Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-03
A MARVELLOUS MAN
BY John T. BOIFEUILLET


ebrated on the first day of said week by
schools and civic organizations throughout
the republic.
Before taking a few gIances along the
shining highway of this illustrious life, L
pause to say that Franklin county, Georgia,
was called after this famous printer, jour
nalist and author, this pre-eminent states
man, diplomat and philosopher, this re-
nowned scientist, patriot and philanthropist,
this lofty illustration Of the priesthood of
liberty-a man who taught frugality and
economy to the American colonists, when
frugality and economy were indispensable
to the conservation Of their independence
and manhood" who believed that the great
virtue of thrift was supremely important to
the winning of the war of the Revolution,
essential to keep the people out of debt,
and to provide the means Of education and
dignifying society,"
If 1 had to name the paramount faculty
of Franklin's massive brain, which con-
trbuted more than any one other of his
great mental powers to the naturalization
of his name and the greatness and grandeur
of this nation, l would say plain good sense.
Atoned Youthful Indiscret1on
AS showing the magnanimity of his ma
ture, the loftiness of his soul, the Justice
of his heart, [ point to his eXpatiation and
REPAYMENT of an indiscretion committed in
his youthful years. This noble man did not
hesitate to do his duty, shirk his obliga-
ton and responsibility. biographer says:
while yet in his teens, Franklin became
a father before he was a husband" He
took the boy to his home, and gave him the
best education the schools of the times af-
forded In his visits abroad the son accom-
panied him, and he introduced him in the
houses of fashion and wealth where he was
visitorD He obtained his admission to the
bar of England, and had the crown to ap-
point him governor of New Jersey. A his
torlan states: when Franklin was at the
zenith OF his fame and official Importance
he publicly proclaimed his indiscretion as
one of the great errors of his life He had
the courage and magnanimity to expiate
wrong to his offspring, fully and effec-
tively.'
This son was named William. He lived
to be eighty-three eghty-four years old,
about the same age as his father's
Franklin and the Ambassadors
Sometime after Europe and the whole
civilized world had learned Of Washington's
fame by reason of his victories over the
English and French, and his name was a
household word in many lands, Franklin
was at a dinner at which the English and
Accord
ing to historical account, the following
toasts were drunk
By the British ambassador: England,
the sun whose beams enlighten and fruc-
tify the remotest corners of the earth
By the French ambassador: France,
the moon whose mild, steady, cherry rays
are the delight of all nations; consoling
them IN darkness and making their dreari-
ness beautiful
Then, so runs the narrative, Franklin
rose, and with his usual dignified sim
plicity, said:
George Washington, the Joshua, who
made the sun and moon to stand still, and
they obeyed him"
Just now, when the dropping Of match
by some imprudent spirit might set Europe
in blaze, there comes to recollection this
observation by gFranklin: There never
was good wars or bad peace" Reflect
over that truth, all ye belligerent minds. I
also commend to hostile and turbulent souls
this expression of his wisdom: Mad wars
destroy in one year the works of many
years of peace"
Right here it may be timely to quote this
golden nugget from Philosopher Franklins
mine of shining truth: "They that will
not be counseled cannot be helped If you
do not hear reason she will rap you on the
knuckles." This is apropos both in war and
peace times
Keep i'm the Sunlight
Out of the inexhaustible fund of Frank
Inns priceless sayings, which history has
preserved, there flashes this scintillating
ray of advice: Keep in the sunlight" If
you follow this counsel you will hear the
notes of the oriole instead of the boot of
the owl; you will refreshen in the balmi-
ness OF the south breeze, which bears the
fragrance of expanding blossoms, instead of
chilling under the lev breath of the north
wind; you will find hope and happiness and
contentment instead of doubt and trouble
and sadness. In the sunlight you will be
greeted with gladstone smile, a cheerful
good morning" and a warm glance Of the
eye, instead of the frown, the grunt and the
cold stare of the shadows. God pity the
man who, if [ may paraphrase the poet,
neither warns in the ,un nor refreshes in
the breeze, neither glows in the stars nor
to his jaundiced eye" he should get out of
the gloom and into the light, and open his
mind and heart to some of the delightful in
fluences that abound in the sunshine
Great Diplomatic Career
Benjamin Franklin is one of the very few
men who have lived in this world of whom
1t can be truly said Everything that he
! touched taught him something, and every
| thing that he learned he used.''
| When Franklin resigned as minister
| plenipotentiary to France he was succeeded
by the renowned Thomas Jefferson, who
was asked if he replaced Franklin, and
promptly replied: "No man can replace
him, sir; [ am only his successor" Frank
lin had spent nine years of his splendid life
in France as commissioner and minister,
and was in the seventy-nnth year Of his
age when he retired from that field.
! His remarkable diplomatic career covered