The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-02-03

Two hundred and five years ago
January 18th, 1906 In the city of Bos-
ton, Ben Franklin was born.
Throughout the country, wherever
men are moved by its notable contri-
buttons to the cause of science, philo-
sophy and literature the memory of
the brilliant and picturesque son of
the humble Massachusetts, soap maker
who coaxed the lightning from the
sky, and demonstrated for an incre-
dulous world the analogy between it
and electricity, again strikes a res
pon-ive chord in millions of human
hearts.
In recalling his wish that he might
be preserved for one hundred years
in cask OF Madeira wine and be
brought back to life at the end of
that time TO see what his country
had wrought in the meanwhile, his
trite remark "Of what use Is a new
born baIbe?" made to the man who
contemptuously quizzod him concern
ing the value of certain experiments
then being made in balooning by
Montgolfier, comes home TO us with
new emphasis in the light of recent
achievements. Assuming that Frank
lin could come back, how he would
marvel at the bewildering array Of
wonders that would confront him at
every corner! His country, no lon
ger limited in its scope to the ORR
ginal 10 states with their S27,S44
square miles of territory now spreads
it's starry emblem of freedom over
two continents embracing 3,O26,7S9
square miles. Its public debt has
grown from less than $4,000 900 to
81 ,046, 449, 1S5, it's receipts from $780,
100000 to $1,297 OBS, 1893 and its an
nual expenditures from $17 1000 900 to
81 ,21O ,0OO,0 900, The Post Office system
which he founded with annual receipts
of 100000 has grown to $205, 562, 1888.
Before the steamship the old sailing
'C1SCl anu PoShSI ohfp hdNc ulSdp-
peared from the face of the sea. In
Like manner the pony express and
the stage coach have capitulated to
the high powered railroad train, the
electric trolley and the automobile.
The tallow candle has ceased to dis-
fuse its sickly aurora, yielding it's
place to the electric light, some 50,-
100000 of which glow nightly in the
| United States. Beneath the waters
the submarine cavorts with the ma
tive of the deep and across the hori-
zon the fleet winged aeroplane scars
with the skill of the eagle and the
buzzard. In the field of electricity,
interest in which he did so much to
stimulate, Franklin would find amaz-
ing vindication of his present judy
ment when he asked his interrogation
'Of What Use Is a New Born Babe"
Since he thus spoke have come Prof
essor Morse's telegraph, Professor
Alexander Graham Bells telephone,
Elias Howe's sewing machine Me
Cormick's reaper, Edison's monograph
Dslany's 1000 words minute tele-
post automatic telegraph system. West
inghouse's wonderful mechanical in
ventfons and Thousand and one 9TH
er wonderful electrical and machani-
cal devices that multiply mans use
fulness. The high powered cylinder
press has displaced the foot press of
Poor Richards time and the limo
type the setting of type by hand.
Since he passed away Napoleonlsm
has been crushed from the earth and
the doctrine of repubhcanism widely
disseminated. We have had four wars
but are greater and more prosperous
than ever before, with a wealth of
sl25.OOO, 100000 twice that of Great
Britain aud three times that of eth
er France or Germany. Truly might
he now say-If he could come back
"Of What Use Is New Born Babe"