Monday, June 26, 2006

Brookhiser in Rhode Island

Historian and National Review contributor Rick Brookhiser will be around these parts to promote his What Would the Founders Do? this Thursday. On NRO, after providing the locations at which he'll be in Rhode Islad, Brookhiser makes this comment about why the smallest state is getting 2 stops:
June 29—Redwood Library & Athenaeum, 50 Bellevue Ave., Newport, Rhode Island. 11 AM-noon.

June 29—Providence Athenaeum, 251 Benefit St. 7-8 PM.

As usual, there will be a talk, a Q&A and a book signing at each place. I can only assume Rhode Island was given two events because, as the last state to sign the Constitution, it needs a good lesson.
That may be, but as any Rhode Island historian (or resident, for that matter) knows, the official name of Rhode Island is really the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. As such, given the fact that most Rhode Islanders pack an overnight bag for any trip over 20 minutes from home, the fact that Brookhiser will be visiting both Rhode Island (Newport) and Providence Plantations (Providence) is really not that big of a surprise. How else could he possibly expect to reach all of the resident's of the state?

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