Skip to comments.
Man, 89, comes clean, returns book after 76 years
http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2010/12/23/man_89_comes_clean_returns_book_after_76_years/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+News+of+the+odd ^
| December 24, 2010
Posted on 12/24/2010 1:06:10 PM PST by Wile E Coyote Genius
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich.Mark McKee is lucky a Michigan library isn't charging him a late fee for returning a book 76 years late.
.In 1934, the 13-year-old McKee checked out "A Dog of Flanders" by English author Marie Louise de la Ramee from the Mount Clemens Public Library.
Recently, McKee, now 89, said he discovered the book and mailed it to the library.
"I was entranced by the book and kept it with my prized possessions, intending to return it forthwith," McKee wrote in an accompanying letter. "Thus began a 76-year odyssey of missed opportunity and intention."
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
TOPICS: Books/Literature; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: honest; honestly; library; overdue; sourcetitlenoturl
Better late than never. I like it when people are honest!
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
2
posted on
12/24/2010 1:10:09 PM PST
by
Huntress
(Who the hell are you to tell me what's in my best interests?)
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
Geo Washington still has him beat by a long shot.
3
posted on
12/24/2010 1:12:34 PM PST
by
JPG
(There is hope for America and her name is Sarah.)
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
They can have my overdue library book when the pry it FMCDH(BITS).
4
posted on
12/24/2010 1:14:49 PM PST
by
Lonesome in Massachussets
(Socialists are to economics what circle squarers are to math; undaunted by reason or derision.)
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
"Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y'know that little stamp,the one that says "New York Public Library"? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before: Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. What's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers? Doesn't HE deserve better?"
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
It
is a good book.
You can read it here:
A Dog of Flanders
The author is better known just as "Ouida", her pen name. She was immensely popular in late Victorian times. My grandmother-in-law was named after her. Ouida Dunbar.
6
posted on
12/24/2010 1:22:13 PM PST
by
AnAmericanMother
(Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
7
posted on
12/24/2010 1:36:04 PM PST
by
Libloather
(Teapublican, PROUD birther, mobster, pro-lifer, anti-warmer, enemy of the state, extremist....)
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
8
posted on
12/24/2010 1:46:20 PM PST
by
dfwgator
(Welcome to the Gator Nation Will Muschamp)
To: Huntress
Uncle Louie from Sienfeld
9
posted on
12/24/2010 2:01:14 PM PST
by
Doogle
((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
To: AnAmericanMother
I remember the ending being a total bummer but I don’t think the dog COULD have frozen to death with the kid.
10
posted on
12/24/2010 2:08:36 PM PST
by
sinanju
To: reagan_fanatic
Is it even legal to own a copy of The Five Chinese Brothers in this day and age. It would be terribly politically-incorrect.
Hmmmm, then again, young Chinese dudes with super-powers fighting evil are still a staple of the movies, at least.
11
posted on
12/24/2010 2:10:11 PM PST
by
sinanju
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
Great story.
I’ll probably see the book next week. We used to live in Mt. Clemens and are stopping by next week at the library. My daughter worked there for several years and wants to see her friends on the staff, as do we.
Great people at that place.
12
posted on
12/24/2010 2:27:44 PM PST
by
cyclotic
(Boy Scouts-Developing Leaders in a World of Followers.)
To: Huntress
LOL - my first thought when I saw the thread title - classic scene and “Bookman” played it perfectly.
13
posted on
12/24/2010 2:34:07 PM PST
by
newfreep
(Palin/DeMint 2012 - Bolton: Secy of State)
To: sinanju
It's pretty difficult for a big dog to freeze to death, even in the winter in Antwerp - particularly indoors.
But any acquaintance between Ouida and actual fact is purely coincidental. She is all romance, coincidence, and ridiculously tragic endings.
Under Two Flags is probably her most famous story. It was considered very scandalous at the time because the heroine was a "fallen woman," a camp-follower of the French Foreign Legion. Bertie Cecil takes the blame for his wicked brother's forging a note and flees to Algeria to join the Foreign Legion. He loves the widow of a nobleman, whom he cannot woo because he enlisted under a false name. The camp-follower, Cigarette, loves him but her love is not returned. Eventually she leaps in front of a firing squad to save Cecil's life, his name is cleared and he returns to England.
It's the Breathless Romance School of fiction, but it's really quite good. It was a best seller and much liked, especially by British soldiers. Go figure.
14
posted on
12/24/2010 3:23:55 PM PST
by
AnAmericanMother
(Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
To: Wile E Coyote Genius
Yeah! Mount Clemens shout out!!!!!!
15
posted on
12/24/2010 4:39:06 PM PST
by
dragonblustar
("... and if you disagree with me, then you sir, are worse than Hitler!" - Greg Gutfeld)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson