The Boneless King

Some apes who had recently deposed their king quickly fell into dissension and anarchy. In this dire situation, they decided to send a delegation to a neighboring tribe to consult the Oldest and Wisest Ape in All the World.

"My children," said the Oldest and Wisest Ape after listening to the delegation, "you did right in ridding yourselves of tyranny, but your tribe is not sufficiently advanced to dispense with the forms of monarchy. Entice the tyrant back with fair promises, kill him, and then enthrone a new leader. The skeleton of even the most lawless despot can make a good constitutional sovereign."

At this, the delegation was greatly abashed. "It is impossible," they replied, moving away in disappointment. "Our king has no skeleton; he was stuffed."