In the Lobby (2)

'Traversing page after page, and sheet after sheet of the paper, that sometimes carried news or simply dispatched something, then his eyes focused on a headline, which caught his attention, 'The War,'

The Weasels and the Mice were always up in arms against each other. The dispute was getting hotter when a weasel, inactive from age and infirmities, was not able to catch mice as he once did. He, therefore, rolled himself in flour and lay down in a dark corner. A Mouse, supposing him to be food, leaped upon him, and was instantly caught and squeezed to death. Another perished in a similar manner, and then a third, and still others after them. A very old Mouse, who had escaped many a trap and snare, observed from a safe distance the trick of his crafty foe and said, “Ah! you that lie there, may you prosper just in the same proportion as you are what you pretend to be!”

Hearing this, the Mice declared war on the Weasels. However, in every battle, the Weasels carried off the victory, as well as a large number of the Mice, which they ate for dinner next day. In despair, the Mice called a council, and there it was decided that the Mouse army was always beaten because it had no leaders. So, a large number of generals and commanders were appointed from among the most eminent Mice.

To distinguish themselves from the soldiers in the ranks, the new leaders proudly bound on their heads, lofty crests and ornaments of feathers or straw. Then, after long preparation of the Mouse army in all the arts of war, inter alia, the Art of War of Sun Tzu, Sun Bin, Pang Juan and many more, they sent a challenge to the Weasels.

The Weasels accepted the challenge with eagerness, for they were always ready for a fight when a meal was in sight. They immediately attacked the Mouse army in large numbers. Soon, the Mouse line gave way before the attack and the whole army fled for cover. The privates easily slipped into their holes, but the Mouse leaders, could not squeeze through the narrow openings because of their head-dresses. Not one escaped the teeth of the hungry Weasels.

Greatness has its penalties, as well as the more honor, the more danger. This war was taking place in the Northern Hemisphere, and until the news was revealed, the war is still going on.

Something interesting, happenned in the Equatorial Earth. A King cried out, 'Stop the War!' His loyal followers, who always praised the King, even though they merely heard a piece of a sentence, felt proud and they said to all the people, 'It is the time for the King to become an Emperor! It's the time for the King to become an Emperor!'

A well-respected Noble Lady, observing, satirically chimed in, 'What? Become an Emperor? Does this country belong to your progenitors?'

At the Tavern, the vocalist's alluring tone was still running,

Takes more than combat gear, to make a man

Takes more than a license, for a gun

Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can

A gentleman will walk, but never run 

The man's gaze wandered around the newspaper again, and paused as he read 'Editorship,'

Virtue, Money, and Reputation, were traveling together; they were near relations, and as it happened, very good Friends.

'Well Cousins,' says Money, 'Though we travel the same Road, it is possible we may lose one another. 'Most certainly, it may be so, 'says Virtue. 'But if it should so happen,' says Reputation, 'How should we do to find one another? You must give me before-hand some certain Signs, that if I lose you, I may know you, or at least where you are.'

'With all my Soul,' says Money, wherever you see great progress made in Arts and Sciences, a Taste for ingenious Compositions, either in Verse or Prose, beautiful Pieces of Painting, and curious Sculpture, look for me, you may be sure I’m not far off.

'For my part,' says Virtue, 'I’m not so easy to be found when lost, and you must not imagine to find me in large and populous Cities. I much rather hide my self up in some Des'art. However, when you see great Men compassionate, and charitable to the Poor, who are uneasy at the Misfortunes of those for whom they’ve prosessed a Friendihip, and who think it their greatest Glory to serve them in Adversity, faithful Husbands, just Judges, zealous Ministers; reasonable and disinterested Conquerors, and Lovers the publick Good, ask for me, and you’ll certainly find me.'

'Very well,' says Reputation, 'I must tell you too, I’ve no mean opinion of my self, however, I must only give you one Precaution, and that is, Look well after me; take care, you don’t lose sight of me, if you do, all Signs and Tokens any one may give you, will stand you in no stead. For they that have once lost me, never find me more.'

The man immediately closed his newspaper, and put it back on the shelf, when another man, walked up to him. They greeted each other with greetings, and the man who had just arrived said, 'Pardon me Sir, I'm the guide who will take you around.' The man said, 'Okay, after this, where are we going?' The guide said, 'I will take you to a place where a statue of a man wearing a helmet, riding a racing motorbike has been found. The statue was unrecognizable, for it was under a pile of red bricks and the front of his helmet, covered with hardened cendol,' as they walked towards the hotel gates. A woman followed by her son and daughter, approaching, and the man said, 'Oh, they are my wife and children!' The guide nodded and said, 'I think the children will also be happy to see the statue, because it could be, part of a historical course.'

They left the hotel and so did I, and the vocalist's, faintly ending the song,

Whoo oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

Whoo oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York *)

Before the Moon going, she said, "If you want to accomplish Greatness, first thing fist, think about aid or serviceability. Being great is to take responsibility to others that you must give in exchange. So, Servicing and Taking on responsibility will not far from ventilation of Greatnesses. And Allah knows best."

Citations & References:
- Sieur De La Motte, One Hundred New Court Fables, Peter-Nofter-Row
- Rev. Geo. Fyler Townsend, M.A., Aesop Fables, George Routledge and Sons
*) "Englishman in New York" wrtitten by "Sting" Gordon Summer

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