The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-01-18
FRANKLIN
HONORED
Honolulu Pays Tribute
to the Great
American.

| stsssSs sS0shS
| f"FrankIin has been happily spoken
| of as the many-sided man." said Judge
Sanford B. Dole, opening the exercise:
at the bicentenary of Benjamin
Franklin held at the Y. NJ. C. a. Hal
last night. The gathering for the &C.
| casion was not so large as it should
have been, in view of thes part that
Franklin played in the history OF
America in the formative period. and
there We're not so many school children
present as nigh have been expected,
considering Franklin's place as an edu-
cational factor. But the gathering was
most attentive to the speakers.
Judge Dole spoke very briefly, refer
ring to Franklin's fifty-seven occupa-
Cions, and to his particular eminence
in science, diplomacy, as a moraIist
although himself not of the highest
moral character, and in statecraft.
Franklin" said Judge Dole, really
drafted the system of government of
the United States, and the work that
he did in France was absolutely vital
to the success of the Americans. His
achievements in all these lines were
due more to his big brain than to any
other cause. He had the grasp of half
a-dozen men. 1t is told of him that
upon one occasion, desiring to dress
for a fashionable function in Paris,
he wanted a wig of peculiar fashion
and none could be found in the whole
city of Paris that was large enough
for him.
HIS EARLY STRUGGLES.
Judge Dole then spoke of Franklin
as an educator, and introduced Prof.
Scott of the High School as the first
speaker of the evening. The speaker
spoke of Franklin's early struggles as
one of seventeen children, and told how
he had educated himself in English, in
Latin and in French. Franklin" said
Professor Scott, wrote books in
French that are as good French as the
books of Racine. He was almost the
first writer of pure, direct English, and
his style was formed as all style must
be-by hard and constant study. He
was an investigator, taking nothing for
granted. He was an economist, a fru-
gal man, and I have often thought
that there is need for such a man in
this age of the luxury of great wealth
to bring the people back to the simple
method of living.
Franklin may we'll be called the
first American, as he was the first man
to suggest the union of all the colonies
for self protection. His work as
diplomat was of the first Importance
to the colonies in securing for them
the cooperation of France. Franklin
went to Paris and mingled with the
aristocracy there, despite the criticism
Of the American commissioners, who
could not approve of his way of life.
He was not narrow. He was a man of
he world, with a purpose to accom-
olish, and he used the means that
we're at hand for it's accomplishment.
SHOCKED MRS. ADAMS.
There is a story of how shocked |
Mrs. Adams was when a French |
of great influence at |
social function rushed into the room
md threw her arms about her dear /
Or. Franklin Mrs. Adams expressed |
Ter strong disapproval of this-and yet |
franklin was working for purpose |
md he accomplished it. Franklin was |
type of a true Democrat, and the |
impress that he has left upon the life |
# the nation is fresh and strong to-
lay
In introducing as the next speaker .
Iiss Alice NJ Felker of Kaahumanu
chool, Judge Dole said that Franklin
vas one of the first men to speak for
quail educational advantages for
women. Miss Felker spoke almost al
ogether upon Franklin from the view
oint of the school children, telling
Ow he was even now being taken
lto and made a part of their lives,
nd quoted many of the famous say
1gs of the great man.
A VERY SANE MAN
President Griffiths of Oahu College
aid that Franklin was the men who
lid the strongest emphasis upon the
Ommon, every day, practical affairs.
Ie was eminently a sane man. No
ther American had pointed the way
lore surely to success than Franklin.
What Solomon in his Proverbs has
one for the spiritual life" said Mr..
riffiths, Franklin has done for the
ractical life of every day. 1t has been
oiected that he did not PROFOUND a |
ystem of morals, but perhaps he was |
nable to PROFOUND a system of NOR
Is. But he did a great work in sci |
ice, in literature and in statesman |
Zip. F'ranklin's name was signed to /
le first four great state papers writ
n in the history of the United States,
amely, the Declaration of Independ- {
ice. the Treaty of Alliance with
rance. the Treaty of Peace with En- {
and, and the Constitution. No other | l
an has equaled that achievement. | {
rankin has written two books that will | I
We in literature. and in science his :
orks were wonderful. He was the | y
st to observe the Gulf Stream, and I
: invented a cooking stove carrying