ALT Parchment lexicon card from the America First Literary Society, medallion at top. Heading: The Lexicon, No. VI. The word: DIFFIDENCE. Etymology: "(n.) - Latin diffidere, from dis- and fidere - 'to trust'". Definition: "Distrust, and in its older and stronger sense, distrust of oneself. The Latin is dis-, away, and fidere, to trust - the exact opposite of confidence, which is the same root with con-, trusting together. A modern ear hears only shyness in the word. Washington meant something harder, and he chose it for the last speech of this volume: resigning his commission, he says he accepted the command with diffidence in his own abilities. He had by then held it for 8 years, won the war, and refused a crown." Specimen line: "I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task." Washington, resigning his commission. Lodge, Vol. I, Ch. XI. At the foot: Reading No. 1, Week Six.

ALT Parchment passage card from the America First Literary Society, medallion at top. Above the quotation: "From this week's reading:". It reads: "With a heart full of love and gratitude I now take my leave of you, most devoutly wishing that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." The word "gratitude" is set in oxblood red. Beneath the quotation: "— General George Washington". At the foot: Henry Cabot Lodge, George Washington, Vol. I, Ch. XI, 1889, and below that, Reading No. 1, Week Six.

ALT Parchment assignment card from the America First Literary Society, medallion at top. Reading No. I. WEEK SIX. Henry Cabot Lodge, GEORGE WASHINGTON, Volume I, 1889. The Assignment: Chapter XI. Monday, 14 September to Sunday, 20 September. At the foot: free in full at gutenberg.org, join at any point.

ALT Navy plate from the America First Literary Society with the Society's medallion at the top, in a double gold frame. Heading: WEEK FIVE, Chapters IX and X. Text: "And with that, the Fifth week of the America First Literary Society comes to a close. If you kept up, you have read the worst betrayal of the war and the victory that ended it. Greene was too weak to risk a battle, and made a masterly retreat of two hundred miles before Cornwallis, escaping across the Dan only twelve hours ahead of the enemy. Greene lost nearly every battle he ever fought, but he won the campaign. A powerful lesson in staying the course and never giving into defeatism. We are only one week away from the end of Volume I. We invite you to tell us here, in this comment section, what most surprised you about Lodge's retelling of Washington's life so far." At the foot: Reading No. 1, George Washington, Henry Cabot Lodge, 1889.

ALT Parchment lexicon card from the America First Literary Society, medallion at top. Heading: The Lexicon, No. V. The word: FACTITIOUS. Etymology: "(adj.) - Latin factitius, from facere - 'to make'". Definition: "Artificial; produced by contrivance rather than arising on its own. A factitious thing is not necessarily a lie. It is simply made, and its weight comes from the making rather than from the thing itself. Lodge applies the word to Arnold's treason, which he judges to be over-famous: a betrayal that failed, and which earned its place in American memory by being a good story and a cautionary tale to tell posterity about traitors rather than affecting the outcome of the Revolution much." Specimen line: "Its romantic side has made it familiar to all Americans, and given it a factitious importance." Lodge, Vol. I, Ch. IX. At the foot: Reading No. 1, Week Five.

ALT Parchment passage card from the America First Literary Society, medallion at top. Above the quotation: "From this week's reading:". It reads: "We may be beaten by the English; it is the chance of war; but there is the army they will never conquer." The word "army" is set in oxblood red. Beneath the quotation: "— General George Washington". At the foot: Henry Cabot Lodge, George Washington, Vol. I, Ch. IX, 1889, and below that, Reading No. 1, Week Five.