The times., 1898-12-11

of humbug at that time, as there Is at
the present day.
When Franklin heard Whitefleld, the
famous preacher Of that century, he bus
led himself in estimating the size of the
crowd and the power of the orators
voice.
About half of the chapter on Religion
and Morals is occupied with Franklin's
domestic relations, which Were somewhat
peculiar. One OF his most characteristic
actions was his parriage with Deborah
Read Rogers, to whom he had been more
or less attached before his visit to Lon
don. Mrs Read had prevented an en-
gagement between Franklin aud her
daughter. and the latter had married one
Rogers who illtreated and deserted her.
1t is not absolutely certain whether she
and Franklin were really married by
anything but a comrnon-law marriage; at
any rate, they took the risk of the depart
ed Rogers turning up: but he never diG.
They seem to have been comfortable
couple, though not wildly devoted to
each other and perhaps neither of them
could have appreciated romantic devotion
on the part of the other. Mr.. Fisher
quotes a quantity humorous letter written
by Franklin to his. wife when he was alb
sent at an Indian conference on the from
tier (reproving her for not writing to
HIM:
~ had coed mind not to write to you by
this opportunity; but never can be ll-natured
enough when there il the most occasion
think ! won't tell you that We are we'll, nor that
we expect to return about the middle of the
week, nor will send you word of news; that's
poz. My duty to mother. love to the children,
and TO Miss Betsey and Graey. l am your low
ing husband
"P S. / have scratched out the loving words.
being writ in haste by mistake when ] forgot
was angry.
AJrs lsrapllip was an iIliterate woman
and one of her letters is quoted. In which
there is some spelling quite bad even for
1713. She says she has .'sente squerei'
for friend, and that 1t is ''defcali to
writ" so she is his .'afeckthone wife d.
Franklin" Franklin. however, seems not
To have married her for her learning. but
for her housewifely virtues and whole
some common sense.
1t does not appear that the colonial ar
istocracy of Philadelphia was on very
! friendly terms with Franklin. This was
not altogether due to his humble origin
or TO his moral deiinquincies, but more to
his opposition to the proprietary party,
I to which raost of the upper classes be-
/ longed The colonial aristocrat might
not be irreproachable morally. but he
never said anything about his sins, and
always stood by his own class Franklin
! was perfectly frank about his own faults
d
I pie. and had little sympathy for humbug.
| though he could play that game himself
/ when there was need of 1t. In France
/ and England he made friends among the
: most eminent and aristocratic people. but
! in Philadelphia he was always considered
something of a parvenu. and Mr.. Fisher
says that fifty or sixty years ago there
We're virtuous old ladies living in the
| Quaker City who would flame into an
h. - f... oil
| as they called him Mr.. Fisher thinks.
! however. that other self-made men in
| this country. who have advanced them
! selves by processing fuisome devotion to
/ the most popular forms of religion. might
| have all Franklnss Iailings and be for
| given il they would only be half as hon.
! est.
! Franklin's career in England and
| France is fully dealt with in a later chap
! ter and the episode of the Hutchinson
! letters discussed. X is a curious fact that
Z though Franklin had more 10 do with the
| actual making of laws than most men
OF his time, he cared nothing for the
study of legal FERNS, and once resigned
I the Office of justice OF the peace. to which
he had been elected. because he said he
1 did not know enough of common law To
+ hold it. One of his most important SER
I vices TO his country was rendered when
he was more than eighty years old. 1t
was due 10 his suggestion that the Sen
ate ard House of Representatives Were
I established in such way as to give the
/ States equal representation In the upper
/ branch, while represented according Ia
. population in the lower. From cover to
! cover the book Is an interesting ore. and
| there Is much information in it which
| will prove valuable to the student OF
American history. philadelphia: J. b
Lippincott Company)