Part 19
Make a small cross of two light strips of cedar, the arms so long as to reach to the four corners of a large, thin silk handkerchief when extended; tie the corners of the handkerchief to the extremities of the cross, so you have the body of a kite; which being properly accommodated with a tail, loop, and string, will rise in the air, like those made of paper; but this being of silk, is fitter to bear the wet and wind of a thunder-gust without tearing. To the top of the upright stick of the cross is to be fixed a very sharp-pointed wire, rising a foot or more above the wood. To the end of the twine, next the hand, is to be tied a silk ribbon, and where the silk and twine join, a key may be fastened. This kite is to be raised when a thunder-gust appears to be coming on, and the person who holds the string must stand within a door or window, or under some cover, so that the silk ribbon may not be wet; and care must be taken that the twine does not touch the frame of the door or window. As soon as any of the thunder clouds come over the kite, the pointed wire will draw the electric fire from them, and the kite, with all the twine will be electrified, and the loose filaments of the twine will stand out every way and be attracted by an approaching finger. And when the rain has wet the kite and twine, so that it can conduct the electric fire freely, you will find it stream out plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle. At this key the phial may be charged; and from electric fire thus obtained, spirits may be kindled, and all the electric experiments be performed, which are usually done by the help of a rubbed glass globe or tube, and thereby the sameness of the electric matter with that of lightning completely demonstrated.
B. Franklin.
[Illustration: "You will find it stream out plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle"]
[Illustration: Father _Abraham_ in his STUDY with the following text:
The Shade of Him who Counsel can bestow, Still pleas'd to teach, and yet not proud to know; Unbias'd or by Favour or by Spite; Nor dully prepossess'd, nor blindly right; Thô learn'd, well-bred; and, thô well-bred, sincere; Modestly bold, and humanely severe; Who to a Friend his Faults can sweetly show. And gladly praise the Merit of a Foe. Here, there he sits, his chearful Aid to lend; A firm, unshaken, uncorrupted Friend, Averse alike to flatter or offend.
_Printed by_ Benjamin Mecom, _at the_ New Printing-Office, (_near the_ Town-House, _in_ Boston) _where_ BOOKS _are Sold, and_ PRINTING-WORK _done, Cheap_.
He's rarely _warm_ in Censure or in Praise:
_Good-Nature, Wit_, and _Judgment_ round him wait; And thus he sits _inthron'd_ in _Classick-State_:
To Failings mild, but zealous for Desert; The clearest Head, and the sincerest Heart.
Few Men deserve our _Passion_ either Ways.]
From "Father Abraham's Speech," 1760. Reproduced from a copy at the New York Public Library.
THE WAY TO WEALTH
(From "Father Abraham's Speech," forming the preface to Poor _Richard's Almanac_ for 1758.)
It would be thought a hard Government that should tax its People one-tenth Part of their _Time_, to be employed in its Service. But _Idleness_ taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute _Sloth_, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle Employments or Amusements, that amount to nothing. _Sloth_, by bringing on Diseases, absolutely shortens Life. _Sloth, like Rust, consumes faster than Labor wears; while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love Life, then do not squander Time, for that's the stuff Life is made of, as Poor Richard_ says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that _The sleeping Fox catches no Poultry_, and that _There will be sleeping enough in the Grave_, as _Poor Richard_ says.
_If Time be of all Things the most precious, wasting Time must be, as Poor Richard_ says, _the_ _greatest Prodigality_; since, as he elsewhere tells us, _Lost Time is never found again; and what we call Time enough, always proves little enough_: Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the Purpose; so by Diligence shall we do more with less Perplexity. _Sloth makes all Things difficult, but Industry all easy_, as _Poor Richard_ says; and _He that riseth late must trot all Day, and shall scarce overtake his Business at Night; while Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him_, as we read in _Poor Richard_, who adds, _Drive thy Business, let not that drive thee_; and _Early to Bed, and early to rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy, and wise._
_Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon Hope will die fasting._
_There are no Gains without Pains._
_He that hath a Trade hath an Estate; and he that hath a Calling, hath an Office of Profit and Honor_; but then the _Trade_ must be worked at, and the _Calling_ well followed, or neither the _Estate_ nor the _Office_ will enable us to pay our Taxes.
What though you have found no Treasure, nor has any rich Relation left you a Legacy, _Diligence is the Mother of Good-luck_, as _Poor Richard_ says, _and God gives all Things to Industry_.
_One To-day is worth two To-morrows_, and farther, _Have you somewhat to do To-morrow, do it To-day_.
