poor georgie’s almanack:
CAUCUS … A GROUP OF ADVISORS.
In 1865 a man who called himself Lewis Carroll published “Alice in Wonderland.” It is book about a little girl who fell into a rabbit hole and entered an illogically logical world.
In the following excerpt I discovered today, Carroll explains how the advisory committees of modern legislative, parliamentary and congressional systems actually work.
The “explainer in chief” is a Dodo bird … now extinct … but his wisdom (of sorts) lives on in the form of a Caucus Race.
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'What is a Caucus-race?' said Alice …
'Why,' said the Dodo, 'the best way to explain it is to do it.' (And, as you might like to try the thing yourself, some winter day, I will tell you how the Dodo managed it.)
First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, ('the exact shape doesn't matter,' it said,) and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there.
There was no 'One, two, three, and away,' but they began running when they liked, and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know when the race was over.
However, when they had been running half an hour or so … the Dodo suddenly called out 'The race is over!' and they all crowded round it, panting, and asking, 'But who has won?’
This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of thought, and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed upon its forehead … At last the Dodo said, 'everybody has won, and all must have prizes.’
'But who is to give the prizes?' quite a chorus of voices asked.
'Why, she, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with one finger; and the whole party at once crowded round her, calling out in a confused way, 'Prizes! Prizes!’
Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand in her pocket, and pulled out a box of (candies) … and handed them round as prizes. There was exactly one a-piece all round.
'But she must have a prize herself, you know,' said the Mouse.
'Of course,' the Dodo replied very gravely. 'What else have you got in your pocket?' he went on, turning to Alice.
'Only a thimble,' said Alice sadly.
'Hand it over here,' said the Dodo.
Then they all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo solemnly presented the thimble, saying 'We beg your acceptance of this elegant thimble'; and, when it had finished this short speech, they all cheered.
Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so grave that she did not dare to laugh …
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