Simply put, a syzygy any astronomical arrange of three bodies in a straight line. An eclipse is an example of syzygy. It is of note because it is a rare celestial event. Now, I beg leave for a digression, with a promise to return to this etymological oddity later.

For no reason other than my father-in-law being a retired history teacher and us watching the History Channel, we came to discuss our Founding Fathers. (Yes, 'rebel scum' to those of you on the other side of the pond.) Turns out the State Library of New York has the first draft of George Washington's farewell address after his second term as president, the one with the famous (and, of recent late, seemingly overlooked) admonition to avoid "entangling alliances."

It is not an address in the form we are used to thinking of presidential addresses. (Yes, the wiseacres among us can chirp, "1600 Pennsylvania" any time you wish. Go ahead, I'll wait.)

It was not oration. My father-in-law pointed out he was likely a poor public speaker with his false teeth. (Reportedly, his 'formal' set was fashioned from whalebone, while his 'everyday' set was more likely the famous "wooden teeth" of our history books' anecdotal trivia.)

James Madison stood at 5'1". He was called "Little Jimmy" behind his back (same attribution.) John Adams had a high and squeaky voice. From another source, about the time of the Lincoln Papers, came the possibility that he was affected with Marfan's Syndrome, which would result in his voice being not the booming basso thunder we common hear in media, but one made wheezy and soft by compromised lungs.

In short, none of those people would have won any modern election. Not even for dogcatcher.

The State Library had other historical treasures, including another work signed by other Founding Fathers such as John Jay. I know the work was signed by others, but cannot speak from certainty either which others or of the nature of the work. Perhaps someone who had fortune to view the same show can fill in the details.

From that show and the appreciation for the weight of history embodied by those pieces, our conversation moved to the amazing foresight those same Founding Fathers showed in framing our Constitution. We had a side conversation with an appreciation for their breadth of skill, from simple crafts such as penmanship, to education. By way of example, Jefferson was literate in five languages (same attribution, my FiL.)

At that point, one of us observed that in this day we could not envision anyone crafting such a resilient document. Any single person, mind you, much less a committee. Ambrose Bierce once opined a committee is an organism with "six legs and no brain."

We as a country are fortunate to have had a collection of minds of such caliber, in one place, at one time. We can think of great minds today, but none as stellar, and very unlikely any able to place the common goal before oneself.

Yes, the pool was smaller then. Less people. Even among the smaller populace, a smaller percentage of enfranchisement. Those who voted on if or not to ratify the Constitution were free, white, 21 and landed. This meant upper class, the middle class being largely an industrial revolution development. That meant most if not all of the mere electorate were of arts and letters.

Back then, the concept of representative democracy meant something. Rather than who had the best soundbite or slipped money to a supposedly 'independent' group to do a hit-piece on the opposition, those involved selected the best of their peers. Supposedly. I'm sure there was skulduggery abounding as well.

Still and however, Philadelphia bore witness to fifty-five people of exceptional intelligence, experience and wisdom who forged together to draft a document that (largely) stands intact eleven score years later, affecting so many people, buffeted by so many changes. What are the chances we can do this today?

Syzygy.