IN GILBERT AND SULLIVAN’S “THE MIKADO,” A WOMAN NAMED KO-KO IS APPOINTED TO THE JOB OF LORD HIGH EXECUTIONER TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHOM HE SHOULD HAVE KILLED. HER MAJESTY LORD HIGH EXECUTIONER OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY; “THERE WILL BE,” SHE SAYS, “NO DIFFICULTY IN FINDING PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHOSE LOSS WILL BE A DISTINCT GAIN TO SOCIETY AT LARGE.” AND THEN SHE REVEALS THAT SHE HAS “A LITTLE LIST” — A LIST “OF SOCIETY OFFENDERS . . . WHO NEVER WOULD BE MISSED!”
