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Post by spence on Mar 31, 2022 11:08:55 GMT -7
Anyone as big a fan of Benjamin Franklin as I am?
************ The Pennsylvania Gazette November 15, 1750
RULES, by the Observation of which, a Man of Wit and Learning may nevertheless make himself a disagreeable Companion.
YOUR Business is to shine: therefore you must by all means prevent the shining of others, for their Brightness may make yours less distinguished. To this End:
1. If possible engross the whole Discourse; and when other Matter fails, talk much of yourself, your Education, your Knowledge, your Circumstances, your Successes in Business, your Victories in Disputes, your own wise Sayings and Observations on particular Occasions, &c. &c. &c.
2. If when you are out of Breath, one of the Company should seize the Opportunity of saying something; watch his Words, and, if possible, find somewhat either in his Sentiment or Expression, immediately to contradict and raise a Dispute upon. Rather than fail, criticise even his Grammar.
3. If another should be saying an indisputably good Thing; either give no Attention to it; or interrupt him; or draw away the Attention of others; or, if you can guess what he would be at, be quick and say it before him; or, if he gets it said, and you perceive the Company pleased with it, own it to be a good Thing, and withal remark that it had been said by Bacon, Locke, Bayle, or some other eminent Writer: Thus you deprive him of the Reputation he might have gained by it, and gain some yourself, as you hereby show your great Reading and Memory.
4. When modest Men have been thus treated by you a few times, they will chuse ever after to be silent in your Company: then you may shine on without Fear of a Rival; rallying them at the same time for their Dullness, which will be to you a new Fund of Wit. Thus you will be sure to please yourself. The polite Man aims at pleasing others, but you shall go beyond him even in that. A Man can be present only in one Company, but may at the same time be absent in twenty. He can please only where he is, you wherever you are not.
Benjamin Franklin *********
Spence
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Joe
City-dweller
Posts: 170
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Post by Joe on Mar 31, 2022 18:15:42 GMT -7
Anyone as big a fan of Benjamin Franklin as I am? Spence Yes, of all the founding fathers, he is probably the one I would want to meet the most. Though I fear my preconceptions may disappoint me.
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Old Ben
Mar 31, 2022 19:20:55 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by brokennock on Mar 31, 2022 19:20:55 GMT -7
A fan of Ben? Well, yes, in as much as I'm ever a "fan" of anyone.
More, I can't help but feel there is another message here within your choice of the man's writings.
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Post by spence on Mar 31, 2022 19:31:01 GMT -7
More, I can't help but feel there is another message here within your choice of the man's writings. I suppose in that one quotation the feeling I've known people like that tends to make me identify with the vibe, but mostly I just admire his wit, his use of language and his sense of humor. I have a couple of others, quite different, but showing the same characteristics. Film at 11:00. Spence
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Apr 1, 2022 5:35:48 GMT -7
Ol' Ben sounds like he was a student of the Ancient Greek Democrats...
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Post by spence on Apr 1, 2022 11:00:07 GMT -7
Old Ben 2.0.
Well back into the 17th century Britain was “transporting” convicts to the American colonies. In 1718 Britain passed the Transportation Act, which institutionalized the practice and resulted in over 50,000 convicts being shipped to the colonies. The colonies objected by passing laws against the practice, but the King overruled them. Old Ben expressed his thoughts on the matter:
THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE May 30, 1751
To the Printers of the Gazette.
BY a Passage in one of your late Papers, I understand that the Government at home will not suffer our mistaken Assemblies to make any Law for preventing or discouraging the Importation of Convicts from Great-Britain, for this kind Reason, 'That such Laws are against the Publick Utility, as they tend to prevent the Improvement and well peopling of the Colonies.'
Such a tender parental Concern in our Mother Country for the Welfare of her Children, calls aloud for the highest Returns of Gratitude and Duty. This every one must be sensible of: But 'tis said, that in our present Circumstances it is absolutely impossible for us to make such as are adequate Favour. I own it; but nevertheless let us do our Endeavour. 'Tis something to shew a grateful Disposition.
In some of the uninhabited Parts of these Provinces; there are Numbers of these venomous Reptiles, we call Rattle-Snakes; Felons-convict from the Beginning of the World: These, whenever we meet with them, we put to Death, by Virtue of an old Law, Thou shalt bruise his Head. But as this is a sanguinary Law, and may seem too cruel; and as however mischievous those Creatures are with us, they may possibly change their Natures, if they were to change the Climate; I would humbly propose, that the general Sentence of Death be changed for Transportation.