If you were a Servant, would you not be ashamed that a good Master should catch you idle? Are you then your own Master, _be ashamed to catch yourself idle_.
Stick to it steadily; and you will see great Effects, for _Constant Dropping wears away Stones_, and by _Diligence and Patience the Mouse ate in two the Cable_; and _Little Strokes fell great Oaks_.
Methinks I hear some of you say, _Must a Man afford himself no Leisure_? I will tell thee, my friend, what _Poor Richard_ says, _Employ thy Time well, if thou meanest to gain Leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a Minute, throw not away an Hour_. Leisure, is Time for doing something useful; this Leisure the diligent Man will obtain, but the lazy Man never; so that, as _Poor Richard_ says, _A Life of Leisure and a Life of Laziness are two things_.
_Keep thy Shop, and thy Shop will keep thee_; and again, _If you would have your business done, go; if not, send._
If you would have a faithful Servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.
_A little Neglect may breed great Mischief:_ adding, _for want of a Nail the Shoe was lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse was lost; and for want of a Horse the Rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the Enemy; all for the want of Care about a Horse-shoe Nail_.
So much for Industry, my Friends, and Attention to one's own Business; but to these we must add _Frugality_.
_What maintains one Vice, would bring up two Children_. You may think perhaps, that a _little_ Tea, or a _little_ Punch now and then, Diet a _little_ more costly, Clothes a _little_ finer, and a _little_ Entertainment now and then, can be no _great_ Matter; but remember what _Poor Richard_ says, _Many a Little makes a Mickle._
_Beware of little expenses; A small Leak will sink a great Ship_; and again, _Who Dainties love, shall Beggars prove_; and moreover, _Fools make Feasts, and wise Men eat them._
Buy what thou hast no Need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy Necessaries.
If you would know the Value of Money, go and try to borrow some; for, he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.
The second Vice is Lying, the first is running in Debt.
_Lying rides upon Debt's Back_.
Poverty often deprives a Man of all Spirit and Virtue: '_Tis hard for an empty Bag to stand upright_.
And now to conclude, _Experience keeps a dear School, but Fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that_; for it is true, _we may give Advice, but we cannot give Conduct_, as _Poor Richard_ says: However, remember this, _They that won't be counseled, can't be helped_, as _Poor Richard_ says: and farther, That _if you will not hear Reason, she'll surely rap your Knuckles_.
THE WHISTLE
To Madame Brillon
Passy, November 10, 1779.
I am charmed with your description of Paradise, and with your plan of living there; and I approve much of your conclusion, that, in the meantime, we should draw all the good we can from this world. In my opinion, we might all draw more good from it than we do, and suffer less evil, if we would take care not to give too much for whistles. For to me it seems, that most of the unhappy people we meet with, are become so by neglect of that caution.
You ask what I mean? You love stories, and will excuse my telling one of myself.
When I was a child of seven year old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a _whistle_, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my _whistle_, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the _whistle_ gave me pleasure.
This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, _Don't give too much for the whistle_; and I saved my money.
As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who _gave too much for the whistle_.
When I saw one too ambitious of court favor, sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, _This man gives too much for his whistle_.
When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by neglect, _He pays, indeed_, said I, _too much for his whistle_.
If I knew a miser who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth, _Poor man_, said I, _you pay too much for your whistle_.
When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, _Mistaken man_, said I, _you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle_.
If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, _Alas_! say I, _he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle_.
When I see a beautiful, sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband, _What a pity_, say I, _that she should pay so much for a whistle_!
In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their _giving too much for their whistles_.
Yet I ought to have charity for these unhappy people, when I consider, that, with all this wisdom of which I am boasting, there are certain things in the world so tempting, for example, the apples of King John, which happily are not to be bought; for if they were put to sale by auction, I might very easily be led to ruin myself in the purchase, and find that I had once more given too much for the _whistle_.
Adieu, my dear friend, and believe me ever yours very sincerely and with unalterable affection,
B. Franklin.
A LETTER TO SAMUEL MATHER
Passy, May 12, 1784.
Revd Sir,
It is now more than 60 years since I left Boston, but I remember well both your father and grandfather, having heard them both in the pulpit, and seen them in their houses. The last time I saw your father was in the beginning of 1724, when I visited him after my first trip to Pennsylvania. He received me in his library, and on my taking leave showed me a shorter way out of the house through a narrow passage, which was crossed by a beam overhead. We were still talking as I withdrew, he accompanying me behind, and I turning partly towards him, when he said hastily, "_Stoop, stoop!_" I did not understand him, till I felt my head hit against the beam. He was a man that never missed any occasion of giving instruction, and upon this he said to me, "_You are young, and have the world before you; stoop as you go through it, and you will miss many hard thumps_." This advice, thus beat into my head, has frequently been of use to me; and I often think of it, when I see pride mortified, and misfortunes brought upon people by their carrying their heads too high.
B. Franklin.
THE END
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The last and most complete edition of Franklin's works is that by the late Professor Albert H. Smyth, published in ten volumes by the Macmillan Company, New York, under the title, _The Writings of Benjamin Franklin_. The other standard edition is the _Works of Benjamin Franklin_ by John Bigelow (New York, 1887). Mr. Bigelow's first edition of the _Autobiography_ in one volume was published by the J. B. Lippincott Company of Philadelphia in 1868. The life of Franklin as a writer is well treated by J. B. McMaster in a volume of _The American Men of Letters Series_; his life as a statesman and diplomat, by J. T. Morse, _American Statesmen Series_, one volume; Houghton, Mifflin Company publish both books. A more exhaustive account of the life and times of Franklin may be found in James Parton's _Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin_ (2 vols., New York, 1864). Paul Leicester Ford's _The Many-Sided Franklin_ is a most chatty and readable book, replete with anecdotes and excellently and fully illustrated. An excellent criticism by Woodrow Wilson introduces an edition of the _Autobiography_ in _The Century Classics_ (Century Co., New York, 1901). Interesting magazine articles are those of E. E. Hale, _Christian Examiner_, lxxi, 447; W. P. Trent, _McClure's Magazine_, viii, 273; John Hay, _The Century Magazine_, lxxi, 447.
See also the histories of American literature by C. F. Richardson, Moses Coit Tyler, Brander Matthews, John Nichol, and Barrett Wendell, as well as the various encyclopedias. An excellent bibliography of Franklin is that of Paul Leicester Ford, entitled _A List of Books Written by, or Relating to Benjamin Franklin_ (New York, 1889).
The following list of Franklin's works contains the more interesting publications, together with the dates of first issue.
_1722. Dogood Papers._
Letters in the style of Addison's _Spectator_, contributed to James Franklin's newspaper and signed "Silence Dogood."
_1729. The Busybody._
A series of essays published in Bradford's Philadelphia _Weekly Mercury_, six of which only are ascribed to Franklin. They are essays on morality, philosophy and politics, similar to the _Dogood Papers_.
_1729. A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency._
_1732. to 1757. Prefaces to Poor Richard's Almanac._
Among these are _Hints for those that would be Rich_, 1737; and _Plan for saving one hundred thousand pounds to New Jersey, 1756_.
1_743. A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge Among the British Plantations in America._
"This paper appears to contain the first suggestion, in any public form, for an _American Philosophical Society_." Sparks.
_1744. An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvania Fire-Places._
_1749. Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania._
Contains the plan for the school which later became the University of Pennsylvania.
_1752. Electrical Kite._
A description of the famous kite experiment, first written in a letter to Peter Collinson, dated Oct. 19, 1752, which was published later in the same year in _The Gentleman's Magazine_.
_1754. Plan of Union._
A plan for the union of the colonies presented to the colonial convention at Albany.
_1755. A Dialogue Between X, Y and Z._
An appeal to enlist in the provincial army for the defense of Pennsylvania.
_1758. Father Abraham's Speech._
Published as a preface to Poor Richard's Almanac and gathering into one writing the maxims of Poor Richard, which had already appeared in previous numbers of the Almanac. _The Speech_ was afterwards published in pamphlet form as the _Way to Wealth_.
_1760. Of the Means of disposing the Enemy to Peace._
A satirical plea for the prosecution of the war against France.
_1760. The Interest of Great Britain Considered, with regard to her Colonies, and the Acquisitions of Canada and Guadaloupe._
_1764. Cool Thoughts on the Present Situation of our Public Affairs._
A pamphlet favoring a Royal Government for Pennsylvania in exchange for that of the Proprietors.
_1766. The Examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, etc., in The British House of Commons, Relative to The Repeal of The American Stamp Act._
_1773. Rules by which A Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One._
Some twenty satirical rules embodying the line of conduct England was pursuing with America.
_1773. An Edict of The King of Prussia._
A satire in which the King of Prussia was made to treat England as England was treating America because England was originally settled by Germans.
_1777. Comparison of Great Britain and the United States in Regard to the Basis of Credit in The Two Countries._
One of several similar pamphlets written to effect loans for the American cause.
_1782. On the Theory of the Earth._
The best of Franklin's papers on geology.
_1782. Letter purporting to emanate from a petty German Prince and to be addressed to his officer in Command in America._
_1785. On the Causes and Cure of Smoky Chimneys._
_1786. Retort Courteous._
_Sending Felons to America._
Answers to the British clamor for the payment of American debts.
1789. _Address to the Public from the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting Abolition of Slavery._
1789. _An Account of the Supremest Court of Judicature in Pennsylvania, viz. The Court of the Press._
1790. _Martin's Account of his Consulship._
A parody of a pro-slavery speech in Congress.
1791. _Autobiography._
The first edition.
1818. _Bagatelles._
The Bagatelles were first published in 1818 in William Temple Franklin's edition of his grandfather's works. The following are the most famous of these essays and the dates when they were written:
1774? _A Parable Against Persecution._
Franklin called this the LI Chapter of Genesis.
1774? _A Parable on Brotherly Love._
1778. _The Ephemera, an Emblem of Human Life._
A new rendition of an earlier essay on Human Vanity.
1779. _The Story of the Whistle._
1779? _The Levee._
1779? _Proposed New Version of the Bible._
Part of the first chapter of _Job_ modernized.
(1779. Published) _The Morals of Chess._
1780? _The Handsome and Deformed Leg._
1780. _Dialogue between Franklin and the Gout._
(Published in 1802.)
1802. _A Petition of the Left Hand._
1806. _The Art of Procuring Pleasant Dreams._
[Illustration: MEDAL GIVEN BY THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM THE FRANKLIN FUND]
[Transcriptions of newspaper pages]
[Page 1 of _The Pennsylvania Gazette_,].
Numb. XL.
THE
Pennsylvania _GAZETTE_. Containing the freshest Advices Foreign and Domestick.
From Thursday, September 25. to Thursday, October 2. 1729.
_The_ Pennsylvania Gazette _being now to be carry'd on by other Hands, the Reader may expect some Account of the Method we design to proceed in._
_Upon a View of Chambers's great Dictionaries, from whence were taken the Materials of the_ Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences, _which usually made the First Part of this Paper, we find that besides their containing many Things abstruse or insignificant to us, it will probably be fifty Years before the Whole can be gone thro' in this Manner of Publication. There are likewise in those Books continual References from Things under one Letter of the Alphabet to those under another, which relate to the same Subject, and are necessary to explain and compleat it; those are taken in their Turn may perhaps be Ten Years distant; and since it is likely that they who desire to acquaint themselves with any particular Art or Science, would gladly have the whole before them in a much less Time, we believe our Readers will not think such a Method of communicating Knowledge to be a proper One._
_However, tho' we do not intend to continue the Publication of those Dictionaries in a regular Alphabetical Method, as has hitherto been done; yet as several Things exhibited from them in the Course of these Papers, have been entertaining to such of the Curious, who never had and cannot have the Advantage of good Libraries; and as there are many Things still behind, which being in this Manner made generally known, may perhaps become of considerable Use, by giving such Hints to the excellent natural Genius's of our Country, as may contribute either to the Improvement of our present Manufactures, or towards the Invention of new Ones; we propose from Time to Time to communicate such particular Parts as appear to be of the most general Consequence._
_As to the_ Religious Courtship, _Part of which has been retal'd to the Publick in these Papers, the Reader may be inform'd, that the whole Book will probably in a little Time be printed and bound up by it-self; and those who approve of it, will doubtless be better pleas'd to have it entire, than in this broken interrupted Manner._
_There are many who have long desired to see a good News-Paper in_ Pennsylvania; _and we hope those Gentlemen who are able, will contribute towards the making This such. We ask Assistance, because we are fully sensible, that to publish a good New-Paper is not so easy an Undertaking as many People imagine it to be. The Author of a Gazette (in the Opinion of the Learned) ought to be qualified with an extensive Acquaintance with Languages, a great Easiness and Command of Writing and Relating Things cleanly and intelligibly, and in few Words; he should be able to speak of War both by Land and Sea; be well acquainted with Geography, with the History of the Time, with the several Interests of Princes and States, the Secrets of Courts, and the Manners and Customs of all Nations. Men thus accomplish'd are very rare in this remote Part of the World; and it would be well if the Writer of these Papers could make up among his Friends what is wanting in himself._
_Upon the Whole, we may assure the Publick, that as far as the Encouragement we meet with will enable us, no Care and Pains shall be omitted, that may make the_ Pennsylvania Gazette _as agreeable and useful an Entertainment as the Nature of the Thing will allow._