The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-01-11

when old Franklin not only wrote
these things; he lived them He had a
definite and systematic way Of check
Ing UP his conduct He made a list Of
the cardinal virtues, then marked OPP
posite each any slight infraction on his
own part during each day To perfect
himself in writing he took a copy Of
the Spectator, tixed the thought Of some
particular paragraph in bis mind. then
after the lapse Of a few days tried 10
reproduce ii. lie always strove for self
Improvement While boy he ran on to
description of the Socratic method Ct
questioning ard making tentative state
ments. 1t made such a deep impress
sion on his mind that he abandoned the
dogmatic method Of saying "undoubt-
eddy" and Certainly and adopted the
more modest and winning method Of
saying. 1T appears to me 10 be so and
So or, "If am not mistaken, Il is
thus and So TO this habit early form
ed be owed much Of his success as a
writer and diplomat In later life.
Benjamin Franklin did not become
an author merely for popularity. OF
the creation Of literature for its own
sake he knew nothing He wrote nj.
ways to further some especial cause hs
had IN view or with the distinct object
Of aiding mems morals and material
well being Outside OF the almanac
the only considerable work from his
pen is his autobiography. This vas
unfinished at the time Of his death aud
was not published until some time att.
crward
The letters and political papers also
contain much OF the trenchant wisdom
and homely philosophy Of this versatile
man. He was enc Of tile Few who
eould not write without saying some
thing 1t might be a letter on never SO
trivial a subject; still the individuality
Of Franklin shone through. He made
everything he did or said worth While
only because he was in it. He was so
distinct, so different, yet so universal
and 50 common, that everything he
touched he made vital with his own
being. No man. at least in modern
times, ever entered so many fields and
made himself master CT them all. This
was because he was always and every
whore Ben Franklin, distinct and
definite entity and sufficiently forcefui
TO lend to all that emanated from him
his own distinction. After all, 1t IS
great souls that count, and Franklin
was great enough and original enough
10 leave an impress the world can new
er lose lie became an influence In
all disqualification that can never be
eradicated. He sowed himself In his
age, and the thought seed grew, TO be
reproduced in after ages. He was a
pervasive sort Of man, and there is lit
tie Of the occidental world that has not
felt his presence He was at home with
the scientist or the peasant, with tho
king or the revolutionist, in tile salon
or the backwoods. Such universal
characters are rare They seem -
touch humanity at every point. to COM
prehend and include it They are so
great they do not need to seem great.
and therefore their genius is often I'M
perceived by those nearest at hand
This much cnn be said Of benjamin
franklin lie was the most couspicu-
Gus newspaper man Of his day and to
that extent was the founder Of the
modern American press, He was one
Of the best printers, Il not the best, b
Tie colonies, and be was the most cele,
brated American author up to HIS own
day and for generations afterward,
j. a. EDGERTON.