LH, I am sure the self-important ant was having fun because of what he imagined he was doing. I find it hard to credit that McGonagle actually believed his poetry was pathetically mediocre; at least, he probably thought, the sentiments were noble enough to outshine any flaws in the execution. A delusion comparable to the ant's, you see.   As for wealthy people asking McG to speak, I would point out that taste and wealth are not coupled variables, whatsoever, and more wealth has come from shlock than from quality.


A