The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-24

| IiduhIlu Dlrluuay. we suppose II VIZ w
observed with great reverence by printers
throughout the United States. The grea
mans memory will be drunk in copiou:
draughts of bottled lightning in commenora
ton Of the great philosophers experiments
with fluid OF the same name but different
qualities.
franklin will not take part in any of the
festivities in the printing offices on the 18th
He is, or rather would be if be were here, toe
old for such hilarity. He would be one
hundred and siXty-nine years old had lie re-
manned with US. But long-conjinuel habit
OF early rising undermined his vigorous con-
stitution, aud gentle death scooped him at
the age Of eighty four, Just eighty-live years
ago. Let US not weep for him. II he had
but lived few years longer, this bright,
beautiful world, so full Of life and hope,
would have been blighted aud scared with
more dreary old maXims about going TO bed
at dark and getting up before daylight, and
about earning a dollar by saving cent, and
always thinking week before we speak Il
minute, and similar stuff, than the United
States census could compile between now and
the end Of time.
Frankin's family must have led dreary
life. The venerable philosopher quoting his
tayorite maxim, early to bed, would drive
his helpless family OFF to their rooms at sun
for an hour or two and then come back and
play with an electrical machine for a few
hours and then write on his almanac until
oclock III the morning. lie would then
deyour light lunch OF cold pigs feet, apple
pie, and tried liver, after which he would
make everybody in the house get up and
dress, assemble in the sitting-room, and
lecture to them for over an hour about eating
between meals. Then begging them to go to
work, and remember that the early birds
caught the worm, he would 90 10 bed and
sleep until II o'clock noon. He always slept
as much he could during the daytime, for it
was one OF his favorite sayings, "Never put
off till tomorrow what you can do to-day"
This custom the great printer had, of sitting
up all night and 81 eping all day, is what
established the heathenish hours observed by
the morning papers to this day.
The philosopher was man of the most
rigid temperance. He begged all the tobacco
he used, and he never could be induced to
eat bread as some men do lie was born at
an early age and was printer on compulsion,
He held cases in his brothers office after
serving out his devllship: but because his
brother took all the phat, he went on q strike
rated the Office, and went out on tramp |
One evening he entered Philadelphia on foot
with a Loaf of bread under his arm from
which he was drawing liberal rations. His
tory makes no mention Of the black bottle in
his coat-tail pocket. This is the first tramp
printer of whom there is any record.
He was great and good man in his time,
but he was slow. He would not have been
suited to this busy progressive generation.
He lacked the great comprehensive abstract
clements of modern American craftsmanship
He would hardly have shone in Congress,
where the Hon. Cakes Ames and the Hon
John Morrs>ey were his colleagues. There
s an anecdote Illustrative of his fidelity to
he principles of truth.
His father was a tallow- chandler and soap
'oiler and as be used great deal of wood he
trove to incnlcate habits of industry in his
on by letting him saw and split all the fuel.
)ne day young Ben was chopping wood IN a
cry bad humor, because his work prevented
lin from gaiag i with & Ut Of BOYS to steal
peaches. lis I-,4eT came clgt o see shll his
on diGnt pick out Ill tie easy pieces to eat,
al as lie passed b, the boy broke a stick in
wo with a terrible blow, and one OF the pieces
vent wLirlin8 through the air like an aroiitc,
estled III the venerable mans back hair
aising lump like base ball
"WOuld You be so cruel as to hit poor old
IAN like me- inquired. the stricken soap
oier, while the members Of the frightened
amily supported lis dropping frame and rub
ed his lump with ham-fat.
g Father, dear father sobbed the future
Philosopher. Il can't tell lie. 1t was the
oy who lives across the street, and he has
Ist skinned around the corner"
My son, my own dear boy, said his pa,
ASKING pearly tear drop from his loving or
its. - You are cordially invited to attend a
latinee for children only, which will be held ,
! the boller-room in ten minutes from this
loment of speaking. Positively no postpone
rent on account OF the weather. and no pains ,
pared to make things interesting for the au- !
lence.'
\ little incident worth relating happened to .
en- after he became married man, and was .
wing in a small village down il Connecticut
W. Dusenberry's great circus and MENACE
e had Just arrived from Blossenburg and
as going to give performance in the eve =
ing, and Bens oldest boy was seized with /
/ irresistible desire to attend. SO at the d
inner table he asked permission of his
ther to attend the circus in the evening.
"No, no, my son, you must not go to the
low. 1t is an unfit place Tor me, as | con-
der it +; how much more dangerous must it {
for you. / will not allow a son of mine to G
tend circus performance where / myself }
ould blush to be seen. Go to bed, nv y
", and your mother and I will go to prayer I
Getting. Tomorrow / will buy you a Tesla Il
ent for your obedience" 7
And he went to bed, but did not sleep. S
An hour atterward Ben and his wife might G
I've been seen seated on top board under
e brilliantly lighted circus tent Bens face j
owed with enjoyment, and his Jaws worked
dustriously upon a big end OF twisted dog
Il tobacco. Once he bowed his head and |
lowed halfpint of juice to issue from, his ),
outh and descend between the seats. a a
A smothered cry Of pain came up from be- !,
W. =
Said old Ben: Gracious, | do believe l 4
We spltten in some ones face" J
Said his wife: 60 Too bad but, oh lust c
e that man bend the crab = and they became 9
crossed with the antics Of the clown Z
Next morning, at breakfast, the boy APP
AIRED with a swollen eye. v
Said his father: My son. what alle5t thine
tic :. T
Some blamed fool spit in-that is-it is N
rned sore. don't know what ais it, said N
E confused lad. y
Ben and his wife exchanged significant N
4nccs and wisely held their peace and the G