Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-02-11
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, ONE OF
AMERICAS GREATEST SONS


should not be forgotten amid the ma
tion's tribute to George Washington
this year; for this noted American was
not only a glory to our history but
without him Washington might not have
been able to achieve our independence
This ereat American was Benjamin
Franklin, who became, next to George
Washington, the best known American
of the 18th century. Wherever enlight-
ened men gathered during Franklin's
lifetime, they accounted him foremost
in philosophy, politics, and diplomacy,
and to this day his name is secure in
history as that of a pioneer in sci
ence-
Franklin was one of the most YER
satile men of our history. His clear
| thinking and good common sense won
him fame everywhere. As for his win
ming personality, it proved tremen-
dous asset to the American cause. The
final victories of Washington on the
battlefield would never have been pos
sible but for Franklin's skill in the
field of diplomacy and his ultimate
winning of the French nation to Amer
ica's side.
Benjamin Franklin was born in
Boston, on January II, 1706, the United
States George Washington Bicentennial
Commission reminds VI. His father
wanted him to learn the trade Of
candle-making. an occupation that he
disliked 50 much that he threatened
to revolt To forestall his running away
to sea, the boy Franklin was appren-
ticed to his he4 hsther, IaMgs, a
printer; and here Frankli4's rapid self
education got its start In his brothers
shop he met intelligent people, he
eagerly read the best books and he
soon tried his hand At writing for his
brothers newspaper, called the first
sensational sheet in America
/ Quarreling with his brother, Frank
lin set out for Philadelphia at the age
of II, to make his own way. There he
soon caught the attention of Governor
Keith at whose suggestion he went to
London. There, in spite Of many hard
ships, he soon obtained employment
and his agreeable personality brought
him many influential friends. One Of
them, Quaker merchant named Dem
ham, offered Franklin job in store
that he planned to open in Phila-
delphia Within a short time Denham
died and Franklin again was without
, job, but his next step was important
| With Hugh Meredith he established
printing shop in Philadelphia and in
, ten years he had made it the most i'm
portant business Of its kind In the
, country. Next he bought the Pennsyl-
wanna Gazette, which sooned gained q
circulation Of 10000 and became one of
, the outstanding papers Of the time. In
this paper he began those pithy maxims
! to be gathered under the title Of Poor
Richards Almanac which lives today
in lasting fame.
1 Meanwhile Frankfin's interest and
activities had broadened in every d.
rection. He founded the American
!. Philosophical Society, organized the
first fire company in Philadelphia, and
became the city's postmaster and clerk
Of the Pennsylvania Assembly. His in
terest in science also developed, and
he invented a stove and began those
experiments in electricity which have
made his name household word in
the scientific world
Every schoolboy knows the story of
Franklin's suspicion that the lightning
bolt was simply larger specimen of
the spark he drew from Leyden jar.
He proved the likeness with his his
, toric experiment of the kite and the
y key during thunder storm. The in
r vention of the lightning soon fol-
@ lowed
q Franklin's diplomatic feats make too
long a list for newspaper column,
but it was he who first sought to bind
4 the Colonies together in union He
e performed many saving services tor
: the Colonies before the Revolution,
y and during that struggle his influence
) in France provided the factor that
q turned the Revolution to victory for
r. America
- Even at 81, Franklin's deeds for his
country were not yet ended, for in 1871
r. he performed the eliminating service
IS of his long and great career with the
fitting act Of becoming a member OF
.r the Convention that wrote the Const-
VS. tuition.
m Throughout his life he was devoted
in admirer of George Washington, and the
friendship of these two men is one
= Of the fairest pages in early American