A former soldier has returned a book to Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library -- 65 years after checking it out, library officials today.
The Pratt received "Sound and Symbol in Chinese," this week with a letter from John J. Wolfe of St. Louis, according to a news release. He said that while recuperating from surgery at Fort Meade in 1946, he visited the library with other soldiers. "Since it appeared at the time that we were about to be shipped out to the Far East theater, it seemed to me a good idea to learn a little about their languages," he said in his letter. "While perusing your stacks, I came across a book titled Sound and Symbol in Chinese that looked as though it might be useful."
Sixty-five years later, he found the book and decided to return it.
"Better late than never," said Pratt CEO Carla Hayden. "We are so delighted that Mr. Wolfe took the time and effort to return the book even if it was 65 years late. In this case we have decided to waive the late fee because the smiles he has given us are worth more than the fines that would have accumulated. We thank Mr. Wolfe for his service to this country."
The book is still in pristine condition, the library said, and has the original date due card in the back.