The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1919-01-23
CELEBRATING POOR
RICHARDS" BIRTHDAY
Government Has Pictures Ready for
Every Member in the Family
Benjamin Franklin Gave Us Gifts
We Shall Never Cease Using.

Benjamin Franklin, whose picture
adorns the 1919 or Franklin issue of
War Savings Stamps, receives unique
recognition from the country which
gave him birth and which he, in turn
helped to make a nation.
Born in Boston on January II, two
hundred and thirteen years ego, he
began his career at the age of ten in
his fathers trade of tallow chandler
and SOAP boiler Dissatisfied, he
later b, ame an apprentice in his
brothers printing office and such was
his character that he quickly rose to
an influential position and subsequent
iy became one of the most illustrious
figures of all times.
He not only amassed wealth
through wise spending, sane saving
and secure investment, but saved
time to give himself complete edu-
cation developing his gifts to the ut
most as a writer, philosopher, scien-
fist and statesman. He founded the
Philadelphia library, the American
Philosophical Society and the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania; he discov-
cred that lightning is a discharge of
electricity, he was Postmaster of
Philadelphia and later on Deputy
Postmaster General of the British
Colonies in America; signer of the
Declaration of independence and Min
lister Plenipotentiary from the United
States to France All this when
there were no typewriters, no tele-
phones and few facilities for travel
ing.
Franklin always ascribed his
achievements to careful saving and
spending of money, of time, of en-
ergy. A great part of his writings
were devoted to the happiness and
other benefits resulting from thrift,
and he took pains to make clear the
distinction between miserliness and
sane saving, Just as he did the diff
ference between leisure and laziness.
In Franklin's day the almanac was
the most popular form of literature,
and for many years Franklin ~as the
Richard Saunders, in which informa-
ton regarding the weather, etc, was
mingled with wisdom emanating from
Poor Richard These sayings are
familiar to every American.
For instance, Poor Richard" said.
''Time is money. Lost time is never
found again He that waits upon
fortune is never sure Of dinner
Look before or you'll find yourself be-
hind Beware of small expenses; a
small leak will sink a great ship"
So, on Franklin's birthday anniver-
saTy, the United States pays to its
great counsellor the fine compliment
of putting his teachings into prac
tice. Judicious buying wise saving
and safe investment are to be the
watchwords for individuals and the
nation during&1919. And that they
may not be mere words the govern
ment Is issuing another series of Saw
ings Stamps as stimulant to saving
and an absolutely safe and prof1table
Investment On each stamp appears
the picture of benjamin Franklin
ARE you PAYING TOO MUCH FOR
YOUR WHISTLE? BEN FRANK
LIN DID ONCE.
Whom Franklin was a child of
seven ha vas Given a lot of pennies
one holiday fastening into a near
by toyshop he voluntarily gave all he
had for a whistle. A little later he
discovered tina he had paid four
>.times TOO much for his toy Realiz-
ing how many other things he might
have had in addition, he wept with
vexation and got no more pleasure
from the whistle. He never forgot
the incident Afterwards whenever
he was tempted to make too great
an outlay in line, or money, or en-
ergy, he would say to himself, Don't
pay too much for the whistle
Lots of folks are using up all their
energy on some snowy thing that
gives them no comfort. Some are
lavishing valuable time on a few I'M
important tasks Others willingly
elbow in an entire weeks salary on
one evening of frivolity, robbfng
themselves of all manner of pleas
ure for an indefinite period.
Others sacrifice the best OF their
talents in pursuing some fruitless
ambition Still others forego the
simple, natural joys of life in wor,
shipping a snobbish ideal.
They are all paying too much To-
their whistle.
How is it with you?
Are you paying too much for you
whistle? Or are there some 1871!
War Savings Stamps in your life
Franklin's picture is on them; hi
IDEAS are back of them.