A Man With A Unique Job Finds A Rare 200-Year-Old American Relic

Some people have jobs you never in your wildest dreams thought existed.

These jobs include things like an ice cream taster, crossword puzzle writer, food stylist, and — believe it or not — unexploded ordinance technician, or someone who is paid to blow things up.

One Reddit user that goes by the handle Operatics, wrote on his account that he works “at a rare manuscript library, so I frequently handle items that are 200-500 years old,” which if you’re a fan of nostalgia or history buff is a pretty sweet gig.

Recently he stumbled upon a discovery he found fascinating and felt compelled to share. It involves a major event in U.S. history and it's almost mind-boggling to see in a modern context.

His discovery is also something that is extremely rare and the only other copy of it is "in the hands of the Library of Congress and the American Antiquarian Society.”

Scroll down to see what he found, it’s pretty fascinating…

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Flickr user Michele ONeill

“I work at a rare manuscript library, so I frequently handle items that are 200-500 years old,” he said on Reddit. The newspapers he found, which were dated in January of 1800, “were relatively recent, but I found them so interesting.”

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“Turns out that the newspaper in this image is almost certainly a reprint (not a fake!) from probably around 1825,” he continued on Reddit. “Apparently this issue is actually an extremely rare manuscript, with the only known originals in the hands of the Library of Congress and the American Antiquarian Society.”

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"On The Death Of General Washington

By: A Young Lady

What means that solemn dirge that strikes my ear?
What means those mournful sounds — why shines the tear?
Why toll the bells the awful knell of fate?
Ah! — why those sighs that do my fancy sate!

Where'er I turn the general gloom appears,
Those mourning badges fill my soul with fill my soul with fears;
Hark! — Yonder rueful noise! — its done! — its done! —
The silent tomb invades our WASHINGTON —

Much virtues exalted, yield their breath?
Must bright perfection find relief in death?
Muse mortal greatness fall? — a glorious name!—
What then is riches, honour and true fame?

The august chief, the father and the friend,
The generous patriot—Let the muse commend;
Colombia’s glory and Mount Vernon’s pride
There lies enslin’d with numbers at his side!

There let the sigh respondent from the breast,
Heave in rich numbers!—let the glowing zest,
Or tears refulgent beam with grateful love;
And the stable mourning our affection prove.
Weep!—kindred mortals—weep!—no more you’ll find,
A man so just, so pure, so firm in mind;
Rejoicing Angels, hail the heavenly sage!
Celestial Spirits great the wonder of the AGE!—"

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