The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-01-17
BIRTHDAY ANNlvERs
AIRY OF COMMONER
is CELEBRATED
GRAVE Is DECORATED
Boston, Philadelphia and
Paris Pay Tribute

6ottoUg Jan. lfs--bOotuHs the Uulu~
place OF Benjamin Franklin, today
donned festive attire and with public
exercises Of a most notable character
celebrated the two hundrtdth anniyer-
sary Of the birth OF him who named
by popular acclaim with Washington
and Lincoln as a trinity OF greatest
Americans. The site of Franklin's
birthplace, in Milk street, opposite
Old South church, was the Mecca for
hundreds Of patriotic pilgrims during
the day. The Franklin bust adorn-
ing the facade Of the Office building
now occupying the site OF the Frank
lin homestead was garlanded with
wreaths. The city took the initiative
In displaying flags on all public build
ings Profuse floral decorations were
placed also on the tomb in the old
Ciranaiy burial ground, which contains
the remains Of the parents Of Franklin.
The chief exercises of the day were
seld this afternoon In Symphony hall.
The program included a paper by Dr.
Henry S. Pritchett. head of the Car
negie fund; a poem by James jeffrey
Rochs. and an oration by Hon. Carroll
ID. Wright, president of Clark college
At the Hotel Somerset tonight the
bicentennial is TO be commemorated
BY a notable dinner under the aus
pices OF tho Massachusetts branch Of
the Society of Colonial Wars The
invited guests include the heads Of the
society in New York, Virginia, Rhode
Island and other states.
Philadelphia, Jan. 1.-THE grave of
Benjamin Franklin in this city was
heaped high with floral offerings to-
day by numerous historical and pa
triotic societies which took this
method of observing the two hun
dredth anniversary of his birth. The
bicentennial was otherwise observed
by the holding ef historical exercises.
The great celeS:ation planned by the
American Philosophical society will
not be- held until next April. This
postponement was made necessary by
the fact that both the state and fed
erai governments are to participate in
the affair and the fact that the cele-
bration will be elaborate and could
not be held during the winter months
President Roosevelt is expected to
speak, and one of the chief incidents
win be the presentation to the Phil
osophlcal society by the United States
government of medal struck in
commemoration of the Franklin cen
tennial.
Paris, Jan. 17.-French scientific, pa
triotic and learned societies today
united with the members of the Amer
ican colony III commemcragng the
two hundredth anniversary Of the
birth Of Benjamin Franklin OF all
the great Americans OF his age.
Franklin was by far the best known
in France. He lived for nine years
In Passy. and his diplomatic work in
Paris with the French government I
made the success Of the American !
revolution possibility.
The chief feature OF the bicenten-
nial commemoration IS the erection
OF a bronze statue OF Franklin, given
10 the city of Paris by John II. Haries.
Of the banking firm OF Harjes. Morgan
& Co, The site selected for the stat
ue, %hich Is a replica OF the one in
front Of the Philadelphia post office.
Is a small grass covered plot in the
Rue Franklin, near the Place du Troc-
adero. The statue was modelled by
John j. Boyle. the New York
sculptor aa