Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-22
FRANKLIN THE PRINTER,
The Philosophers Lifelong Interest In
Ills Early Trade.
paul l.. Ford IN cen,ury1

A Scotch Journeyman. David Hall.
whom FRANKLIN took into his employ
mcnt In i1ts. was admitted 70 a partner
ship flvc years later. He took on my
paying me punciuIly my share OF the
profits" and FranAlln In ennsraiuiat-
ing a frined on a return 10 your be-
loved retirement" wrote with evident
pleasure that he. too. was taking the
proper measure for obtaining leisure
q. enjoy NE and my friends more than
hitherto, having put my printing house
under the care of my partner. David
Hall, absolutely len on book selling.
and removed to a more quiet part OF the
town. where I am settling my old ac-
counts. and hope soon to b. quite mus
ship continued eighteen years. sue.
cerrfuily for us both" ut the end OF
which time Hail became the purchaser
OF the outiit.
This did not mean that Franklin
wholly retired from his connection with
printing. for long before this he had e.
| tablinhed number OF printing offices
| In other towns. For instance. In i1ai
II sent one Of my Journcymen 10
/ Charleston, n. G., whore a printer was
wanting. I furnished him with a press
and letters. ON the agreement OF part
nerrhip by which was TO receive one
third OF the profits OF the business. pay
ing one-third Of the expense" The
partnership In Carolina having sue
cccded. II was encouraged TO engage In
others and TO promote several OF my
worlSmen who had behaved well by
establishing them with printing houses
In different colonies, on the same terms
as that In Carolina" One OF these was
James Parker. whom he established In
New York. and by iIt5 he had three
printing houses In three different col
onies. and purpose TO set mp fourth
II can meet with proper person 10
manage u. having all the materials
ready for that purpose"
Five years later he sent an outfit 10
| Antigua, In the West indies. under the
| charge OF Journeyman. who had
worked with me here and IN my print
ing house In New York three or four
years" lie was also interested IN print
| Ing Offices In Kingston. Jamaica, and.
as already noted. he took two Of his
nephews as apprentices. and when they
were trained helped them to establish
themselves ms printers. Most OF them
did well. being enabled NJ the end OF our
term, six years to purchase the types
selves. by which means several fam
lilies were raised. I'artner-nips often
finished In quarrels: but WAS happy In
this that mine were all carried on and
ended hmicably."
Nor did his retirement from active
/
and every possible Improvement IN IN,
art received attention from him.
Nothing proved better, the printers at,
tachment Tor his calling than az
amusement OF his during his diplomat,
service In France. In his own home h,
set up press and types. all OF which
he or his servants cast. and with then
occa sionally printed little bagateile,
and skits of both his friends writinl
and his own. usually In very small
editions, These printing materials
consisting OF a great variety OF fonts,
he brought with him on his return /.
America. and sold "nfteen boxes o
type" TO Francis chiidr, the New Yorl
printer. and stlll more TO Mntthev
Carey The remainder he used % estab
lish his grandson, Benjamin FRANKLIN
Rarhe, IN business as a printer In
original occupation OF his grandfather.
Despite the many honors that ha,
come 10 him. 20 the last he held hlmsei
to be first and foremost q printer, AM
began his will. II, BENJAMIN Franklin
printer. late minister plenipotcntinr,
from the United States OF America 4
the court OF France. and now preaiden
Of the State OF Pennsylvania" II wa
at his own request that the printers o
the city. with their journeymen and an
prentices" were given promlnen
position In his funeral procession.