The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible - Bastiat Institute

Chapter 34
Vice Versa
No sooner had he exited the building than he nearly tripped over
Mices, lying in wait outside with a dead rat at his feet. Eyeing the
revolting sight, Jonathan mused, “I can imagine where this came
from, Mices. Thanks, but no thanks.” The yellow cat scratched his
torn ear, unconcerned by Jonathan’s rejection of the juicy morsel.
Across the street, Jonathan noticed a woman wearing heavy
makeup and a tight fi tting, bright red dress. As a gentleman passed
her on the street, she smiled and tried to engage him in conversation.
She didn’t appear to be begging. No, Jonathan thought she was
trying to sell something. When unsuccessful in her efforts with
the man, she abruptly turned to fi nd another customer. Jonathan
wondered if Lord Ponzi had declared this gaudy woman a public
good, too.
Then, coming towards him, he saw another outrageously dressed
woman. She, too, wore vivid lip paint and a low-cut black blouse
that showed off her ample cleavage. Her short skirt revealed lithe
legs that gave no hint of ever doing knee walking. When she stopped
and gazed boldly at Jonathan, he practically stopped breathing.
She was on the verge of speaking, when a police wagon barrelled
around the corner and jerked to a stop between the two women.
Several men dressed in black jumped out, grabbed both women,
leering and pinching as they hauled the women, shrieking and
kicking, into the wagon. The policemen slammed the doors shut,
the driver cracked his whip, and off they went. One of the offi cers
remained behind, writing some notes in a little black book that he
pulled from his pocket.
“Excuse me, sir,” said Jonathan, “I’d like to report a robbery.”
“That’s not my department,” replied the policeman, without even
glancing up from his notebook.