Mr Crystal's ability to mix unabashed sentiment with such comic zingers has left Manhattan chortling into its handkerchiefs.

ECONOMIST: Broadway shows

All this highlights the perennial Republican rift between ideologues and pragmatists, and leaves the Democrats chortling at the prospect of regaining the House and even the Senate in 2000.

ECONOMIST: Can Democrats and Republicans ever work together again?

Robert Bresson must be chortling in his grave.

NEWYORKER: Hadewijch

But the sight of parties negotiating to share office (or not) after an inconclusive election is common enough in much of Europe: Norwegians and Germans, for example, have been chortling at excitable Brits over the past few days.

ECONOMIST: Lessons from abroad: Learning how to share | The