June 19, 1863, Menphis Daily Appeal (Atlanta, Ga)
“I want a copy of that book about Gen. Lee’s poor miserable soldiers faintin,” said an old lady in West & Johnston’s bookstore, the other day. The clerk was dumbfounded. One of the proprietors was sent for, made the old lady repeat her request, turned pale, rolled his eyes wildly, scratched his head and at last exclaimed, “Oh! yes! I know what it is now you mean Les Miserables. Fantine, by Victor Hugo.”
“No, I don’t” replied the old lady. “I know nothing and care nothing about “Lays Meeserabuls. I want Lee’s Miserables faintin’.”
As nothing else would satisfy her, she was allowed to depart without the book she so eagerly sought.–Whig.