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George Washington Racks Up 220 Years of Late Fees At Library

Posted by samzenpus on from the at-least-he-read dept.

Everyone knows that George Washington couldn't tell a lie. What you probably didn't know is that he couldn't return a library book on time. From the article: "New York City's oldest library says one of its ledgers shows that the president has racked up 220 years' worth of late fees on two books he borrowed, but never returned. One of the books was the 'Law of Nations,' which deals with international relations. The other was a volume of debates from Britain's House of Commons. Both books were due on Nov. 2, 1789."

13 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. And he decided to pay the late fees... by Doug52392 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... in $1 bills.

    1. Re:And he decided to pay the late fees... by AnotherUsername · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Shoot it!"

      "But's it's former President George Washington! That's practically treason!"

      "It wants our brains! Shoot it! It's coming through the door!"

      "But, but...President! Founding Father! George Washington!"

      "Zombie Apocalypse begins today if you don't shoot it!"

      "But this is the Father of our Country"

      "I don't care, give me the gun!"

      BOOM!

      "You...you shot George Washington...Who...Who are you?"

      "Ash Williams. You can thank me now."

      --
      I don't like Linux. This doesn't make me a troll.
  2. case by CSHARP123 · · Score: 4, Funny

    When he goes to renew his Library card next time, bring a case against him and collect lots of those Washingtons

    1. Re:case by eleuthero · · Score: 5, Insightful
      If you've read any of his writings, he was a slave owner because of a period understanding of necessity - he also freed his slaves at his wife's death (something Jefferson was unable to do because of a million dollar - modern conversion - debt).

      Privately, however, Washington could -- and did -- lead by example. In his will, he arranged for all of the slaves he owned to be freed after the death of his wife, Martha. He also left instructions for the continued care and education of some of his former slaves, support and training for all of the children until they came of age, and continuing support for the elderly.

      Washington on slavery

      It is sometimes helpful not to bash people who were stuck in a system that they sought to improve with as little violence as possible (This didn't end up happening in the US, but in Britain and other European countries slavery was outlawed over time without violence).

  3. So... by TheSpoom · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Where are the books now?

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
    1. Re:So... by Eevee · · Score: 4, Informative
      If we go to a better news source, we see that

      Sadly for fans of 18th-Century political literature, they appear to have vanished.

    2. Re:So... by masmullin · · Score: 4, Funny

      He'd think "bbbbrraaaaaaaaaiiiinnnssssszzzz" because thats what Zombies think.

  4. Obligatory by cosm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Epoch fail.

    --
    'We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress.' RPF
  5. It's a clue. by Toonol · · Score: 4, Funny

    Get Nick Cage on the case; those two books no doubt contain directions to the Illuminati's treasure stored in the hidden fortress of the Masons.

  6. Authors suing for loss of IP? by spookymonster · · Score: 4, Funny

    I mean, think of how much revenue they must've lost!

    --
    - Despite popular opinion, I am not perfect.
  7. US Federal Debt by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now we know why the US Federal Debt is so high. That fine is probably still being carried by the Office of the President.

  8. Re:Not quite so late, but... by Chas · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was related to Mary Coyle Chase

    Technically, you still are.

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  9. Weak Evidence by lee1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The evidence that it was G. Washington is 'An aide simply scrawled "president" next to the title to show who had taken them out'. This seems pretty weak to me. How do we know this means the President of the U.S.? Maybe it was the president of the library, or someone else entirely. The entry was intended to make sense to the library staff, not random other people 200 years later.