From: utzoo!decvax!duke!harpo!ihps3!ihuxk!djs55611 Newsgroups: net.jokes Title: A Tale of Conquest Article-I.D.: ihuxk.172 Posted: Thu Sep 2 09:49:18 1982 Received: Mon Sep 6 01:35:37 1982 Once upon a time in deepest, darkest Africa lived a mighty and warlike tribe. Their chief was the mightiest and most warlike of them all, delighting in the conquest of neighboring tribes. However, the chief was somewhat vain and liked to show off his power and wealth. Ergo, he had a great grass palace built (all natives of deepest, darkest Africa live in grass abodes) with two stories. It was the only two story house in the land, a veritable skyscraper, one might say. Inside in the great throne room occuping most of the first floor would sit the chief on his great, intricately carved wooden throne holding audiences with leaders of conquered nations. Now, it was the custom of the tribes in that area to build large, heavy thrones for their chiefs. An enemy's mighty throne was an impressive war trophy. Needless to say, our chief had many captured thrones stored away on the second floor of his palace. Year after year, conquest after conquest, his collection grew. Literally tons of war trophies accumulated in his attic. He ruled the greatest empire ever seen. One day the chief was holding a great audience in his throne room. Some fiercesome tribes he had recently conquered had come to pay tribute. There was much celebration among his people and his palace echoed with the sound of drums and dancing feet. The music grew louder and louder until finally the vibrations were too much for the grass house, loaded down as it was with the great pile of thrones. The building collapsed, the thrones crushing the chief and his counselors. The empire immediately fell apart and its people were scattered. Of course, the moral of this story is: ************************************** People who live in grass houses shouldn't stow thrones! **************************************