July 1999

Life holds wonderful surprises. At the Skaneateles Library book sale this morning, I was in the tent, browsing the picked-over tables in the sale’s final hours, and came upon a book whose dark binding and cover titles had faded to the point of no return. But I was curious, picked it up, and fumbled with the frontispiece until at last I could open to the title page. In my trembling hands I held the privately published (1927) tell-all of Nan Britton, who bore a child sired by her lover, the President of the United States, Warren G. Harding (one of my favorite presidents). For 50 cents. What a beautiful world.