Rousseau's Waistcoat

What will you do if you find yourself far from home at an unfamiliar place by night cold, hungry and with no money? Let us see what the French Philosopher Rousseau did in the town of Lausanne in one of his wanderings in Switzerland before becoming famous. Here is a quote from his deservedly famous autobiography, The Confessions:-

"I went into an ale-house and setting a good face on the matter, ordered supper, made my meal, went into bed without thought and slept with great composure. In the morning, having breakfasted and reckoned with my host, I offered to leave my waistcoat in pledge for seven batz, which was the amount of my expenses. The honest man refused this, saying, thank Heaven, he had never stripped any one, and would not now begin for seven batz, adding I should keep my waistcoat and pay him when I could".

Of course, Rousseau later sent the money through somebody who was dependable. But I doubt any of us would have done as best as Rousseau in his circumstances.

I read the Confessions in Colombo. A more famous autobiography by the same name is Saint Augustine's. The Malayalam translation of Augustine's Confessions that I read is not with me any more. Yesterday, I bought a copy of the English translation from Barnes and Noble in DC for $ 7.35. You cannot always get books at yard sale prices!