The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-01-02

- DelHS 10 Come lOuhu W
sea. / was dirty from
my Journey; my pockets were stuffed
outI with shirts and stockings, and
knew no soul nor where to look for
lodging. l was fatigued with travel
ing, rowing, and want of rest; was
very hungry; and my whole stock of
cash consisted Of Dutch dollar and
about shilling in copper. The latter
gave the people of the boat for my
passage, who at first refused it, on
account of my rowing, but insisted
on their taking it; man being some
times more generous when he has but
a little money than when he has
plenty, perhaps through fear of be-
ing thought to have but little.
"Then / walked up the street, gaz-
ing about, till near the market-house
1 met a boy with bread. l had made
many a meal on bread, and inquiring
where he got it, went Immediately
to the bakers he directed me to, in
Second street, and asked for biscuit,
intending such as we had in Boston;
but they, it seems, were not made In
Philadelphia. Then / asked for a
threepenny loaf, and was told they
had none such. So, not considering
or knowing the difference of money,
and the greater cheapness nor the
names of his bread, babe him give
me threepenny worth of any sort. He
gave me, accordingly, three great puffy
rolls. was surprised at the quantity,
but took it, and having no room in my
pockets, walked off with a roll under
each arm and eating the other. Thus
went up Market street as far as
Fourth street, passing by the door of
Mr.. Read, my future wife's father;
when she, standing at the door, saw
me, and thought made, as certainly
did, most awkward, ridiculous APP
pearance. Then I turned and went
down Chestnut street and part of Wal
nut street, eating my roll, all the way,
and coming round found myself again
at Market street wharf; and being
filled with one of my rolls, gave the
other two to a woman and her child
that came down the river in the boat
with us, and were waiting to go far
Their.
'Thus refreshed 1 walked again up
the street, which by this time had
many clean-dressed people in it, who
were all walking the same way. l
Joined them, and thereby was led into
the great meeting house of the Quak-
ers near the market. I sat down
among them, and after looking around
awhile and hearing nothing said, fell
fast asleep. and continued so till the
meeting broke up, when one was kind
enough to rouse me. This was there
fore the first house l was in, or slept
In, in Philadelphia"
This tired, hungry, poorly-clad youth
was Benjamin Franklin, and the resi-
dents of Philadelphia who saw him
that October morning so long ago lit
tie realized how much their city was
to be indebted to him In the years to
come and how he was to achieve
worldwide fame as a scientist, phi
lOsopher and statesman. If Benja-
min Franklin were to come back to
Philadelphia today and retrace his
footsteps of more than century ago,
he would, Of course, be amazed at the
changes that have taken place. But
what would surprise him most, no
doubt, would be the sight which he
would behold on the parkway facing
Logan Circle. For there he would see
great building arising on a three
acre plot of ground, and if he asked
some passer-by what it was, he would
be told 'the Franklin Memorial and
Franklin Institute Museum"
For Philadelphia is erecting mag
nificent monument to the man who,
In the words of one of the sponsors
OF the movement, "glorified common
sense" and the plans call for its COM
pletion in the spring of 1882. 1t is
not to be an image in marble or
bronze, or monolith towering above
the city's sky line. but working lab
oratory wherein sfhe progress of the
world. from the rst writings of man
to his latest achievements in all fields
Of endeavor, win be set forth liz tan