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Letter to Editor
December 11, 1952
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
Bill Laniall recounts a light-hearted story from Washington about a New Orleans man's sarcastic reply to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation's request for land title history predating the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, humorously tracing it to Columbus's 1492 voyage and God's creation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A Letter
From Bill Laniall
Dear Neighbor:
There's a story, in the lighter vein, being told around our Nation's Capital these days. It concerns a gentleman from New Orleans who made a loan application to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation — better known as the RFC.
Shortly after filing his application the gentleman in question received a letter from the RFC lawyers who requested that he furnish an abstract showing a good and marketable title to the property he was offering as collateral. The applicant furnished an abstract dating back to 1803.
The RFC countered with a request that they wanted the title cleared further back than that date. This request irritated the applicant and prompted him to reply to the RFC something like this.
Quote "I was unaware that any educated man in the world called to know that Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803. The title to the land was acquired by France by right of conquest from Spain, who came into possession by right of discovery made in 1492 by a sailor named Christopher Columbus, who had been commissioned for the job by the reigning monarch, Isabella.
"The Queen, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the RFC, secured the blessing of the Pope on the enterprise before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus' trip.
The Pope was the representative of the good Lord, who, it is commonly accepted, made the world, including that part of Louisiana in question — and I hope you are satisfied."
— End Quote.
It is not known whether the New Orleans gentleman received his loan.
Sincerely yours,
BILL LANTAFF
From Bill Laniall
Dear Neighbor:
There's a story, in the lighter vein, being told around our Nation's Capital these days. It concerns a gentleman from New Orleans who made a loan application to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation — better known as the RFC.
Shortly after filing his application the gentleman in question received a letter from the RFC lawyers who requested that he furnish an abstract showing a good and marketable title to the property he was offering as collateral. The applicant furnished an abstract dating back to 1803.
The RFC countered with a request that they wanted the title cleared further back than that date. This request irritated the applicant and prompted him to reply to the RFC something like this.
Quote "I was unaware that any educated man in the world called to know that Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803. The title to the land was acquired by France by right of conquest from Spain, who came into possession by right of discovery made in 1492 by a sailor named Christopher Columbus, who had been commissioned for the job by the reigning monarch, Isabella.
"The Queen, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the RFC, secured the blessing of the Pope on the enterprise before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus' trip.
The Pope was the representative of the good Lord, who, it is commonly accepted, made the world, including that part of Louisiana in question — and I hope you are satisfied."
— End Quote.
It is not known whether the New Orleans gentleman received his loan.
Sincerely yours,
BILL LANTAFF
What sub-type of article is it?
Comedic
Historical
Satirical
What themes does it cover?
Economic Policy
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Rfc Loan
Title Abstract
Louisiana Purchase
Christopher Columbus
Bureaucratic Humor
What entities or persons were involved?
Bill Lantaff
Neighbor
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Bill Lantaff
Recipient
Neighbor
Main Argument
a humorous anecdote about a new orleans applicant's witty response to the rfc's demand for historical title proof beyond 1803, tracing land ownership back to divine creation.
Notable Details
References Louisiana Purchase From France In 1803
Mentions Acquisition By France From Spain Via Conquest
Cites Discovery By Christopher Columbus In 1492 Commissioned By Queen Isabella
Notes Pope's Blessing And Queen Selling Jewels To Finance The Trip
Attributes Ultimate Ownership To God Who Made The World