The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-01-26
PRINTERS FESTIVAL.
REPORTED pHosoeRAPHIoALLY FOR THE HERALD
sI-a - OF FREEDoI.

The one hundred and fiftieth birthday
Of FRANKLIs was celebrated By the Print
ers of Lawrence, on the evening of the
18th inst, at the Cincinnati House. A
select company, consisting of the Edi-
tors and Printers of Lawrence, invited
guests, and goodly sprinkling of ladies,
assembled ats o'clock. The supper
a tip-top one-was prepared by Ladies
HUED & HALL, proprietresses of the
House. After ample justice had been
done to the "good things" under which
the table groaned, the "feast of reason
and flow of soul" began.
G. .W. Brown, Esq, of the Herald of
Freedom, was chosen Chairman, and
Messrs. r. G. ELLIOTT, of the Free State.
and JAMES REDPArH, Correspondent of
the Missouri Democrat, appointed Secre-
taries.
On motion, it was resolved that a
toast master and regular toasts be dis
pensed with; that each one read his own
sentiment.
The President being loudly called for
entertained the company with the follow
ing happy address:
LADIES AND GENTLBMEEoF THE BLACK
ART, AND FELLOW CITIZENS II thank
you for the honor you have done me in
calling upon me to preside over this
social gathering, In commemoration of
the one hundred and fftieth anniversary
ofthe birthday of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, the
accredited Father of the American Press.
Though few in numbers, yet it seems
very proper that we in Kansas should
Join with members of the Art, in other
parts of the Union, in celebrating day
which has been SO prolific ofgood to the
world.
Casting my eyes about me, see the
representatives of each of the pioneer
presses of our embryo city. But little
more than year ago we established our
selves here, strangers to each other, and
an uncertain future before US, each
laboring to re-establish himself in busi-
ness. After one year of toll, anxiety,
and disappointments. it is meet that we
lay aside whatever differences may have
divided US in the past. and on this eve
ming, made memorable by the birth of so
distinguished member of the craft, for
get all minor issues and join with hearty
good willin doing honors to the 0eca-
sion.
You will not expect of me to recount
the history of Benjamin Franklin on this
occasion, as every member of the craft,
from Devil to Editor, hasmade him their
Patron Saint, and is as familiar with his
biography, as a iourneyman typo is with
bad copy. daughter
Allow me to say, briefly, that he was
the youngest of seventeen children, and
was designed for w-chandler, but
disliking the business he was appren-
ticed TO his brother, who was printer.
Here the speaker traced, in graph
ic and interesting style, the career of
Franklin from the time ofh his apprentice
ship TO the Printing business, and his
steady advancementon on the road TO fame,
down to his return to England in 1775.
This portion of the speakers remarks
is omitted for lack of room.-REP.
He returned to America in 1775, and
was Immediately chosen member of
Congress, and performed the most
arduous duties in the service of his coun-
try. He was on the committee which
drafted the Declaration of Independence,
and after that immortal instrument was
framed by Jefferson, he gave it the fin
ishing touch by his lamentations. He
was sent Commissioner to France in
1875, and concluded treaty in Febru-
ary, '79, in which year he was appointed
Minister PIenipotentiary to the Court
of Versailles, and one of the Commits
sioners to negotiate treaty of peace
with Great Britain. He did not return
until l7e5. He was made President of
Pennsylvania, and as delegate to the
Convention of 1877 approved the Fed
eral Constitution. He was for many
years the Secretary of the Abolition So
ciety of Pennsylvania, chartered by an
act of the Legislature, aud had the hon.
or of drafting the statute of that State
for the emancipation of her slaves. He
was proud of the name of ''abolitionist"
which now seems to be a stencil in the
nostrils of many professed anti-slavery
men.
His fame had extended through both
hemispheres, and he died universally
lamented on the 18th of April, 1890,
aged 80 years and months. He pre-
pared an ,epitaph to be placed over his
grave which he wrote years before his
death, IS folleEs -.
"The Body of Benjamin Franklin,
Printer, like the Cover Of an Old Book,
Is Contents torn out, and stripped of its
[ ettering and Gliding. lies here Food for
V forms. Yet the Work itself shall net
b, ) lost; brit viii. as he believed, ap-
D .ar once more in New and Beautiful