The History of a Book
One last thing about The Monks of Thelema. I found a small piece of paper (looks like a photocopy of something that had been typed on a typewriter) inside my father's copy that ended up being more interesting than anything in the book itself. I've reproduced the contents below, complete with its odd capitalization and punctuation.
February 12, 1992
McLEAN-DEWEY BRIEF HISTORY
Washington McLean Born 5/14/1816. Died 12/8/1890.
Owned Cincinnati Enquirer. Great political power. Never held political office. Helped to elect many to high office. He was a very well read man. His library was very large and well selected. He spent much of his time in it.
Had three children:
Mildred - Widow of Brigadier General William B. Hazen - Chief signal Corp. Civil War - Union. They had one son.
Mary - Widow of Captain A. H. Bugher - Civil War - Union. Son Frederick.
John R. - Senator. Wife Emily Beale - Daughter of General E. F. Beale. They had one son and one daughter.
John R. bought the Cincinnati Enquirer from his father (and partner) who had moved to Washington, D.C. in 1880. John R. then bought control of the Washington Post in 1905. He owned both until he died in 1916. His son Edward inherited the Post and ran it until 1933 when it became bankrupt. The Washington Post was sold at auction to Eugene Meyer whose daughter, Katherine Meyer Graham and now her son still control and operate the Post and other news papers.
McLEAN, VIRGINIA named for John R. McLean.
He co-founded the Washington and Old Dominion Railway in 1911. It now (1992) is the W&OD Historical Park -- A Bicycle path from D.C. to Purcellville, VA. It is the longest and narrowest State Historical Park in the U.S.A. - 48 miles.
General Mrs. Mildred McLean Hazen's mother invited Admiral George E. Dewey to stay with them upon his return from Manilla. He did. He met Mildred and married her. They lived at 1601 K Street., Washington, D.C.. George Dewey was made Admiral of the Navy - the only one to get this title. He was also active all during the Civil War in the Gulf and Mississippi River areas. He rose through the ranks.
The books (over a thousand) of all these people were stored in an unknown place for approximately 50 years. They were eventually auctioned off at Law's Auction House in Manassas, VA in 1983. I was able to get many of them.A Bible signed "Bought Jerusalem/86 George E. Dewey" - possibly with him at Manilla.
A Book of Common Prayer signed "Bought/11 George E. Dewey"
Books Date from 1837 to 1914.
Many of the books are signed by one of the six (6) key people who had them in their libraries.
All in good condition!
GOOD READING. ENJOY!
Sure enough, the title page of The Monks of Thelema is signed "J. R. McLean". (The ink even bled through to the flyleaf opposite, in a kind of mirror image.) But it's hard to picture a man of the world like Mr. McLean suffering all the way through this silly and tedious book, what with being a Senator and having a newspaper empire to run. In the 130 years of its existence, I may well be the only person to have ever read this copy of the book in its entirety. Which I'm sure says something about my masochism, or superabundance of free time, or both.
February 12, 1992
McLEAN-DEWEY BRIEF HISTORY
Washington McLean Born 5/14/1816. Died 12/8/1890.
Owned Cincinnati Enquirer. Great political power. Never held political office. Helped to elect many to high office. He was a very well read man. His library was very large and well selected. He spent much of his time in it.
Had three children:
Mildred - Widow of Brigadier General William B. Hazen - Chief signal Corp. Civil War - Union. They had one son.
Mary - Widow of Captain A. H. Bugher - Civil War - Union. Son Frederick.
John R. - Senator. Wife Emily Beale - Daughter of General E. F. Beale. They had one son and one daughter.
John R. bought the Cincinnati Enquirer from his father (and partner) who had moved to Washington, D.C. in 1880. John R. then bought control of the Washington Post in 1905. He owned both until he died in 1916. His son Edward inherited the Post and ran it until 1933 when it became bankrupt. The Washington Post was sold at auction to Eugene Meyer whose daughter, Katherine Meyer Graham and now her son still control and operate the Post and other news papers.
McLEAN, VIRGINIA named for John R. McLean.
He co-founded the Washington and Old Dominion Railway in 1911. It now (1992) is the W&OD Historical Park -- A Bicycle path from D.C. to Purcellville, VA. It is the longest and narrowest State Historical Park in the U.S.A. - 48 miles.
General Mrs. Mildred McLean Hazen's mother invited Admiral George E. Dewey to stay with them upon his return from Manilla. He did. He met Mildred and married her. They lived at 1601 K Street., Washington, D.C.. George Dewey was made Admiral of the Navy - the only one to get this title. He was also active all during the Civil War in the Gulf and Mississippi River areas. He rose through the ranks.
The books (over a thousand) of all these people were stored in an unknown place for approximately 50 years. They were eventually auctioned off at Law's Auction House in Manassas, VA in 1983. I was able to get many of them.A Bible signed "Bought Jerusalem/86 George E. Dewey" - possibly with him at Manilla.
A Book of Common Prayer signed "Bought/11 George E. Dewey"
Books Date from 1837 to 1914.
Many of the books are signed by one of the six (6) key people who had them in their libraries.
All in good condition!
GOOD READING. ENJOY!
Sure enough, the title page of The Monks of Thelema is signed "J. R. McLean". (The ink even bled through to the flyleaf opposite, in a kind of mirror image.) But it's hard to picture a man of the world like Mr. McLean suffering all the way through this silly and tedious book, what with being a Senator and having a newspaper empire to run. In the 130 years of its existence, I may well be the only person to have ever read this copy of the book in its entirety. Which I'm sure says something about my masochism, or superabundance of free time, or both.