By March Hare
WASHINGTON (Politically Illustrated) – George Washington would have some explaining to do if he were alive after an old ledger showed Mr. Washington owing late fees on never returned books.
Mr. Washington checked out two books including a book on international law ("Law of Nations") and a transcript of the British House of Commons ("Commons Debates: Volume 12") from the New York Society Library both due on Nov. 2, 1789.
“We’re not actively pursuing the overdue fines,” said head librarian Mark Bartlett, “but we would be very happy if we were able to get the books back”.
Mr. Washington’s inflation-adjusted fine is now more than $100,000, but most librarians will accept the cost of replacing a book (or books) if the fine exceeds the amount of a book.
The ledger showed Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and Aaron Burr – all founding fathers – as returning their books, but not our first president of the United States.
Politically Illustrated
