From the Editor's Computer
Once upon a time, not so long ago, nor so far away there was a principality which was governed by a ruler who was both very wise and yet very foolish. The ruler was exceedingly wise when following the advice of the wise advisors, and incredibly foolish when following the advice of the foolish advisors.
Unfortunately, the subjects of this principality never knew from day to day whether the ruler would act wisely, or foolishly. Tensions ran high and tempers were short all around. Even the various advisors didn’t always know which one would be favoured that day to offer advice to the ruler...the wise or the foolish.
One day a stranger arrived at the ruler’s home and requested entrance. Unbeknownst to anyone there, the stranger was the wisest and most knowledgeable advisor the previous rulers had ever had. The stranger only appeared when the foolish were prevailing.
The stranger was granted entrance and given food to eat. Whilst he was partaking of his repast he observed the way the ruler interacted with the various advisors. He noticed that the ruler tended to favour the foolish ones, ignoring the wise ones, yet acting like the opposite was true. Thus, the reality was that the wise advisors were not asked for their advice and input. The stranger found the situation to be most unique as he’d heard about the wisdom of the ruler in ages past.
Each day was a recurrence of the day before during the entire week. The foolish advisors were favoured over the wise ones. Thus the poor subjects were repeated victims of extreme foolish acts and proclamations.
The stranger knew the situation was bleak for all, and that something needed to be done to transform the principality so it could thrive again. He observed the situation for another week whilst he devised of a means to reveal to all what was really going on so that they could silence the foolish advisors, and allow the wise advisors to assist the ruler to restore order to the principality.
Finally the scribe stood up one day and addressed the ruler, advisors, and subjects with these words…
“Things are not as they should be,
With advice coming willy nilly,
The one who understands this clue
Can lead these people as the ruler true.
When I make my point
I leave no doubt,
Making my mark both
Within and without.
Lest thou fear
I’m easily mislead,
I keep my place
by using my head.
What am I?”
Beth
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WCqDFXMTkEbV2ko9jUCYNsCoS29U6TSl/view?usp=sharing
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