Year: 1878

Compiled for the Democratic Adrocate


BY J. S. GIT.


1t is generally true in respect to great
statesmen that they owe their celebrity al
most entirely to their public and official
career. They promote the welfare of man
kind BY directing Legislation, founding in
stitutions, negotiating treaties of peace or
of commerce between rival states, and
guiding, in various other ways, the course
of public and national affairs, while their
individual and personal influence attracts
very little regard. With Benjamin Frank
lin, however, the reverse of this is true.
He did indeed, while he lived, take very
active part, with other leading men of his
time, in the performance of great public
functions, but his claim to the extraordi-
nary degree of respect and veneratiop
which Is so freely awarded to his name
and memory by the American people. rests
not chiefly upon this, but upon the ex-
tended influence which he has exerted. and
which he still continues to exert upon the
national mind, through the power of his
private and personal character. The pre-
valence of habits Of industry and economy.
of foresight and thrift, of cautious calcu-
latlon in the formation Of plans, and energy
and perseverance in the execution of them.
and of the disposition to invest what is
earned in substantial and enduring posses
sions, rather than expend it in brief pleas
ures or for purposes of idle show-the pre-
valence of these traits so far as they exist
as elements of the national character in
this country-is due in an incalculable de-
gree to the doings and sayings and history
OF this great exemplar. Thus it is to his
life and to his counsels that is to be at
tributed, in very high degree, the FORM
alton OF that great public sentiment pre-
vailing so extensively among us, which
makes it more honorable to be industrious
than to be idle, and to be economical and
prudent rather than extravagant and vain;
which places substantial and unpretending
prosperity above empty pretention, and
real comfort and abundance before genteel
and expensive display


A very considerable portion Of the eff
feet which Franklin has produced upon
the national character is due to the pic
turesque and almost romantic interest
which attaches itself to the incidents of
his personal history. We cannot occupy
the attention Of the reader at this time.
in more appropriate manner than by a
brief review of the principal events of his
life-so far as such review can be com
prised within the limits of a single article.


The ancestors of Franklin lived for
many generations on a small estate in
Northamptonshire, one of the central coun
ties in England. The head of the family
during all this time followed the business
of smith, the eldest son, from genera
tion to generation, being brought up to
that employment.


Josiah Franklin-who was BENJAMIN
Franklin's father at length emigrated to
America, in consequence of the restric-
tions which they were under in England.
Mr. franklin came accordingly to Boston,
and there, after time, Benjamin was
born. The place of his birth was in Milk
street, opposite to the Old South Church.
The humble dwelling, however, in which
the great philosopher was born, has long
since disappeared, yet the place was point
ed out to me when last at Boston. The
magnificent granite warehouses Of the Bos-
ton merchants now cover the spot, and on
one Of them is carved conspicuously the
inscription, Birthplace Of Franklin.


Josiah Franklin had been a dyer in
England, but finding on his coming to
Boston that there was but little to do in
that art in so new a country, he concluded
to choose some other occupation; and he
finally determined upon that of 4 tallow
chandler. Benjamin was the youngest son.
And as they became old enough, were put
to different trades, and as Benjamin showed
great fondness for his books. he was ed
ucated. His father took him at length
into his store, to help him in his business.
His duties were to cut the wicks for the
candles, to fill the moulds, to attend upon
the customers, or to go errands and de-
liver purchases about the town.


Young Benjamin did not like his faith
er's trade-that of chandler-and it was
for long time undecided what calling in
life he should pursue. He wished to 90
to sea, but his parents were very unwill-
ing that he should do so. It was at last
decided that he should learn the trade of
q printer. Benjamin's oldest brother was
a printer, and had just returned from
England with a press and font of type,
and was about setting up his business in
Boston. So Benjamin was bound to him
he was then about twelve years old.
Young Benjamin at last wrote articles
that astonished his brother and the public,
sand was regarded with much greater con-
liberation by his brothers friends. He
read and studied hard His brother proved
to be hard master, an d finally after the
lapse of four or FIVE years, he determined
to run away, and did SO, landing in New
York, but finding no employment there he
started for Philadelphia.


The first thing that he did was to 90 to
a bakers to buy something to eat, then he
walked up street eating his roll aud did
not know where to go or what to do. At
last he was recommended to 90 to a Mr..
Keimer. 1t was in the fall of the year
1928, that Franklin came to Philadelphia
He remained until the spring and then re-
turned to Boston. He worked industri-
ously at his trade, and laid up money. Af-
ter many ups and downs, Franklin re-
turned to Keimer's office-reported his
visit to Boston, but did not remain long
before making arrangements to sail for
Europe Franklin found himself alone
and moneyless in London, ard depended
wholly upon his own resources.


Franklin at last found employment in u
large printing Office, carried on by prin-
ter named Watts. Franklin remained in
London about eighteen months, and then
settled up his affairs and sailed for Amer
lea.


franklin again engaged with Keimer to
take charge of his Office, and did fora short
time, when he set up business for himself
in Philadelphia, and was quite successful
and at last enlarged his business by open
ing a stationery store in connection with
his printing Office.


Erontlin vvas nnarriad ~ Miss Raad