An Ambiguous Amendment
While the cholera was raging at M——, the police issued an order that everybody who went home after ten o’clock at night, must do so without making any noise whatever, or pay a fine of five gulden. One night several students who had sat over their beer too long, went home late, singing lustily. The nightwatchman at once accosted them, and asked whether they had not read the order that everybody must go home without singing or making any other noise?
“Of course we have read it,” said one of the students, drily, “but we are not going home.” This quick-witted answer confused the worthy watchman, and he let them go. Next day the following amendment was read under the order: “Nobody is permitted to sing or make any noise on the street at night, whether they are going home or not.”