The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-10-03
HOW GREAT MEN
MAKE LOVE
AS REVEALED BY THEIR
LOVE LETTERS
20 by Wheeler Syndicate. Inc.)
THE AMOURS OF BENJA-
MIN FRANKLIN
by JOSEPH KAYE

A FTER having lived-though hap
a PLY enough-with his, good wife
"Debby' for half century, one can
hardly blame Franklin for falling In
love with a fascinating French widow
when it is borne in mind that he used
to receive letters from "Debby" like
the one following:
my dear Child: have bin verey
much distrest aboute you as / did not
aney-, letter nor one word from you
nor did / hear one word from oney
bodey that you wrote tc SO / must
submit and inde(7) to submit to what
/ am to bair / did write to Capt
Folkner to you but he Is gon down
and when I read 1t over did not
like it and so If this donte send 1t
. shante like 1t as / donte send you
aney news now don't so abrod.
'Your a feckshone wife,
I'D. Franklin"
The French widow was Madame
Helvetius, the wife of the well-known
philosopher. The salon Of Madame
was a famous one in Paris, in spite
of the fact that she was getting along
In years, and when Franklin visited
the French capitol he was naturally
brought to this meeting place Of wit
and fashion. A strong affection sprung
up between the great American and
Madame Helvetius, and one that
scandalized his own people. A
piquant view of the affair from this
angle was given by Abigail Adams,
wife Of President Adams, In letter
home. Part Of this communication
follows:
"She entered the room with care
less, sweeping air; upon seeing the
ladies, who were strangers to her, she
bawled out, 'Ah, mon Dieu. where is
Franklin? Why did you not tell, me
there were ladies herey You must
suppose her speaking all this in
French. How look? said she, TAX
ing hold Of chemise made of tiffany
which she had on over blue lutte
string, and which looked as much
upon the decay as her own beauty,
for she was once handsome woman;
her hair was frizzled; over it she had
a small straw hat with dirty gauze
half-handkerchief around 1t. and
bit of dirtier gauze than ever my
maids wore bowed on behind. She
ran out of the room and when she re-
turned the Doctor entered, at one
door and she at the other; upon
which she ran forward to him, gave
him a double kiss, one upon each
cheek, and another upon his forehead.
When he went into the room to dine
she. was placed between the Doctor
and Mr. Adams. She carried on the
chief conversation at dinner, frequent
~ locking her hands into the Doc
tors; anG sometimes spreading her
arms upon the backs Of both gentle
mems chairs, then throwing her arms
carelessly upon the Doctors neck"
or Franklin's affectionate CORE
spondence with Madame Helvetius the
following is brief sample, sent in
reply to an appointment made with
him by the lady, the rendezvous being
q place called ''Turgot's."
"Mr. Franklin never forgets any
party at which Madame HelvetluS Is
expected. He even believes, that II
he were engaged to go to Paradise
this morning, he would pray for per-
mission to remain on earth until half
past one In order to receive the en-
brace. promised him at Turgot's."
Before his marriage to Debby.
Franklin was involved in another love
affair which resulted in the birth of a
natural son, William. This child was
taken into Franklin's home which, as
historians have observed, was rather
peculiar wedding present for his
wife. The boy was brought up by
Mrs. Franklin as her own child and
the father did all he could for him,
eventually making him governor of
New Jersey.