Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-11-17
NO. 9

free gift of 1t to the public. If nothing
is more demoralizing than philanthropy
pursued as vocation. for money, moth
ing is nobler than the devotion to it of
we'll earned leisure. Howard inherited
an estate. franklin carried one, and the
Master of both had an equivalent in be-
ing able to dispense with place where
in to lay his head.
1T is incredible" wrote Franklin
once, ''the quantity Of good that may be
done in country by single man who
will make business Of 1t, and not suf
fer himself to be diverted from that pur-
pose by different avocations, studies. or
amusements.
A catalouge Of the coed deeds of Frank
lin himself 10 the best commentary upon
this remark.
He founded the Philadelphia Library
parent of a thousand libraries, an i'm
mense and endless good to the whole of
the civilized portion of the United States.
He edited the best newspaper in the
Colonies, one which published no libels
and fomented no quarrels, which quick
ened the intelligence of Pennsylvania,
and gave the onward impulse to the press
of America. He was the first who turn
ed to great account the engine Of advcr-
tising, an indispensable element in mod
ern business. He published Poor Rich
ard, by the means Of which so much Of
the wit and wisdom of all ages as its
readers could appropriate and enjoy, was
brought home to their minds, in such
words as they could understand and re-
member forever.
He created the post-ofice system of
America and forebore to avail himself,
as postmaster, of privileges from which
he had formerly suffered.
It was he who caused Philadelphia to
be paved, lighted, and cleaned. AS
fuel became scarce in the vicinity of the
colonial towns, he invented the Frank
lin Stove, which economized it, and sug-
gested the subsequent warming inven-
tions, in which America beats the world.
Besides making free gift of this inven-
tion to the public, he generously wrote
an extensive pamphlet explaining its
construction and ntility. He delivered
civilized mankind from the nuisance.
once universal, of smoky chimneys, and
by his advocacy, promoted ventilation.
He devoted the leisure of seven years,
and ali the energy of his genius, to the
science of electricity, which gave
stronger impulse to the scientific inquiry
than any other event of that century
He taught Goethe to experiment in ell
ectricity. and set all students to making
electrical machines. He robbed thunder
of its terrors and tightening of its power
to destroy.
He was chiefly instrumental in found
ing the first High School Of Pennsyl-
vania, as also the American Philosophical
Society. the first organization in Ameri-
ca of the friends of science. He more
over lent the indispensable assistance of
his name and tact to the founding oftbe
Philadelphia Hospital
He was the author of the first scheme
of uniting the colonies, a scheme so suit
able that it was adopted in its essential
features, in the union Of the States, and
binds us together to this day. He as
sisted England to keep Canada when
there was danger of its falling back into
the hands of re-actionary race. More
than any other man. he was instrument
tai in causing the repeal Of the Stamp
Act. which deferred the inevitable strug-
gle until the colonies were strong enough
to triumph. More than any other man,
he educated the colonies up to indepen-
pence, and secured for them in England
the sympathy and support Of the Brlghts.
the Cobdens, the Spencers, and the Mills
of that day.
He discovered the temperature of the
Gulf Stream. He discovered that North
east storms begin in the Southwest. He
pointed out the advantage of building
ships in water-tight compartments, TAX
ing the hint from the Chinese. He ex-
pounded the theory of navigation which
is now universally adopted by intelligent
seamen, and of which a charlatan and
traitor has received the credit.
In Paris as the antidOte to the rest
less distrust OF Arthur Lee. and the rest
less vanity Of John Adams, he saved
the alliance over and over again, and
brought the negotiations for peace to
successful close His mere presence in
Europe was a moving plea tor the rights
of man.
In the Convention of 1887, his indom-
liable good humor was, probably, the
uniting element, wanting which, the
Convention would have dissolved with
out having done its work.
His last labors were for the abolition
of slavery and the aid of it's emancipat-
ed victims.
He left behind him a mass Of writings,
full of his own kindness, humor, and wis
dom, to perpetuate his influence and
sweeten the life Of coming generations.