In the Spring of the Year, when they first creep out of their Holes, they are feeble, heavy, slow, and easily taken; and if a small Bounty were allowed per Head, some Thousands might be collected annually, and transported to Britain. There I would propose to have them carefully distributed to St. James's Park, in the Spring-Gardens and other Places of Pleasure about London; in the Gardens of all the Nobility and Gentry throughout the Nation; but particularly in the Gardens of the Prime Ministers; the Lords of Trade and Members of Parliament; for to them we are most particularly obliged.
There is no human Scheme so perfect but some Inconveniencies may be objected to it: Yet when the Conveniencies far exceed, the Scheme is judg'd rational, and fit to be executed. Thus Inconveniencies have been objected to that good and wise Act of Parliament, by Virtue of which all the Newgates and Dungeons in Britain are emptied into the Colonies. It has been said, that these Thieves and Villains introduc'd among us, spoil the Morals of Youth by the Neighbourhoods that entertain them, and perpetrate many horrid Crimes: But let no private Interests obstruct publick Utility. Our Mother knows what is best for us. What is a little House-breaking, Shoplifting, or Highway Robbing: what is a Son now and then corrected and hang'd, a Daughter debauch'd and pox'd, a Wife stabb'd, a Husband's Throat cut, or a Child's Brains beat out with an Axe, compar'd with this 'Improvement and well peopling of the Colonies?'
Thus it may perhaps be objected to my Scheme, that the Rattle-Snake is a mischievous Creature, and that his changing his Nature with the Climate is a mere Supposition, not yet confirm'd by sufficient Facts. What is not Example more than Precept? And may not the honest rough British Gentry, by a Familiarity with these Reptiles, learn to creep, and to insinuate, and to wriggle into Place (and perhaps to poison such as stand in their Way), Qualities of no small Advantage to Courtiers! In comparison of which 'Improvement and Publick Utiliy,' what is a Child now and then kill’d by their venomous Bite,— or even a favourite Lap-Dog .
I would then add, That this Exporting of Felons to the Colonies, may be consider'd as a Trade, as well as in the Light of a Favour. Now all Commerce implies Returns: Justice require them: There can be no Trade without them. And Rattle-Snakes seem the most suitable Returns for the Human Serpents sent us by our Mother Country. In this, however, as in every other Branch of Trade, she will have the Advantage of us. She will reap equal Benefits without equal Risque or the Inconveniencies and Dangers. For the Rattle-Snake gives Warning before he attempts his Mischief; which the Convict does not.
I am Yours, &c. AMERICANUS.
Spence
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Joe
City-dweller
Posts: 170
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Post by Joe on Apr 1, 2022 15:45:10 GMT -7
Ol' Ben sure had a way with words. Imagine the stuff he said that wasn't recorded for all time.
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Post by spence on Apr 1, 2022 16:30:23 GMT -7
And a sly, ironic sense of humor.
"In comparison of which 'Improvement and Publick Utiliy,' what is a Child now and then kill’d by their venomous Bite,— or even a favourite Lap-Dog."
If it's irony now, can satire be far behind?
Spence
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Old Ben
Apr 1, 2022 16:45:45 GMT -7
Post by spence on Apr 1, 2022 16:45:45 GMT -7
Old Ben 3.0.
The Pennsylvania Gazette October 29, 1730 BURLINGTON, Oct. 12.
