Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-17

In the town Of Boston, on the 18th OF
January 1.06, was born Benjamin, son Of
Josiah and Abiah Franklin. On the
same day, as appears by the records. he
was baptized in the Old South Church.
Boston then was no larger than Augusta
is now, having only about ten thousand
inhabitants, and was probably much in
ferior in the style OF its buildings to most
of New England cities of the present
time of equal size. The house in which
Franklin was born was three stories high.
but in the main part on the ground it had
but one room, which answered for parlor,
sitting room and dning-hall. 1t remained
standing until 1910 when It was destroyed
by fire. The location was in the heart of
Boston, on Milk Street, opposite the Old
| South. The parents were poor but indus
trious, prudent people, of good sense and
dren and brought up thirteen, maintaining
them comfortably by hard work and good
management. But they could do little
more for their children than provide them
necessary food and clothing, so that when
Benjamin was ten years old, he was taken
out of the town grammar school, where
he had been less than year, and put to
work to earn something in the shop where
his father made and sold candles and soap
for living. This was the humble origin
and start in life of Benjamin Franklin, the
anniversary of whose birth is to-day,
which will be remembered and celebrated
all over this country and in many parts of
Europe.
From the chambers shop Frank
lin passed to a printing office, to which he
was attracted by his love of books, trying
first however the cutlery trade and aban-
doning it. In the printing Office he found
his appropriate place. 1t suited his genius,
gratihed his love for knowledge, and de-
veloped within him the qualities which
have stamped him as one of the worlds
benelactors and most successful men. In
his later years he spoke of the printing
business in the highest terms of respect,
as a place calculated to employ and
strengthen the mental faculties and give
those engaged in it an opportunity to ac-
qure a better knowledge of public and
important affairs than any other trade or
profession, and was very free to attribute
his own good fortune in life to his early
career as printer. His first efforts at
printing anything of his own composition
was the issuing of couple of ballads
which he sold on the streets. His next
were anonymous articles passed under the
door of his brothers printing office, which
were inserted in the paper while his broth
er and his fellow workmen were ignorant
of the author, little thinking that he stood
at the case with them. The printing of
newspapers then was but Il small business
compared with what it is now. The New
England Courant, the paper owned by
James Franklin, and upon which Bena-
min worked, was started in 1921. and was
the third one at that time in the whole
country, the size being about eight by
twelve inches in folio form Not much of
Il newspaper for these times, but for those
large undertaking. Fast presses and
telegraphs, with the great expansion and
increase OF our population, have made a
wonderful revolution in printing since
franklins day. The productions of Frank
lin'sp for which he will be more general
lyrememberedis those pithy, wise savings,
found i'll much Of our household literature
beginning with the almanac, designed to
teach the household virtues and the way
to success In the pursuits OF life. These
are probably circulating more freely to-
day than ever. They have the true uold
IN them, so that they pass currently in all
all times and all places. What could bet
ter incite to industry than the following
maxims; Industry pays debts while
despair increaseth them" Never leave
that till tomorrow which You can do to-
day" 'Leisure is time for doing some
thing useful" The dillgent spinner has
a large shift, and, now have sheep and
a COW every one bids me good morrow"
"Handle your tools without mittens; re-
member that the cat in gloves catches no
mice"
EARLY to bed, and early to rise
Makes man healthy, wealthy and WISE
Or what could more forcibly impress
upon the mind the value Of economy than
the following: "What maintains one
VICE would bring up two children "
Many little makes mickle." "Silks