The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-02-14
Franklin's Boyhood in Boston

There is something very romantic and
attractive in thinking of Benjamin Franklin
early In his teens setting type on his brother
James "New England Courant," printing
the sheets from the old press now in the
Bostonian Society rooms, and then carrying
the papers through the streets TO the houses
of his customers. He was born on January
II, 1905, in small house on Milk street,
where the family resided for few years I'M
til they moved to the corner of Hanover
and Union Streets. He was the most
amusing member f the family. Once
when he was watching his father, Josiah,
prepare the winters supply of salt fish,
young Franklin suggested that he would
save lot of time if he said grace over the
whole cask at once. His father was a soap
boiler and tallow chandler, and when his
son had studied at the Latin school few
years he took him home at the age of ten
to assist him in his own business. He
showed so little interest in making soap and
candles that his father decided to appren-
tice him as printer to his elder son, James.
Here Benjamin found more opportunity to
read, the first literature that came to his
notice being "Pilgrim's Progress and
'The Spectator" 1t was not long before
he wrote anonymous articles and showed
them surreptitiously under the door of the
printing room, and to his great
joy they were printed. Had James realized
that they were from the pen of his brother
they would probably have found their way
into the scrap basket, as the two agreed
none too we'll in business.
The authorities didn't at all approve of
the Courant; it spoke too freely, and so the
Assembly imprisoned James Franklin. In
the mean time Benjamin had full charge of
the management. When the elder brother
had served his term he was discharged but
ordered not to print his paper unless it were
supervised by the Secretary of the Province.
1t was then determined that the "New Eng
land Courant' should be issued under
Benjamin's name, and this plan was carried
out for about three years, the imprint read
ing: Boston, printed and sold by Benja-
min Franklin, in Queen Street, where ad-
refreshments are taken in" The building
that was used as his first shop later became
bookstore, and it was oramented with a
head of Franklin for many years, until it
was torn down. Over the office was the
Long Room Club, where Adams, Hancock,
Otis, Warren, Church, Quincy, Dawes,
Paul Revere and others laid their plans for
resisting the British.
The animosity between the two brothers
increased, and Benjamin soon gave up his
position and looked for another one in some
of the other printing houses in Boston.
His brother had, however, gone to these
same offices and prevented his getting any
employment, and in October, 1923, he left
the city in disgust. Had he been able to
find some occupation, Boston might have
been able to claim him during his whole
life, instead of for only his first seventeen
years.
He went to New York and attempted to
secure employment from one of the frs,
printers in New York City, Mr.. William
Bradford. Here he was unsuccessful and
he turned his steps toward Philadelphia.
| Here he was successful in obtaining work
and his history from the day he walked
down the street munching a dry piece OF
bread, until he became famous, is well
known.-Ihe Leader.