George Washington’s long and sordid history as a book scofflaw has come to an end. The library book borrowed by by Washington and never returned to the New York Society Library has been returned 221 years overdue.
“The Law of Nations” by Emer de Vattel on October 5, 1789 is not the only book on Washington’s overdue list, but it is a meaningful start for the man who “would not tell a lie” but it appears would never return a book. One calculation puts the overdue fee at $300,000.
Of course, that book is now worth considerably more due to its overdue patron. For those of us serving at the institution founded for Washington (and chartered personally by Washington) allow me to express relief at this cloud being (partially) removed from over our school. Those long stares and whispers that we experienced on the streets may now finally end.
For the full story, click here.
This was G. Washington speaking from the grave. Of course you fail to state the significance of this book. In it is where the Framers got the term and meaning of Natural Born Citizen, i.e. indigenous citizens, born in a country to parents who are it’s citizens.
Was the good general a tightwad?
“For those of us serving at the institution founded for Washington (and chartered personally by Washington) allow me to express relief at this cloud being (partially) removed from over our school. Those long stares and whispers that we experienced on the streets may now finally end.”
Hold your head high, Professor!
“A few days after learning of the situation, staff at Washington’s home in Virginia, Mount Vernon, offered to replace Vattel’s “Law of Nations” with another copy of the same edition,” the library said in a statement.”
One wonders if they had it on a shelf or if many were printed at that time. Since it was borrowed in 1789 this would make it 221 years over due. I wonder how many copy’s were printed. Amazing. I also read in the article that it was housed in a Federal Building. I guess this was a little before Andrew Carnegie made funds available to build library’s throughout America.
A little robin’ in the hood eh?
I hear they waived the penalty upon return of the scroll … 😉
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2010/05/robin-hood-stabbed-in-back.html