Translating King

[Walter Oobleck]

I'm reminded, too, of The Lottery from Shirley Jackson...although I believe it was a bag that had black and white marbles in it...maybe one black. Which is probably a spoiler...or not.

 

[Goran]

The word "blackballed" (i.e. to ban or eject someone from a group) has its origins in an 18th century tradition of registering a negative vote by putting a black ball in the voting box. A white ball is a positive vote.

Great, thanx!