.  If people cannot be 
assured of graves, I fear they will no longer die, and the best 
interests of civilisation will wither like a frosted leaf."

  And blowing his eyes upon his handkerchief, he walked away 
lamenting.