The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-11-02
Extracts From MastBlpiGC8SOf
The Worlds Literature
Edited By E. Z. r.

Every noble life leaves the tfbei
of it inter-woven forever in the
work Of the world. Ruskin.
In reading the life of Franklin we
are constantly surprised at the YER
satility of his powers. He achieved
an undylng reputation as man OF
business, as a scientist, as writer,
as statesman, and as diplomatist
1t is impossible to give here an adj
equate idea Of his greatness or OF
the debt Of gratitude which we all
owe him, for the help he rendered
our nation in times of sore need.
For the events Of his life the reader
is referred to his autobiography, a
a classic masterpiece with which
every American should be familiar.
What follows are exacts from a
review of Franklin's character by
John T. Morse, Jr., at the end of
his admirable biography Of Frank
lin. in the American statesman Sc
ries:
Among illu s tri o us Americans
Franklin stands re-eminent in the
interest which is aroused by study
of his character, his mind and his
career One becomes attached to
him, bids him farewell with regret,
and feels that for such as he the
longest span of life is all too short.
Even though dead, he attracts a
personal regard which renders easily
intelligibly the profound affection
which so many men felt for him
while living. 1t may be doubted
whether any one man ever had so
many, such constant, and such firm
friends as in these different nations
they formed about him veritable
host. In the States and in France
he was loved, and as he grew into
old age he was revered, not by those
who beard of him only, but most
warmly by those who best knew
him. Even in England, where for
years he was the arch rebel of all
America, he was generally held in
respect and esteem, and had many
constant friends whose confidence
no events could shake Nor
al, intellectual, and maternal boons
he conferred in such abundance that
few such benefactors of the race can
be named, though one should survey
all the ages. A man Of a greater
humanity never lived, and he not
only loved his kind, but he also
trusted them with implicit conf
dence, reassuring if not extraordi-
nary in an observer of hts shrewd-
ness and experience. Franklin's
Unborn ambition was the noblest of
all ambitions: to be of practical use
to the multitude of men. The chief
motive of his life was to promote
the welfare of mankind. Every mo-
ment which he could snatch from
enforced occupations was devoted
to doing, devising, or suggesting
something advantageous more or
less generally to men. Fair dealing
and kindness, prudence and econ
omy in order to procure the COM
forts and simpler luxuries Of life,
ysaaing and k,,osoleage far Hzose uses
7O}tich aOlsdOm su6seyOeS, constituted
the real essence of his teaching. t
His inventive genius was ever at
work devising methods of making
daily life more agreeable, comfort
able, and wholesome for all who
have to live. In word, the service
of his fellowmen was his constant
aim, and he so served them that
those public official functions which
are euphemlstically called public
services seemed in his case almost
an interruption of the more direct
and ar-reaching services which he
was intent upon rendering to all
civilized peoples.
As patriot none surpassed him.
Again it was the love of the people
that induced this feeling, which
grew from no theory as to forms Of
government, no distractions an d
doctrines about the rights of man.
During the struggle of the States
no man was more hearty in the
cause than Franklin; and the depth
of feeling shown in his letters, SIM
pie and uurhetorical as they are. is
impressive. All that he b ad he
gave. What also strikes the reader
of his writings is The broad national
spirit which he manifested. He had
an immense respect for the dignity
of America; he was perhaps fortu-
nately saved from disillusionment