The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-14

destined young Benjamin to wider sphere of usefulness than ministry among the witch burners of New Eng land F.ranklin's life was spent for the betternent of mankind, his broad cath olicv carrying him far beyond the mar row doe1nas of sectarianism. In early life Reniamin sat in the pew of the Presby- terian, but he was not elected there to remain; for later the spirit moved him to nap in the Quaker meeting house, and such was his impartiality that to Frank Iin's influence is traceable Carroll of Maryland being appointed first Catholic Bishop of America Having no patience with the New England Sabbath, Franklin was never a sabbatarian. Early in life he set aside Sunday his day for study and writing, and later. like the French regarded 1t as a fete day.
 Franklin's friendship included anti podes like Darwin and Whitfield, yet, be 1t told to his credit. he advertised Tnom- as Paine to burn instead of printing his Age of Reason" for, argued Franklin, "If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be without it?''
 The Book of Common Prayer, as used in the United States, was shortly after the revolution, revised along lines sug- gested by the pen of Franklin. Although Franklin was never sectarian, in his later years he was a pew-holder and frequent attendant at the Episcopal church, cor ner of Arch and Fifth streets, Philadel- phia, and there, in the church yard hls remains found a grave by the side Of his wife, Deborah.
 His Married Life.
 When Washington. Jefferson ana Franklin were young sparks, Dickens had not trumpeted through the moutn-plece of Weller his warning to Beware or the vidders" Franklin, however, was more
 Fl 0 Virginia, so that in selecting consort, he not only chose a widow but grass-widow, which CIT constance never prevented her rom making Franklin a faithful helpmeet ana satisfactory spouse. Mrs. Franknn maiden name was Deborah Reeo, anu she was the self-same girl who standing in her doorway, had laughed at the com ical appearance of the runaway appIen- tice boy, who, having just arrived Ill Philadelphia exceedingly hungry, was strolling along Market street munchlns a roll having moreover two extra loaVSs of bread tucked under each arm. Littie dreamed Deborah that he was destined to be her future husband, ana nttie dreamed Franklin what destiny nad III store by directing him to Phliaoelpnla, for Benjamins only hope rested Tn ms belief that God helps those who heip themselves"
 
 for Benjamin Franklin. son of candle maker and soap boiler, as her mother WAS the manufacturer of an ointment guar anteed to cure Itch, but when Frankiln' the self-made man, became minister to France the law of social gravitatton de- stined Mrs. Franklin to obscurity. She, good woman. was happier. however, In the station in which she rightfully be- longed. Her pet name for her husband was "Pappy," term over Whlcn tTAnh- Inns political enemies made much sport, During Franklins long residence abroad he and his wife kept up a regular corre- spondence, supplemented with such gifts from her as barrels of apples, buckWneat flour and corn meal. In return Franklin sent. as reminder of his affection for her articles of wearing apparel from Paris that his keen knowledge of human na- ,ture suggested would please the feminine heart Frankln's and Deborah Reeds child Sarah, who married Bache, was one of the most patriotic women or the American revolution. To her It was due that a sowing society was organized for the purpose of helping to clothe the sol diers of Pennsylvania, the success or which was demonstrated in the gift to the army of twentytwo hundred shirts It was one of the peculiar circumstances of war that when the British domiciled themselves in Philadelphia Franklin's home was occupied by Major Andre.
 Ills Ready Wit.
 When Franklin heard that Howe had captured Philadelphia, with the instinct of the prophet, he replied, No, Phila- delphia has captured Howe." and thus 1t proved. A remark even more face tious than this was made by Franklin when Harrison of Virginia urged the signers of the Declaration of lndepend- ence that Congress must all hang to- gether in its defense" Franklin, with grim humor, added, "or we will all hang separately.
 In his plain homespun clothes the gouty figure of Franklin presented at the French court vast contrast to the fashionably dressed and powdered be- wigged autocrats of Europe. But the self-made American in his homemade clothes was not to be discomforted by French lackey at the door of the Senate chamber exclaiming. Pardon me, sir. but you have forgotten your wig
 Perhaps" laughed Franklin. but did not forget my head"
 Among the French such was Frank lin's popularity that 1t excited the envy of the other commissioners, Lee and Deane little circumstance that well illustrates Franklin's ready wit was that when some of his admirers sent to the commissioners headquarters at Passy cake inscribed, "Le digne Franklin (the worthy Franklin)," he told his compa- triots that 1t was meant for all three of them, and that the French did not know how to correctly spell their names, and interpreted the phrase to mean, Lee, Deane, Franklin"
 Humor was a rare ingredient in Pur1- tan stock and Franklin had perhaps more of 1t than any other American of his generation. It served the greatest help to him all through his long life, get ting him safely out of difficulties where In logic would have availed naught. The most striking instance of this was his experience when a youth stranded in London. He applied for printers posi- tion. The Englishman of whom he sought work sneered at the idea of em- ploying a printer from America whereat