Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-19
BENJAMIN REFLECTS


\ bronze statue of Franklin, made in
Baltimore for the city of Waterbury,
Conn, was received with ceremony in
Philadelphia and conveyed with pomp TO
places associated with the name Of the
great philosopher and finally TO the grave
in Christ Church BuryinG Ground before
1t was moved to burlington, ~ j., yester.
day, to be transported to It's destination
over the route which Franklin followed
from Boston to this city.
90, THIS is whore we are buried. Time,
~ as | often said. masters all things. The
stone is 50 gray and worn with rain that ]
can hardly read the letters Of poor Dpborah's
name. But there is II little grass left here;
just little. in city that once was very
green. Instead Of trees there are towers
and buildings larger than the pyramids.
This delights me because all must be going
we'll IN our common affairs. Otherwise such
things could not be. because it is hard for
an empty bag to stand upright.
Never in all my life did imagine such a
tower rs that upon which the people have
placed the statue Of w. Penn. am con-
WINGED that the virtues of modesty and Wis
dom and love of peace and simple honor
govern the lives of those who. representing
the people. choose TO do such great honor
to an honorable and peaceful man. Surely
The constitution is still in actual operation
and enlightened government is achieved,
though IN city built as this is | cannot
sec how man can fly his kites.
Nothing that | have seen so imprcsScs me
rs the ships that move SO quietly upon the
river without sail or oar. ] venture to
believe that at last way has been found tO
impriS"n whale below for motive power
IL scheme that | myself dreamed much over
in my youth, though / never was able,
what with politics and such, to do more
than make some notes and draw some plans
50 crude and insufficient that | dislike TO
think Of them now.
Never did | ride in ship so wonderful Us
that upon which our Wagons were put
arross tn" river, yet it rides no more
smoothly than the coaches of the gentlemen
in this procession. | am minded of my own
hope to make coach to move without
horses by means of coilcd spring and of
my failure TO find means to wind UP q
mechanism Of the required power.
So much is strange and bCwildering that
were ii not for the two rivers and the way
Of the streets | should hardly recognize This
city as min" own. One thing disQuictS me-,
Their" never was Il good war or bad peace.
Yet all the muSc-and it is almost con-
Staut--iS of the sort that is ordinarily
intended to call men to battle. Afoot in the
long procession are soldiers with muSkctS.
When these Colonies were made free OF
England we believed that the last great
war had been fought and that rulers had at
last seen the wisdom Of permitting men to
work and live in peace. | should like
greatly to get down from this Wagon and
talk with the hurgoSSCs and the Ov"rSecrs
and nsk them whether wars ar" fought any
more and, il they ar" not fought. why
soldering music is so large a part of their
public celebrations.
We are coming now near TO the place
where c. Washington mad" his crossing.
\ courageous man but obduratc and. have
always thought, too prone because OF prld"
to do other than bear his troubles dnd anI-
ictieS in solitude.
This river, too, i no, green amy more. /
remember well how greatly | r"joir"d in its
stiffness and frugranr" when | first set eyes
upon it. 6. Washington remembered ii
with tenderness all the days of his later life,
and / am sure that the people who liv" by
il now never cease to think If it with love
because it was intcrposCd ns If by High
Providence 10 serve them in Il time of great
need
At various places | have heard talk Of
liberties withheld and of restriction OF that
freedom that we sought when told l"tter-
son that we should all hang singIy If W"
did not hang together.
All this | am prone to regard aS IdI" E"S'
sip. IL does not seem reasonable I" III" mat
any people would sacrifice freedom after
having had hundred years and more in
which 10 learn to esteem its Dement'S.
Porlaps iu New England | Shall learn
whether any one ever followed MP the "X
pcrimrnts that began with my kite,