71.   If there were a first prize in this column for beauty of statement and probity of elucidation, this catalogue would run away with it.

72.   If there were a prize for disingenuousness, McCollum would win it.

73.   If there were a prize given for political impudence, Republicans in the House of Representatives would surely win hands down.

74.   If the taxes were this high, the salesman would say, then the prize must be wonderful.

75.   If there were a prize for old-fashioned modesty and likability, Ms. Goodman would win that, too.

76.   If first prize is a trip to Carolina, then second prize has to be two trips, right?

77.   In an ordinary sealed-bid auction, bidders never offer more than they think the prize is worth.

78.   In fact, these prizes are overdue.

79.   In the chat room hosted by TreeLoot, the consensus among players is that the big prizes are all but impossible to get.

80.   In the marriage market, which is still dominated by informal matchmakers, the prize is a young man who works for a large company.