The World Map

[Mary]

I was wondering if anyone is familiar with an idea from a Jorge Luis
Borges story: I think some emporer wanted an accurate map of the world-
you know how picky emporers can be. Anyway, the cartographer did his
job too well-he knew that the only map which could approach genuine
accuracy would have a 1:1 scale. It was eventually completed, and if I
remember correctly, was only partially unfolded one time. Even that
was enough to completely cover so many fields that the local farmers
complained; and nobody-including the cartographer-was able to fold it
back up the right way.

The emporer eventually lost interest in the project, and the map was
gradually taken apart over the years-people would use pieces of it as
wallpaper, roofing material, place mats, bedding, etc. It's been
hundreds of years since anyone last saw a genuine piece of it...