The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-01-17

when Old. Franklin not only wrote
these things: he lived them. He hnc u
definite and systematic way Of check
ing NJ his conduct. He made Il 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 II copy oe
the Spectator. fixed the thought OF some
particular paragraph in his mind. then
after the lapse of II few days tried to
reproduce it. He always stlOvc for self
Improvement. While Il boy he ran OH to
Il description of the Socrnt!c method Of
questioning and making tentative state
n:ents. 1t made such Il deep impress
sion ON his mind that he abandoned the
dogmatic method Of saying "Undoubt-
eddy" and certainly" and adopted the
0 modest and winning method Of
saying. 1T appears to me to be SO and
So" OF, III l am not mistaken. it is
thus aad So" To this habit early form
ell he owed much Of his success Is 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 al
ways to further some especial cause he
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 was
unfinished at the time Of his death and
was not published until some time aft
erward.
The letters and political papers also
contain much Of the trenchant wisdom
and homely philosophy of this versatile
man. He was II Of the few who
could not write without saying some-
thing. 1t might he q 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 1t. He was SO
distinct, so different, yet SO universal
and so common, that everything he
touched he made vital with his own
being. No man, ut least In modern
| times. ever entered so many fields aud
made himself master of them all. This
was because he was always and every
where Ben Franklin. a distinct and
definite entity and sufficiently forceful
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
to leave an impress the world can new
er lose. He became an influence In
NIL decentralization that can eve be
e%radicated. He sowed himself In his
age, and the thought seed grew. to be
reproduced in after ages. He was O
p~ervasive sort Of man, and there is lit
tie of the occidental world that las moi
felt his presence. He was at home with
the scientist or the peasant. with the
king or the revolutionist. in the salon
or the backwoods. Such universe,
characters arc rare. They seem to
touch humanity at every point, to com
prelcnd and include 1t. They are sc
great they do not need to seem great
and therefore their genius is often I'm
perceived by those nearest at hand.
This much can be said Of Benjamin
Franklin: He was the most conspicu
Gus newspaper mar of his day and tt
that extent was the founder Of thu
modern American press. He was one
Of the best printers, II not the best, IL
the colonies, and he was the most cele
bratel American author up to his owl
day and for generations afterward.
;. J. 4. EDGERTON.