Saturday last at Mount-Holly, about 8 Miles from this Place, near 300 People were gathered together to see an Experiment or two tried on some Persons accused of Witchcraft. It seems the Accused had been charged with making their Neighbours Sheep dance in an uncommon Manner, and with causing Hogs to speak, and sing Psalms, &c. to the great Terror and Amazement of the King's good and peaceable Subjects in this Province; and the Accusers being very positive that if the Accused were weighed in Scales against a Bible, the Bible would prove too heavy for them; or that, if they were bound and put into the River, they would swim; the said Accused, desirous to make their Innocence appear, voluntarily offered to undergo the said Trials, if 2 of the most violent of their Accusers would be tried with them. Accordingly the Time and Place was agreed on, and advertised about the Country; The Accusers were 1 Man and 1 Woman; and the Accused the same. The parties being met, and the People got together, a grand Consultation was held, before they proceeded to Trial; in which it was agreed to use the Scales first; and a Committee of Men were appointed to search the Men, and a Committee of Women to search the Women, to see if they had any Thing of Weight about them, particularly Pins. After the Scrutiny was over, a huge Bible belonging to the Justice of the Place was provided, and a Lane through the Populace was made from the Justice's House to the Scales, which were fixed on a Gallows erected for the Purpose opposite to the House, that the Justice's Wife and the rest of the Ladies might see the Trial, without coming amongst the Mob; and after the Manner of Moorfields, a large Ring was also made. Then came out of the House a grave tall Man carrying the Holy Writ before the supposed Wizard, &c. (as solemnly as the Sword-bearer of London before the Lord Mayor) the Wizard was first put in the Scale, and over him was read a Chapter out of the Book of Moses, and then the Bible was put in the other Scale, (which being kept down before) was immediately let go; but to the great Surprize of the Spectators, Flesh and Bones came down plump, and outweighed that great good Book by abundance. After the same Manner, the others were served, and their Lumps of Mortality severally were too heavy for Moses and all the Prophets and Apostles. This being over, the Accusers and the rest of the Mob, not satisfied with this Experiment, would have the Trial by Water; accordingly a most solemn Procession was made to the Mill-pond; where both Accused and Accusers being stripp'd (saving only to the Women their Shifts) were bound Hand and Foot, and severally placed in the Water, lengthways, from the Side of a Barge or Flat, having for Security only a Rope about the Middle of each, which was held by some in the Flat. The Accuser Man being thin and spare, with some Difficulty began to sink at last; but the rest every one of them swam very light upon the Water. A Sailor in the Flat jump'd out upon the Back of the Man accused, thinking to drive him down to the Bottom; but the Person bound, without any Help, came up some time before the other. The Woman Accuser, being told that she did not sink, would be duck'd a second Time; when she swam again as light as before. Upon which she declared, That she believed the Accused had bewitched her to make her so light, and that she would be duck'd again a Hundred Times, but she would duck the Devil out of her. The accused Man, being surpriz'd at his own Swimming, was not so confident of his Innocence as before, but said, If I am a Witch, it is more than I know. The more thinking Part of the Spectators were of Opinion, that any Person so bound and plac'd in the Water (unless they were mere Skin and Bones) would swim till their Breath was gone, and their Lungs fill'd with Water. But it being the general Belief of the Populace, that the Women’s Shifts, and the Garters with which they were bound help'd to support them; it is said they are to be tried again the next warm Weather, naked. ************ Franklin bought the newspaper which became the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1729, so this was an early contribution of his to his paper. He contributed many pieces, under several pseudonyms, during all the time he owned the paper. This satyrical tale was typical of many of them.
Newspapers in England and France picked this up and reprinted it during the following year as straight news from the American colonies, not realizing it was pure satire.
Spence
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Joe
City-dweller
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Old Ben
Apr 1, 2022 20:55:37 GMT -7
Post by Joe on Apr 1, 2022 20:55:37 GMT -7
Silence Dogood.
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Old Ben
Apr 2, 2022 11:36:39 GMT -7
Post by spence on Apr 2, 2022 11:36:39 GMT -7
A good reference, thanks.
Spence
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Joe
City-dweller
Posts: 170
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Post by Joe on Apr 2, 2022 11:51:13 GMT -7
A good reference, thanks. Spence Couldn't help but wonder how many people thought I was insulting you or giving a command . Silence Dogood gives us a window into Ben's earlier years as a teenager. He was complex if nothing else.
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Post by spence on Apr 2, 2022 12:19:33 GMT -7
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Joe
City-dweller
Posts: 170
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Old Ben
Apr 2, 2022 14:14:21 GMT -7
Post by Joe on Apr 2, 2022 14:14:21 GMT -7
I question if it was all just a work of fiction or had some of Ben in it.
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Post by spence on Apr 3, 2022 12:33:25 GMT -7
I question if it was all just a work of fiction or had some of Ben in it. I think it's amazing that the 14 letters of Silence Dogood were written by Franklin when he was only 16. Sure, it was all fiction, the first of his writings under a pseudonym, but showed maturity beyond his age, it seems to me. While an apprentice to his brother in his printing business he created the character of Silence Dogood, a middle-aged widow woman with two children as a backstory so he could get his writings published in his brother's newspaper. He fooled them all, but his brother wasn't happy when he learned what Franklin had done. The beginning of an illustrious career. Spence
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