The exaggeration gave a cannon-ball's weight to his sound argument.

The Government dropped the clause--it was only a trivial part of a wide-reaching measure--the President of the Board of Agriculture saying gracefully that in the miracle he hoped to bring about he had unfortunately forgotten the effect it might have on the pigs.

There was "renewed laughter," but Colonel Winwood remained the hero of the half-hour and received the ecstatic congratulations of unhumorous friends.

He might have defeated the Government altogether.
In the daily round of political life nothing is so remarkable as the lack of sense of proportion.
"It was the Gadarene swine that did it," they said.
"And that," said Colonel Winwood honestly, "was my young devil of a secretary." Thenceforward the young wit and the fresh fancy of Paul played like a fountain over Colonel Winwood's and speeches.
"Look here, young man," said he one day, "I don't like it.

Sometimes I take your confounded suggestions, because they happen to fit in; but I'm actually getting the reputation of a light political comedian, and it won't do." Whereupon Paul, with his swift intuition, saw that in the case of a proud, earnest gentleman like Colonel Winwood the tempting emendations of typescript would not do.