Along came a detective

Human Events, Apr 23, 2001 by Pearcey, J Richard

In the real world, the spiders also sit down beside you, but there's a catch: They don't always look like spiders. The worst of them often wear a shirt and tie and show up in boardrooms, as C.S. Lewis reminds us. Or you may see them on TV or hear them on the radio.

In Along Came a Spider, the spider can be a teacher (Soneji) or some other person we think we can trust. In life, the spider can be an aw-shucks President promising peace, security and affluence; or a well-known religious figure with an image to create and books to sell (that he didn't write-all for the good of the ministry, of course!); or the humanist who loves Man but hates his neighbor and assures you Hell does not exist (his neighbor may have a different opinion).

The spider in Miss Muffet does not get its prey. The same happens in Dr. Cross's story, but not because he runs away.

Mr. Pearcey is managing editor of HUMAN EVENTS.