Sauntering Vaguely Downward

Huh; I didn't realize that people burned current politicians in effigy for Bonfire Night. Or that they still burned popes, though I knew that happened as late as the American Revolution. Apparently there was some awkwardness after French troops joined the Continental Army because the American soldiers were still burning the pope in effigy for Bonfire Night despite General Washington ordering them not to both because it would offend their allies and because it was rather ironic in their circumstances to celebrate the holiday at all.