Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-05-09
ANEcDoTE OF DIR. FRANKLIN,


Related By Mr.. Jefferson ia a letter Of the 4sh O
December, 1918.
When the Declaration oil Independence
was under the consideration of Congress,
there were two or three unlucky express
siobs in it, which gave offence to some
members. The words Scorch and sew
eral other auxiliaries, excited the ire Of a
gentleman or two of that country Sc
we're structures on the conduct of the
British king, in negatiying our repeated
repeats of the law which permitted the
importation of slaves, we're disappros ed
by some Southern gentlemen, whose re-
Elections we're not yet matured 10 the full
adherence of that traffic. Although the
offensive expressions were Immediately
yielded. those gentlemen continued their
depredations on other parts of the instru-
ment. was sitting by DR.. Franklin,
who perceived that was not insensible
to the mutilations. have made it rule,
said he, whenever it is in my power, TO
avoid becoming the draughtsman Of papers
TO be reviewed by public body. took
my lesson from an accident which l will
relate to you. When was journey lyman
printer, one Of my companions, an appren-
tice halter, having served out his time,
was about TO open shop for himself His
first concern was TO have handsome
sign board, with proper inscription.
He composed in these words /: John
Thompson, Halter, makes and sells hats
for ready money with the figure Of hat
subjoined. But he thought he would sub.
nit it to his friends for their amendments.
The first be showed it to, thought the
word halter tautologous, because follow
ed by the words makes hats which shew
he was halter. 1t was struck out. The
next observed that the word makes
might as well be omitted, because his GUS
toners would not care who made the
hats; if good and to their mind, they
would buy, by whomsoever made. He
struck it out. A third said be thought
the words, for ready money were use
less, as it was not the custom of the place
to sell on credit every one who pur.
chased expected to pay. They were
parted with, and the inscription now
stood, John Thompson sells hats Sells
hats {? says his next friend; why nobody
will expect you to give them away
What then is the use of that word ? tt
was stricken out, and hats followed it,
the rather, as there was one painted on
the board SO his inscription was reduced
ultimately to John Thompson with a
figure of hat subjoined.'
Remark" am an old fellow says
Cowper, in one of bis letters to Burdir,
but | had once my dancing days, as
you have now +; yet could never fiud
that | could learn half so much of a
woman's real character, by dancing with
her, as conversing with her at home !;
when | could observe her behaviour at
the table or at the firs-side, and IN all the
scenes OF domestic life. We are all good
when pleased; but she is the good woman
who wants not the fiddle to sweeten her."
A penny saved from the tavern is worth
two pence earned; and the difference be-
tween penny earned and penny spent al
the tavern is at least groat. An hours
time goes with your quarter Of dollar -
besides there is the loss Of health and rep
utation, and perhaps broken glasses to pay
for into the bargain.
True honor results from the secret sat.
lsfaction of our own minds, andis decreed
us both by religion and the suffrages oil
wise men--it is the shadow Of wisdom and
virtue, and is inseparabIe from them
Great errors are often connected with
elevated sentiments.