Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-22
IN HONOR OF BEN FRANKLIN.

Perth Amboy does honor to BENJAMIN FRANK
lin today. The beautiful statue OF the famous
patriot, statesman and philosopher now on us
way from Baltimore to Waterbury Conn., reach-
ed this city last night under escort OF the Boy
Scouts and spent the night in the company OF
George Washington who stands guard at CITY
Hall park. Whether these two famous fathers Oh
the American revolution held any communion
during tho still hours of the night no one can
say, It was particular appropriate. however
that the Franklin statue should spend the night
In that particular spot. No doubt Franklin him
self passed through old Market Square. as City
Hall park was known in colonial days. and
could tho statue see and speak 1t might even
recognize some of the surroundings. What a
6ns thing it would be If a statue exactly like the
ono now temporarily resting there, could De
placed In that hallowed spot permanently.
AS this particular pilgrimage OF the statue OF
franklin is supposed to follow more or less
directly the course taken by Franklin when ne
made his famous trip from Boston to Phfladel-
phia as a youth, only going In the opposite direc-
thin. there are some who are of the opinion that
II was South Amboy and not Perth where Frank
Ain landed after his evenful voyage from New
York. South Amboy. 1t is true. was the land
MI place " thiou6h Ava
and Philadelphia many years. but there is every
reason to believe that that was after the cam
den & Amboy railroad was established, which
was many years after the Revolution. This rail-
road was one of the first in the country and
passengers from New York to Philadelphia
would take the boat from New York to South
Amboy and thence by train to Bordentown and
finally to Camden.
1--- pa.tl - US xuo the
only Amboy known. This was the capital of
the province, it is much older than South Amboy
and it is natural to suppose that all boats ply
ing between Amboy and New York put up at this
place. South Amboy was gradually developed as
the settlers spread out from Perth Amboy along
Abe south shore toward Middletown and shrews-
bury.
There is every reason to believe, however, that
Franklin visited what is now South Amboy on
his famous trip now brought so prominently be-
the public. crossing from this city by the
N Ferry. In this connection 1t is interesting
TO consider what Franklin himself says in his
Autobiography regarding his passage through
Amboy.
After telling Of his unsuccessful efforts to Sc
cure work as a printer in New York and re-
ce,ying encouragement regarding the prospects
Of getting employment in Philadelphia. Frank
lin says:
philadelphia was 100 miles farther; j set OUT,
however, in a boat for Amboy, leaving my ches'
and things to follow me around by sea.
In crossing the bay. we met with a squan thal
tore our rotten sails to pieces, prevented our get
ting into the Kill and drove us upon Long Isl,
and. In our way, a drunken Dutchman, VINO
was a passenger. too, fell overboard; when ne
was sinking, ] reached through the water to ms
shock pate, and drew him up, so that we got
: him in again. His ducking sobered him a niue
y and he went to sleep, taking first out or ms
1 aocket a book, which he desired would dry lol
i'm. 1t proved to be my old favorite author
). Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress in Dutch, mel!
printed, on good paper, with copper cuts, a dress
better than had ever seen it wear in its owf
language. I have since found that 1t has peeh
translated into most of the languages of Europe,
and suppose it has been more generally read
than any other book, except, perhaps the blpie
> Honest John was the first 1 know of who mix q
narration and dialogue, a method Of writlnt
very engaging to the reader, who, In the mos
Interesting parts. finds himself, as it were
brought into the company. and present at I'M