The Pen, The Sword, And The Book

I have heard quoted 'The pen is stronger than the sword' (or was it 'more powerful'?). Another by Robert Burton that says 'A blow given with a word cuts deeper than that given by a sword). To the intellects, literalist and sentimentalist maybe. No impact whatsoever to thieves, those who had stolen a sword from a museum and leaving much more valuable objects behind.

The sword was taken, amongst other exhibits, from the Museum Ruben Dario, in Nicaragua. It belonged to the poet/diplomat, together with other valuable personal items in this museum founded in his honour. He wore this sword in 1908, over a century ago, when he presented his cards of credential to the Spanish King as ambassador to Spain. This sword was exhibited inside a glass case in this museum, where in a large section of archives were many original documents, and manuscripts, handwritten by him, word for word. There were also many books, his clothing, personal and household objects he had used.

With the possibility of taking especially the manuscripts, robbers had chosen to take the sword instead. A very desirable object sure, but far inferior in value. It was not the sword that made Dario somebody, but the manuscripts that hold the essential value of the man.

The thing is, even presuming the thieves knew the value of the manuscripts, they knew also it would be near impossible to find a fence that's a real expert in authenticating and calculating their value, besides the propability to find a client ready and capably to pay what's it's true worth. Too much work, too much risk.

Stolen jewellery and paintings have long been established their underground markets, where there are ready and willing buyers. But manuscripts? Nothing more dissuasive for robbers. When they enter a house to find it full of rows and rows of books on multi-shelves, they know that people who buy so many books are not ones who buy jewellery or technological gadgets. In fact one Italian security firm advises people to fill their house with bookcases full of books to discourage thieves.

So before you go away on vacation, you know what to do, if you don't wish to come home to an empty house.

Tags:Sword,Manuscripts,Books,Thieves

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