San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-20
IN FRANKLIN'S HONOR

One of the most remarkable characters
in the history OF this country has been
appropriately honored by the Post Office
tDepartmert in the issuance OF a new
postage stamp bearing his portrait. Many
tributes have been paid to Benjamin
Franklin, but none has been, or probably
could be, more appropriate than this.
1t matters little whether the issuance of
the stamp was timed to coincide with
Thrift Week, or vice versa. In either
case the choice OF time was happy one.
No wonder that the name of Ben
Franklin has become synonymous with
thrift. He was not only the Country's
first prominent exponent OF the habit of
saving against rainy day, but the
greatest that has appeared in public life.
However there is cause for wonder or
at least for sober reflection. in the fact
that so many people. while protesting
to put high appraisal upon Franklin's
record, both private and public, have
nevertheless formed a conception OF
thrift radically different from his teach
ings on the subject. Perhaps the answer
is superficial knowledge OF American his
tory.
Some people, while marking Franklin
as one of the greatest of Americans, do
not know that thrift was only one item in
his scheme of life. Perhaps they think that
he became thrifty by sheer necessity. They
may recall, vaguely, the story OF his court
ing days-when he walked down a Phila-
delphia. street munching a loaf of bread,
and spied, and was spied by, the girl
who was to become his wife
But it was not sheer. necessity that
impelled Franklin to save his pennies and
let his dollars take care Of themselves ;
nor did the saving impulse strike him
simultaneously with Cupid's dart. He
began to take stock of himself, and to
reason out his philosophy of life, when
he was boy-specifically, it seems, upon
the occasion of return voyage from
England.
Then he took himself severely in hand
mentally-and told himself "a few things"
Among them, besides the doctrine of
of thrift which he subsequently expounded
TO his countrynen through the medium
of Poor Richard, was the assertion that
he must apply himself industriously to
whatever enterprise he might undertake
and not divert my mind from my bust
ness by any foolish project of growing
suddenly rich; for industry and patience
are the surest means of plenty"
Franklin could not have anticipated
that the fault which he thus sought to
avoid would become characteristic of
many Americans nearly two centuries
later Foolish project of suddenly
growing rich" is phrase which describes
one of the greatest handicaps to thou
sands Of Americans of the present day
Scoring small sums-a dime here, a
quarter therc-thev never get an oppor-
tunity to come within arms length of
the prize they crave. 1t becomes for
them like a will-o'- thc-wisp-evcr re-
treating before their approach, and final
~, in their old age, vanishing from their
sight and leaving them without even the
semblance Of hope.
If thrift was not respectable before
FrankIin's time, he made it eminentlv So
And now the United States government
confirms his philosophy by issuing one
cent stamp with his likeness engraved
upon it.
Is it necessary TO suggest the signifi-
canoe of the stamps denomination: