The governor of a distant province receives a telegram from the Ministry asking how many analphabets (illiterates) there are in his area. Neither he nor his colleagues know what an analphabet is, but as anarchism also begins with 'an' they guess that an analphabet must be a dangerous enemy of the state, and report that they have only one—the schoolmaster.

And the Lisbonites did not more disbelieve in, and dream less of their coming ruin, than Cecil did his, […]

Let them continue to coalite.

sympathy, antipathy, empathy