Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-01-17

versary OF the birth Of him who IL
named by popular acclaim with Wash.
ington and Lincoln as a trinity OF
greatest Americans. The site Of
Franklin's birthplace. In MIX street
opposite Old South church. was the
Mecca for hundreds Of patriotic pill.
grims during the day. The Franklin
bust adjoining the facade OF the Office
building now occupying the site OF
the Franklin homestead was garland.
ed with wieaths. The city took the
initiative In displaying flags ON all
public buildings. Profuse floral deco.
rations were placed also on the tomb
In the old Granary burial ground,
which contains the remains OF the pa.
rents Of Franklin.
The chief exercises Of the day were
held this afternoon In Symphony
hall. The programme included a pa
per by Henry 8. Pritchett, head Of
the Carnegie fund; a poem by James
Jeffrey Roche. and a Grafton by Hon
Carroll ID. Wright. president of Clark
college.
Al the Hotel Somerset tonight the
hicentennial IL to be commemOrated
by a notable dinner under the aus
pieces OF the 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.
F~rankkiIn's Grave.
Philadelphia, Pa. January III
The grave Of Benjamin Franklin In
this city was heaped high with floral
offerings today by histori-
cal and patriotic societies which
took this method Of observing the
20Oth anniversary OF his birth. The
bicentennial was otherwise observed
by the holding Of historical exercises.
The great celebration 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.
eral governments are to participate
In the affair and the fact that the Gel
ebration will be elaborate and could
not be held during the winter months
President Roosevelt Ia expected to
speak and n of the chief Incidents
will be the presentation to the Philo.
sophical society by the United States
government OF a medal struck in com.
memoration Of the Franklin bicenten-
NAL.
In France.
Paris. January 17.-French scienti.
fic. patriotic and learned societies to-
day united with the members OF the
American colony In concentrating
the 200th anniversary Of the birth OF
Benjamin Franklin. OF all the great
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
government. made the success
II the American revolution a posi-.
)ility.
The chief feature Of the Bicenten-
hal commemoration is the erection
II a bronze statue Of Franklin, given
the city Of Paris by John H.
iarjes, Of the banking firm Of Har-
es, Morgan & company. The site
for the statue, which Is a
eplica Of the n In front Of the
Philadelphia pos.office. Is a small
covered plot in the Rue Franklin
ear the Place dn Trocadero. The
was modelled by John J. Boyle.
he New York sculptor.
'rankiin's Career chronologlcally
Told.
170G--Born In Boston, January II
January g.. old stylel, the 10th child
I Josiah and Abiah Franklin.
1714-Sent to school.
17l6-Taken out Of school to assist
father In tallow.chandler's shop.
l7lS-Became an apprentice in his
'other's printing Office.
172g-Runs away to Philadelphia.
1724-Goes to London.
1725-Works at his trade in Lon. =
IN. +
172G--Returns to Philadelphia.
1727--ls III. Composes his cpl y
phi. Organizes a literary club.
1729-~publishes the Pennsylvania II
1730-Marries Deborah Reed frog
Sept. l.
17a2-Founds the Philadelphia II.
airy. the first circulating library in
Q country. Begins publication Of =
,or Richards Almanac.
1732-Regins the study Of French,
Allan and Spanish.
173G--Enters public life as clerk OF
g Pennsylvania assembly.
17S7--ls appointed postmaster OF
Organizes the frst
: department in America.
17i2-lnvents the frst stove sue.
'''ly used In America.
i749-Founds the Pennsylvania AGA.
my. which becomes the university
Pennsylvania.
l752-Proves that electricity Is an
ment. by receiving the discharge Of
on a kite string.
I753--IIs appointed to Office Of de-.
" postmaster general OF the colo-