Footnotes[191]A vessel starting at some set time and conveying letters and passengers from country to country.[192]Between ourselves.[193]William Pitt (1708–78). See Macaulay's Essay on the Earl of Chatham (Eclectic English Classics, American Book Company).[194]A possession of the French in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It was taken by the English in 1758.[195]A prohibition to prevent ships leaving port.[196]The worm which eats into the wood bottoms of ships.[197]"Ensign staff," i.e., flagstaff.[198]The log line is a line fastened to the log-chip, by which, when it is thrown over the side of a vessel, the rate of speed is found.[199]A watch is a certain part of a vessel's officers and crew who have the care and working of her for a period of time, commonly for four hours.[200]By French vessels.[201]Measurements of the depth of the water with a plummet and line.[202]Of the sun's altitude in order to calculate the latitude (see Note 94, p.77).[203]Vessels armed and officered by private persons, but acting under a commission from government.[204]An inward current.[205]Studding sails are sails set between the edges of the chief square sails during a fair wind.[206]"Here terminates the Autobiography, as published by William Temple Franklin and his successors. What follows was written the last year of Dr. Franklin's life, and was never before printed in English."—Bigelow'sAutobiography of Franklin, 1868, p. 350, note.[207]By word of mouth.
[191]A vessel starting at some set time and conveying letters and passengers from country to country.
[192]Between ourselves.
[193]William Pitt (1708–78). See Macaulay's Essay on the Earl of Chatham (Eclectic English Classics, American Book Company).
[194]A possession of the French in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It was taken by the English in 1758.
[195]A prohibition to prevent ships leaving port.
[196]The worm which eats into the wood bottoms of ships.
[197]"Ensign staff," i.e., flagstaff.
[198]The log line is a line fastened to the log-chip, by which, when it is thrown over the side of a vessel, the rate of speed is found.
[199]A watch is a certain part of a vessel's officers and crew who have the care and working of her for a period of time, commonly for four hours.
[200]By French vessels.
[201]Measurements of the depth of the water with a plummet and line.
[202]Of the sun's altitude in order to calculate the latitude (see Note 94, p.77).
[203]Vessels armed and officered by private persons, but acting under a commission from government.
[204]An inward current.
[205]Studding sails are sails set between the edges of the chief square sails during a fair wind.
[206]"Here terminates the Autobiography, as published by William Temple Franklin and his successors. What follows was written the last year of Dr. Franklin's life, and was never before printed in English."—Bigelow'sAutobiography of Franklin, 1868, p. 350, note.
[207]By word of mouth.
"My Dear and Honored Friend: I have often been desirous of writing to thee, but could not be reconciled to the thought that the letter might fall into the hands of the British, lest some printer or busybody should publish some part of the contents, and give our friend pain, and myself censure."Some time since there fell into my hands, to my great joy, about twenty-three sheets in thy own handwriting, containing an account of the parentage and life of thyself, directed to thy son, ending in the year 1730; with which there were notes, likewise in thy writing; a copy of which I inclose, in hopes it may be a means, if thou continued it up to a later period, that the first and latter part may be put together; and if it is not yet continued, I hope thee will not delay it. Life is uncertain, as the preacher tells us; and what will the world say if kind, humane, and benevolent Ben. Franklin should leave his friends and the world deprived of so pleasing and profitable a work; a work which would be useful and entertaining not only to a few, but to millions? The influence writings under that class have on the minds of youth is very great, and has nowhere appeared to me so plain as in our public friend's journals. It almost insensibly leads the youth into the resolution of endeavoring to become as good and eminent as the journalist. Should thine, for instance, when published (and I think it could not fail of it), lead the youth to equal the industry and temperance of thy early youth, what a blessing with that class would such a work be! I know of no character living, nor many of them put together, who has so much in his power as thyself to promote a greater spirit of industry and early attention to business, frugality, and temperance with the American youth. Not that I think the work would have no other merit and use in the world—far from it; but the first is of such vast importance that I know nothing that can equal it."
"My Dear and Honored Friend: I have often been desirous of writing to thee, but could not be reconciled to the thought that the letter might fall into the hands of the British, lest some printer or busybody should publish some part of the contents, and give our friend pain, and myself censure.
"Some time since there fell into my hands, to my great joy, about twenty-three sheets in thy own handwriting, containing an account of the parentage and life of thyself, directed to thy son, ending in the year 1730; with which there were notes, likewise in thy writing; a copy of which I inclose, in hopes it may be a means, if thou continued it up to a later period, that the first and latter part may be put together; and if it is not yet continued, I hope thee will not delay it. Life is uncertain, as the preacher tells us; and what will the world say if kind, humane, and benevolent Ben. Franklin should leave his friends and the world deprived of so pleasing and profitable a work; a work which would be useful and entertaining not only to a few, but to millions? The influence writings under that class have on the minds of youth is very great, and has nowhere appeared to me so plain as in our public friend's journals. It almost insensibly leads the youth into the resolution of endeavoring to become as good and eminent as the journalist. Should thine, for instance, when published (and I think it could not fail of it), lead the youth to equal the industry and temperance of thy early youth, what a blessing with that class would such a work be! I know of no character living, nor many of them put together, who has so much in his power as thyself to promote a greater spirit of industry and early attention to business, frugality, and temperance with the American youth. Not that I think the work would have no other merit and use in the world—far from it; but the first is of such vast importance that I know nothing that can equal it."
The other letter, from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan, gave similar advice.
Courteous Reader: I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed; for, though I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author (of almanacs) annually, now a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way, for what reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their applauses and no other author has taken the least notice of me; so that, did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me.
I concluded at length that the people were the best judges of my merit, for they buy my works; and, besides, in my rambles where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my adages repeated with "As Poor Richard says" at the end of it. This gave me some satisfaction, as it showed not only that my instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some respect for my authority; and I own that, to encourage the practice of remembering and reading those wise sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great gravity.
Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean old man with white locks, "Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to do?" Father Abraham stood up and replied, "If you would have my advice, I will give it to you in short; for A word to the wise is enough, as Poor Richard says." They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:
"Friends," said he, "the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much byour idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says.
I. "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; 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 is 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, be 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; 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. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and, Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise, as Poor Richard says.
"So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting. There are no gains without pains; then help, hands, for I have no lands; or, if I have, they are smartly taxed. He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor, as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at and the calling followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, At the workingman's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter; for Industry pays debts, while Despair increaseth them. What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy; Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to Industry. Then plow deep while sluggardssleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep. Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. One to-day is worth two to-morrows, as Poor Richard says; and, further, Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day. If you were a good 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, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, your kin. Handle your tools without mittens; remember that The cat in gloves catches no mice, as Poor Richard says. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but 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; for, A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Many, without labor, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock; whereas industry gives comfort and plenty and respect. Fly pleasures and they will follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift; and now I have a sheep and a cow, every one bids me good morrow.
II. "But with our industry we must likewise be steady and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as Poor Richard says:
I never saw an oft-removed tree,Nor yet an oft-removed family,That throve so well as those that settled be.
I never saw an oft-removed tree,Nor yet an oft-removed family,That throve so well as those that settled be.
And again, Three removes are as bad as a fire; and again, Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee; and again, If you would have your business done, go; if not, send; and again:
He that by the plow would thrive,Himself must either hold or drive.
He that by the plow would thrive,Himself must either hold or drive.
And again, The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands; and again, Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge; and again, Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open. Trusting too much to others' care is the ruin of many; for, In the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it. But a man's own care is profitable; for, If you would have a faithful servant and one that you like, serve yourself. A little neglect may breed great mischief; 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 want of a little care about a horseshoe nail.
III. "So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly successful. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will; and
Many estates are spent in the getting,Since women forsook spinning and knitting,And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.
Many estates are spent in the getting,Since women forsook spinning and knitting,And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.
If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting. The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes.
"Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not then have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for
Pleasure and wine, game and deceit,Make the wealth small, and the want great.
Pleasure and wine, game and deceit,Make the wealth small, and the want great.
And further, 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, Many a little makes a mickle. Beware of little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship, as Poor Richard says; and again, Who dainties love shall beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make feasts and wise men eat them.
"Here you are all got together at this sale of fineries and knick-knacks.You call them goods; but, if you do not take care, they will prove evils to some of you. You expect they will be sold cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they cost; but, if you have no occasion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard says: Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries. And again, At a great pennyworth pause awhile. He means that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or, the bargain, by straitening thee in thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he says, Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths. Again, It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance; and yet this folly is practiced every day at auctions for want of minding the Almanac.[208]Many for the sake of finery on the back have gone hungry and half-starved their families. Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire, as Poor Richard says.
"These are not the necessaries of life; they can scarcely be called the conveniences; and yet, only because they look pretty, how many want to have them. By these and other extravagances the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who, through industry and frugality, have maintained their standing; in which case it appears plainly that, A plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees, as Poor Richard says. Perhaps they have a small estate left them which they knew not the getting of; they think, It is day and it never will be night; that a little to be spent out of so much is not worth minding; but, Always taking out of the meal tub and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom, as Poor Richard says; and then, When the well is dry, they know the worth of water. But this they might have known before, if they had taken his advice. If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for, He that goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing, as Poor Richard says; and, indeed, so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it in again. Poor Dick further advises and says:
Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse;Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.
Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse;Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.
And again, Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal moresaucy.When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but Poor Dick says, It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it. And it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox.
Vessels large may venture more,But little boats should keep near shore.
Vessels large may venture more,But little boats should keep near shore.
It is, however, a folly soon punished; for, as Poor Richard says, Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt. Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy. And, after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health nor ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy; it hastens misfortune.
"But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities? We are offered by the terms of this sale six months' credit; and that, perhaps, has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But ah! think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying; for, The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt, as Poor Richard says; and again to the same purpose, Lying rides upon debt's back; whereas a freeborn Englishman ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
"What would you think of that prince, or of that government, who should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or servitude? Would you not say that you are free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges and such a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under such tyranny, when you run in debt for such dress. Your creditor has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty by confining you in jail till you shall be able to pay him. When you havegot your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but, as Poor Richard says, Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times. The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to satisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term, which at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely short. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders. Those have a short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter. At present, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but
For age and want save while you may;No morning sun lasts a whole day.
For age and want save while you may;No morning sun lasts a whole day.
Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever, while you live, expense is constant and certain; and, It is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel, as Poor Richard says; so, Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.
Get what you can, and what you get, hold,'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold.
Get what you can, and what you get, hold,'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold.
And when you have got the philosopher's stone, be sure you will no longer complain of bad times or the difficulty of paying taxes.
IV. "This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry and frugality and prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blasted, without the blessing of Heaven; and, therefore, ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember Job suffered, and was afterward prosperous.
"And now, to conclude, Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, as Poor Richard says, and scarce in that; for, it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct. However, remember this: They that will not be counseled cannot be helped; and further that, If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your knuckles, as Poor Richard says."
Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary,just as if it had been a common sermon; for the auction opened and they began to buy extravagantly. I found the good man had thoroughly studied my almanacs, and digested all I had dropped on these topics during the course of twenty-five years. The frequent mention he made of me must have tired any one else; but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was conscious that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own which he ascribed to me, but rather the gleanings that I had made of the sense of all ages and nations. However, I resolved to be the better for the echo of it; and, though I had at first determined to buy stuff for a new coat, I went away resolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy profit will be as great as mine. I am, as ever, thine to serve thee,
Richard Saunders.
Footnote[208]Poor Richard's maxims in the Almanac.
[208]Poor Richard's maxims in the Almanac.
The noblest question in the world is, What good may I do in it?
The masterpiece of man is to live to the purpose.
The nearest way to come at glory is to do that for conscience which we do for glory.
Do not do that which you would not have known.
Well done is better than well said.
Who has deceived thee so oft as thyself?
Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.
He that can have patience, can have what he will.
After crosses and losses men grow humbler and wiser.
In a discreet man's mouth a public thing is private.
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.
No better relation than a prudent and faithful friend.
He that can compose himself is wiser than he that composes books.
He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.
None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge himself in error.
Read much, but not too many books.
None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.
Forewarned, forearmed.
To whom thy secret thou dost tell,To him thy freedom thou dost sell.
To whom thy secret thou dost tell,To him thy freedom thou dost sell.
Don't misinform your doctor or your lawyer.
He that pursues two hens at once, does not catch one and lets the other go.
The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
There are no gains without pains.
If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone.
Every little makes a mickle.
He that can travel well a-foot keeps a good horse.
He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.
Though he did not consider himself a man of letters, Franklin was throughout his long life a writer. His writing was incidental to his business as a journalist and statesman. He also corresponded widely with various classes of people. Fortunately many of these writings have been preserved, and from these and theAutobiographya number of valuable lives have been written. The student will find pleasure in referring to the Franklin volumes of the American Statesmen Series and of the American Men of Letters Series. The three volume life by Mr. John Bigelow and the one volume,The Many-sided Franklin, by Paul Leicester Ford, will supply the years of Franklin's life not included in his autobiography, the writing of which was several times interrupted by public business of the greatest importance, and finally cut short by the long illness that preceded his death.
Read the pages devoted to Franklin in Brander Matthews'Introduction to American Literature. Matthews says of him, "He was the first great American—for Washington was twenty-six years younger." "He was the only man who signed the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Peace with England, and the Constitution under which we still live."
As you read Franklin's pages be on the alert for material to support Mr. Matthews' statement, "Franklin was the first of American humorists, and to this day he has not been surpassed in his own line." Will one of you report to the class on "Franklin's Humor"?
Franklin was far in advance of his times on many questions. In 1783, when concluding the Treaty of Peace with England, he tried to secure the adoption of a clause protecting the property of non-belligerents in subsequent wars. England would not accept this advanced idea, but Frederick II of Prussia agreed to it, and since that time all civilized governments have united in embodying it in the Law of Nations.
Franklin was one of the first and, in proportion to his means, oneof the greatest of American philanthropists. He said that he had "a trick for doing a deal of good with a little money." In lending some money to one who had applied to him for assistance, he instructed the borrower to pass it on to some one else in distress as soon as he could afford to repay it. "I hope it may thus go through many hands, before it meets with a knave that will stop its progress."
Mr. Bigelow's Life of Franklin reproduces the philosopher's exact spelling. He was one of the early spelling reformers. See his "Petition of the Letter Z," p. 116,The Many-sided Franklin.
(In the following notes the numerals refer to the pages of the text.)
Page 17."Ecton, in Northamptonshire." In 1657 George Washington's grandfather emigrated to Virginia from this same English county.
"Franklin, ... an order of people." Do you recall one of the titles of Cedric, the Saxon, in Scott'sIvanhoe?
27.Notice his judgment regarding controversy. It will be profitable, from time to time, to consider his remarks as throwing light on the subject, "Franklin, a Manager of Men."
28.Read carefully the paragraph opening with a reference toThe Spectator, and using Franklin's method, reproduce that paragraph. Apply this method to other good English selections and try to adapt it to your translations from other languages.
As you read Franklin's account of his self-education, ask yourself what quality it is in the student that gives best assurance of final success in securing a real education.
34.Is Franklin's use of the word "demeaned" good?
37.In his reference to Bunyan and Defoe, Franklin proves himself one of the first critics to recognize those writers as the fathers of the modern novel.
38."Our acquaintance continued as long as he lived." Few men have placed a higher value on friends than did Franklin. He took the trouble necessary to make friends and to keep them.
61.Read parts of Young'sNight Thoughts.
77.Carefully observe the plan of the Junto and its subordinate branches, and consider the value of such organizations for yourself and friends. By referring to Bigelow's Life of Franklin, Vol. I, p, 185, you will find detailed information concerning the rules of the Junto.
81.Years later, while in London in 1773, Franklin showed his ability with his pen and put through a successful journalistic hoax. He published inThe Public Advertiserwhat was for a time accepted by many as an authentic edict of the King of Prussia. In this the king held that the English were German colonists settled in Britain, and that they should be taxed for the benefit of the Prussian coffers.
What claims were the English making in 1773? By looking through other lives of Franklin, you may find an account of another literary hoax by which he helped the American cause.
86.Franklin's original determination to secure money with his wife should be judged by the standards of his time.
89.Beginning with the establishment of the Philadelphia public library, keep a list of Franklin's plans and achievements for the public good.
92.The high honors accorded to Franklin by foreign nations have never been extended to any other American, with the possible exception of Theodore Roosevelt.
101."Address Powerful Goodness." Thomas Paine submitted the manuscript of hisAge of Reasonto Franklin for criticism. Franklin advised him to burn it and concluded, "If men are so wicked with religion, what would they bewithout it?"
A facsimile of Franklin's motion for prayers in the Federal Convention of 1787, when agreement on the Constitution seemed hopeless, will be found on page 168 ofThe Many-sided Franklin. The convention, though much given to acting on Franklin's advice, was all but unanimous in defeating this motion.
111.Franklin's boyhood debate on the subject of the education of young women is reflected here as a settled conviction.
113.The great scholar and historian, Gibbon, agreed with Franklin concerning the languages.
