_Management of his Newspaper. Study of the Languages. Chess-playing.
The Preacher Hemphill. Stealing Sermons. Visit to Boston. Visits his
Brother James at Newport. Usefulness of the Junto. Formation of new
Clubs. Franklin chosen Clerk of the General Assembly. Anecdote._
1. Besides his almanac, Franklin considered his newspaper as a very
valuable means of circulating instruction and good advice among the
people. For this purpose he frequently reprinted in it extracts from
the Spectator, a work written a good many years ago, by several
distinguished English authors. It is a collection of pieces on moral
and popular subjects, in a very pleasant style, and first published in
single numbers of a few pages each.
2. In conducting his paper, Franklin was very careful to avoid all
abuse of particular persons. Whenever he was requested to publish any
thing of the kind, his answer was, that he would print the piece by
itself, and give the author as many copies for his own use as he
desired. He very wisely considered that his subscribers expected him
to furnish them with useful and entertaining pieces, and not with
abuse and violent discussions about things with which they had nothing
to do.
3. In 1733, Franklin sent one of his apprentices to Charleston, South
Carolina, where a printer was wanted. He furnished him with a press
and types, and was to receive one third of the profits of the
business. After the death of this man, who was very irregular in
settling his affairs with Franklin, the business was continued by his
widow. This woman had been born and educated in Holland, where females
were taught a knowledge of accounts. She managed the establishment
with a great deal of prudence and success, and was in time able to
purchase the printing office, and establish her son in it.
4. In 1733, Franklin began the study of foreign languages. He soon
obtained such a knowledge of the French, as to read books in that
language with perfect ease. After this he undertook the Italian. An
acquaintance, who was also learning it, often tempted him to play
chess. Finding this took up too much time, Franklin refused to play
any more, except upon one condition. This was, that whichever of them
should beat, should have a right to impose a task upon the other;
either of part of the grammar to be got by heart, or in translations.
5. These tasks they were bound in honor to perform before the next
meeting. The two friends played with about equal skill and success,
and in this way soon beat each other into a pretty good knowledge of
the Italian. Franklin next undertook Spanish, and learned enough to
read books in that language with considerable ease.
6. About the year 1734, a young preacher arrived in Philadelphia, by
the name of Hemphill. He had a good voice, and delivered very
excellent sermons. Large numbers were attracted by his eloquence, of
different doctrines and belief. Among the rest, Franklin became a very
constant hearer. He was pleased with his sermons, because they
impressed the love and the practice of virtue and goodness, without
quarrelling about hard questions of doctrinal religion.
7. Some of the congregation, however, disapproved of his preaching,
and united with the old ministers to attempt to put him down. Franklin
took sides with him very warmly, and did all he could to raise a party
in his favor. He wrote two or three pamphlets in his defence.
8. During this contest the unlucky preacher hurt his own cause by a
very unpardonable meanness. One of his enemies heard him preach a very
eloquent sermon, and thought he had somewhere heard or read parts of
it before. On looking into the matter, he found the preacher had
stolen several passages from a discourse delivered by a celebrated
English divine. This discovery induced many of his friends to desert
him, and he was obliged to go in search of a congregation less
inquisitive.
9. After ten years' absence from Boston, Franklin determined to make a
journey there to visit his relations. He was now doing very good
business, and was in quite easy circumstances. He had seen a good many
changes in his fortunes, since he first ran away from his native
place; and his industry and good sense were to bring about still
greater changes.
10. In returning to Philadelphia, he stopped at Newport, to see his
brother James, who was, at that time, settled there with his printing
office. Their former differences were at once forgotten, and the
meeting was very cordial and affectionate. James was at that time in
very ill health, and in expectation of a speedy death. He,
accordingly, requested Benjamin, when that event should happen, to
take home his son, then but ten years of age, and bring him up to the
printing business.
11. This he accordingly performed, sending him a few years to school
before he took him into the office. When James died, his widow carried
on the business till her son was grown up. At that time, Benjamin
assisted them with an assortment of new types, and they were, in this
manner, enabled to continue the establishment.
[Illustration: Reconciliation of Franklin with his Brother.]
12. The club which Franklin had founded proved to be so useful, and
afforded so much satisfaction to the members, that they proposed to
introduce their friends, and increase their number. They had, from the
beginning, determined to keep the _Junto_ a secret, and the secret was
kept better than such things usually are. Franklin was of opinion that
twelve members formed a club sufficiently large, and that it would be
inconvenient to increase it.
13. Instead of adding to their number, he proposed that every member,
separately, should endeavor to form another club, with the same rules
and on the same plan, without informing them of the existence of the
Junto. The project was approved, and every member undertook to form
his club; but they did not all succeed. Five or six only were
completed, which were called by different names, as the _Vine_, the
_Union_, the _Band_. These clubs were useful, and afforded their
members a good deal of amusement and information.
14. In 1736, Franklin was chosen clerk of the General Assembly. The
choice was made that year without any opposition, but, on the next, a
new member of that body made a long speech against him. This, however,
did not prevent his second election. The place was one of some credit,
and, by giving Franklin an opportunity to make friends among the
members, enabled him to secure the business of printing the public
laws, votes, and paper money.
15. The new member, who had opposed Franklin, was a man of education
and talents, and it was desirable to gain his good opinion. Franklin
was too proud to pay any servile respect to him, but was too prudent
not to wish for his favor. After some time, with his usual shrewdness
and knowledge of human nature, he hit upon the following expedient.
16. Having heard that this gentleman had in his library a very scarce
and curious book, he wrote a note, requesting that he would do him the
favor of lending it for a few days. The book was immediately sent, and
in about a week was returned by the borrower, with a short note,
expressive of his sincere thanks for the favor.
17. The next time they met in the house, the gentleman spoke to
Franklin with a great deal of civility. He ever after manifested a
readiness to serve him, and they became great friends. "This is
another instance," observes Franklin, "of the truth of an old maxim I
had learned, which says--'He that has done you a kindness will be more
ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.' And
it shows how much more profitable it is prudently to remove than to
resent, return, and continue inimical proceedings."
18. In 1737, Colonel Spotswood, at that time postmaster-general, being
dissatisfied with his deputy at Philadelphia, took away his
commission, and offered it to Franklin. He accepted it with readiness,
and found it of great advantage. Though the salary was small, the
office gave him the means of increasing the subscribers to his paper,
and in this way increased his advertisements. His paper now began to
afford him a very considerable income.
* * * * *
1. How did he make his newspaper serviceable in circulating
instruction?
2. What was he very careful to avoid?
3. Describe the conduct of the woman whose husband Franklin had
established in business.
4. When did Franklin begin the study of foreign languages? What
languages did he study? Relate the anecdote about chess-playing.
6. Who was Hemphill?
7. What did Franklin write in his behalf?
8. How did the preacher ruin his own cause?
9. How long had Franklin been absent from Boston when he determined to
revisit it?
10. How was the interview between the brothers at Newport? What
request did James make respecting his son?
11. How did Franklin comply with this request?
12. How did the Junto flourish?
13. What new clubs were formed? How?
14. To what office was Franklin elected in 1736?
16. How did Franklin conciliate a member who was opposed to him?
17. What is the old maxim quoted by Franklin?
18. To what office was Franklin appointed in 1737?