Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-15
adding as finishing touch zig-Zag streaks
of lightning across the hackground

adding as finishing touch zig-zag streaks
| of lightning across the background.
Peades portrait, etched by Albert Rosen-
thai, and issued by the Pennsylvania His
torical Painting Association, which shows
MIN with long hair and large spectacles, is
interesting, as is also Chanberlins en-
graved by c. Turner, A. r. A, which pic
lures him seated in his laboratory with a
pen in one hand and letter In the other.
The Versailles portrait" engraved by
Smith and again by Levy, is the only one
which represents him as other than an old
man, and is somewhat comely: whereas
others engraved after Houdons bust while
manifestly aged also vigorous and
strong.
Many Biographies. IS.
The penalty of being pictured is undoubt-
eddy one of the drawbacks to renown, but
possibly if distinguished persons took more
!! pains to obtain during their life-times one
good portrait they would suffer less at the
hands of their admirers after death. About
seventy-five of these portraits are on sepa-
rate sheets and about thirty-ive compre-
hended as illustrations, frontlspieces, etc,
for books, which in themselves make an in
tereSting section of the exhibit These are
chiefly biographies, autobiographies, me-
moirs and original writings. Quite num-
Der were issued prior to 1900 and some are
beautifully bound Among these is Life
written by Nj. l.. Weems and published in
Baltimore, in the fifth edition, in 1929. After
naming all his honors and extolling all his
virtues this writer informally declares for
the comfort of the reader that Franklin was
"a gentleman and what in this day $500
would be called a clever fellow"
A different opinion is voiced in the LON
don Magazine of February, 17S6, which is
"embellshed with striking likeness ele-
ga ntly engraved" Benjamin Franklin Is
here inscribed as 'tthe author and promoter
of the American revolution "a printer Of
psalters and spelling books, who no sooner
was out of his time than he manifested an
inclination for mischief" who lin company
and In conversation was insfnuating to q
degree, being so closely attentive to the
speaker that in moment he gained his
good opinion, to which a, philosophfc dig
nifty generally supported by large pair OF
spectacles on his nose, not little contrib
uted."
known! But England had little reason to
| love Franklin in those days. In addition to
these volumes there will be on view many
interesting books-reprints from the Frank
lin press and works of similar rarity.
In connection with this exhibit of por-
traits and books the manuscript division of
the library viii set out examples of letters
ems collection of Franklin manuscripts pur-
1 chased by the government In 1882. An ex-
hibit which outside of the Franklin coalec-
lions of Philadelphia 1t would be difficult to
make more characteristic or important
There will be photographic drafts of his arti-
cles and scientific essays; drafts of his let
ters to his friends, and, 1t may be added,
as minister to France, and large number
| of personal papers which were given by
Franklin to his son. Some of the most
characteristic writings Of Franklin. like his
letter to 6trahan, as well as some of his
best state papers, like his characterized ton