This post is for Ida.
As a librarian, I have found a lot of things in books, some were from the library itself, old process slips, old bookmarks with ads on them, old receipts, and some of them were quite interesting because they were from even before my time. Hard to believe, I know 😉
Others were left behind - rarely on purpose, I would think - by our patrons.
Bank statements, photos, library cards, prescriptions, letters, really anything that can be used for a bookmark.
Some of those tell a very clear story that helps us to identify the rightful owner who might still need this, other stories stay in the dark, in case of photos for example ... or a flower.
Thanks to this week's silent movie and my usual snooping around for interesting details (I love my rabbit holes), I had found out about other books Jean Webster, the author of "Daddy-Long-Legs", had written, and I put her first one, "When Patty Went to College", and its later published prequel "Just Patty" on my reading list (both books are in the public domain and can be found at The Internet Archive).
I struggle with reading books on my laptop, but I told myself that it was part of my attention span training and have been getting a bit better at it since although I really prefer printed books.
One problem is getting tired more easily, but when I was just about to nod off in the middle of the story about Patty inventing a lore around a none-existent college student and turned the page, I came upon this.
There are several editions of the book available at The Internet Archive. There was no special reason to choose this one from 1903/04 (the title page says 1904, the back says published March 1903), but maybe the universe sent me a little greeting with this rose.
Mrs. Ida La Rua ... I couldn't find the name quickly, only an Ida La Rua Conrad.
Why did Ida own the book (only?) 20 years after it was published? Had it been passed on by someone else? Was it a gift or inherited? Did it come from a second-hand bookshop or a charity sale?
Why did Ida put down a street name, but no city (so I could find out something more easily)?
Was October 8, 1924 a special date or simply the day Ida got the book?
What about the rose? Had it already been in the book when Ida got it if it was a used book? Did Ida get the rose from someone special? What's the story of the rose?
Is the rose even that old or did someone put it in the book long after Ida owned it? And why wasn't it taken out when the book got scanned? Where is that book now? Is the rose still in there?
My mind went wandering and stories began bouncing around inside my head. It's just the way my mind works, I couldn't stop it if I wanted to.
Does the same happen to you if you find an inscription or something else in an old book?
That rose 🌹 is so cool! Of all the random things to find in a book.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it sweet? That reminds that we found a dried hemp leaf in a book at work once. We put it in foil and hung it up in a corner because it was so pretty.
DeleteI loved reading this post, Cat! But, you really got me with that rose! Wow! Your questions are all so apropos. Now, I think you have the basis of a really good back in time novel just begging to be written!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
It was such a surprise! I wonder if our digitizing department would have left it in, but I'm glad this one stayed.
DeleteI think I'll be sticking with the stories in my head, for everyone's sake 😄
This is reminding me of a period growing up when I liked to put pretty leaves I found into books. Makes me wonder if I donated any books with leaves still in them. I had two copies of the complete Sherlock Holmes, and if I had to guess, I donated my second copy with a leaf in it!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised and I think people would have liked that. I know we do.
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