Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-29

By the BooklOver

Though he had become one Of the
greatest of the American colonialS and
the leading citizen Of Philadelphia,
Benjamin Franklin spent many years
Of his prime and his old age abroad,
In London and In Paris. His return to
Philadelphia, where he was welcomed
by crowds of fellow citizens at the
docks, by ringing bells and uniformed
bands, were the more sweet because OF
the years of absence in more sophisti-
Gated foreign capitals. Some OF the
most interesting descriptions in Ber-
nard Fays Franklin, the Apostle OF
Modern Times" are those Of Franklin'S
life in London and Paris. Franklin first
went to London in 1725, when he was
only l9; he remained year and half,
had varied experiences and brought
back to America "the latest doctrines
of the English radicals" In 1857 he
was sent to London to represent the
colony of Pennsylvania in an attempt
to settle differences with the Penns,
especially over taxation. In It'll he
again went to London. this time to pro-
test against the stamp act. His mis-
sion was not successful, and he returned
home to help draw up the Declaration
of independence. During the Revolu-
ton he represented the Congress in
France in an attempt to secure friend
ship and aid, and in 1778 was recog-
nized as Minister of the United States
to France. After negotiating the Treaty
of Paris, he remained in Paris as Min
lister until, very old man, broken in
health, he was allowed to return to his
native country to die.
Franklin liked London and the life he
led there, he established what was al
friends and became thoroughly familiar
with the social and political life. He
found q home with "a poor but disttn-
guished widow, Mrs. Margaret Steven
son." who lived near the Thames and
gladly organized her household to meet
the needs of the great man. She and
her daughter "pampered him, piled his
newSpaperS-which were always scat
tered all over the room-in orderly
heaps, arranged his clothes and made
him little presents like the Chinese
ivory back-scratcher, when he suffered
from the itch. Mrs. Stevenson aired
and warmed his shirts before he put
them on, avoided serving boiled or roast
beef, as he found these meats injurious,
furnished him with long-sleeved cotton
nightgownS, flannel trousers and warm
slippers so that he could sleep snugly.
She trained her servants, the maid, and
the cook, Nanny-even the cato re-
Spect his mannerismS. There was no
doubt but what he was well cared for in
this comfortable little home, where he
occupied four rooms and ruled over all. g."
He frequented the London taverns and
coffee houses, attended lodge and acad-
envy meetings, made the acquaintance
of politicians who could help him in his
mission. and took occasional trips into
the country ito calm his nerves and TO
restore his health. which the life of
smoky London had somewhat i'm
paired" During one Summer he Wis
tied Scotland where he studied the
farms, learned about industries and OBJ
served the different customs of the
people" At Edinburgh he was given a
warm welcome by the scholars Of the
university and the ladies of the most
cultured society. Franklin was always
a favorite with ladies. His various re-
turns to America were always accom-
pliShed with difficulty because he was
so reluctant to leave England.
\ 4 y
Franklin loved Paris even better than
London and his popularity there was
almost phenomenal. From the time
when, at the age of 10, he entered that
city in a cabriolet, wearing the big
fur cap with which he had replaced
his wig and accompanied by his boy
grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache,
and his 17-year-old nlegitimate grand
son, William Temple, until, eight years,
later, he departed, feeble and equity, in
litter loaned him by the King, he was
"the last word in intellectual fashions"
Soon after his arrival "the ladies gave
him the greatest honor they could give
to any man. They created q couture
a la franklin dressing their hair in d
high, curly mass which initiated his
famous beaver" In spite of his age,
which imposed q slowing down of So
cial activities, he won many salon tri-
umphs and remained favorite with
the ladies to the end. Several women
of fashion became his intimate friends,
and to one Of them, according to Mr..
Fay, he made proposal OF marriage.
AS his litter wound through the Bots
de Boulogne on his departure, Frank
lin knew that behind him in PasSy. in
an exquisite white and gold salon,
there were two women in particular
who were dabbing their eyes with lacy
handkerchiefs." oh, Franklin, Frank
lin, why did you go?' cried Madame Hell
vetiuS over and over again, while Mad
anne Brillon answered with trace of Bit
ternesS, His staying depended only on
YOU" Franklin'S success in masculine
society, political and philosophical, was
equally satisfactory. His foreign sim
plicity won over all the beautiful souls
at q time when persons plumed them
selves on having beautiful souls. They
dotted on Quakers, whom they called
'primitiveS.' Franklin was .
too old and wise not to take advan-
tage of being thought Quaker. If that
added to the enthusiasm of the French
for it was his country which would
benef1t from this harmless error.
Franklin appeared among them with a
double halo-he was a rational sage like
Monsieur de Voltaire, and q child of
nature like Monsieur Rosseau." Polit-
ically, Franklin was adaptable; without
adaptability he would not have won his
way with the French. Versailles want
ed to aid America by plotting, so
Franklin plotted. Others would have
found it huniliating to be re-
ceived always at the back door.
Franklin knew it was just as fat
tering as any other door and was
quite pleased to plot, since 1t was with
Monsieur de VergenneS and against
the King of England. He made
by his charming company and af-
fectionate conversations won the
hearts of Gerard, Hennin and all the
men he met there. Thus friendship and
his great fame as a Savant put him
above the ambassadors" 1t is made
clear in this most recent biography of
Franklin that his successful diplomacy
was the result of his great intellectually
in combination with his pleasing many
sided personality.
4 X X
The beliefs that whisky will cure
snake bite, that night air is injurious,
Nryf1l
luck, that a receding chin is a sign of
weak character, that champagne pre-
vents seasickness, that pains in the
joints indicate a change of weather,
that boils and pimples show that the
blood is purifying itself, that kissing