115."Inoculation." Will you volunteer to make a report to the class on inoculation and vaccination? The two combine in making one of the most interesting chapters in the history of medical science.
117.You will be interested in comparing the constable's watch of ragamuffins with the watch in Shakespeare'sMuch Ado About Nothing.
118.In many towns and cities there is much of interest connected with the fire department. "The History of Our Fire Department,""Fire Fighting," and many other subjects may suggest themselves to you for written or oral reports. Possibly some one in the class may be able to tell in this connection how Crassus, the friend of Julius Cæsar, gained a great part of his wealth.
119.Have you read of the work of Whitefield and his associates in England? See "The Methodist Movement" in Halleck'sHistory of English Literature, or in some good English history.
132.Your classmates will be interested in a report on the Franklin stove. Make some simple drawings to illustrate its principles.
141.Find out definitely what system of street cleaning prevails in your home town. Write a feature article on that system, as if for a magazine. Some member of the class who has a camera will secure illustrations for you. Also write an editorial for a newspaper, an editorial inspired by the disclosures of the feature article.
175.Will several of you take up the subject of "Franklin's Electrical Experiments" and make reports to the class?
185.Notice Franklin's alertness in suggesting the application of scientific methods to practical affairs. Do you think that Emerson's definition of "genius" as given in the first paragraph of his essay on "Self-Reliance" can be justly applied to Franklin?
You will be interested in following Franklin's experiments in determining the value of oil in stilling the waves, and also his investigations of the Gulf Stream and of the nature of storms. He asked, "What signifies philosophy that does not apply to some use?" Yet he had a wonderful imagination back of his practical nature.
Emerson says that the chief use of a book is to inspire. On this basis how do you rank theAutobiographyin usefulness?
Addison'sSir Roger de Coverley Papers (Underwood)Arnold'sSohrab and Rustum (Tanner)Bunyan'sPilgrim's Progress (Jones and Arnold)Burke'sConciliation with America (Clark)Speeches at Bristol (Bergin)Burns'sPoems—Selections (Venable)Byron'sChilde Harold (Canto IV), Prisoner of Chillon, Mazeppa, and other Selections (Venable)Carlyle'sEssay on Burns (Miller)Chaucer'sPrologue and Knighte's Tale (Van Dyke)Coleridge'sRime of the Ancient Mariner (Garrigues)Cooper'sPilot (Watrous)The Spy (Barnes)Defoe'sHistory of the Plague in London (Syle)Robinson Crusoe (Stephens)De Quincey'sRevolt of the TartarsDickens'sChristmas Carol and Cricket on the Hearth (Wannamaker)Tale of Two Cities (Pearce)Dryden'sPalamon and Arcite (Bates)Eliot'sSilas Marner (McKitrick)Emerson'sAmerican Scholar, Self-Reliance, Compensation (Smith)Franklin'sAutobiography (Reid)Goldsmith'sVicar of Wakefield (Hansen)Deserted Village (See Gray's Elegy)Gray'sElegy in a Country Churchyard, andGoldsmith'sDeserted Village (Van Dyke)Hughes'sTom Brown's School Days (Gosling).Irving'sSketch Book—Selections (St. John)Tales of a Traveler (Rutland)Lincoln'sAddresses and Letters (Moores)Address at Cooper Union (SeeMacaulay'sSpeeches on Copyright)Macaulay'sEssay on Addison (Matthews)Essay on Milton (Mead)Essays on Lord Clive and Warren Hastings (Holmes)Lays of Ancient Rome and other Poems (Atkinson)Life of Johnson (Lucas)Speeches on Copyright, and Lincoln's Address at Cooper Union (Pittenger)Milton'sL'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, Lycidas (Buck)Paradise Lost. Books I and II (Stephens)Old Ballads(Morton).Old Testament Narratives(Baldwin)Poe'sSelected Poems and Tales (Stott)Pope'sHomer's Iliad. Books I, VI, XXII, and XXIV Rape of the Lock and Essay on Man (Van Dyke)Ruskin'sSesame and Lilies (Rounds)Scott'sAbbotIvanhoe (Schreiber)Lady of the Lake (Bacon)Marmion (Coblentz)Quentin Durward (Norris)WoodstockShakespeare'sAs You Like It (North)Hamlet (Shower)Henry V (Law)Julius Cæsar (Baker)Macbeth (Livengood)Merchant of Venice (Blakely)Midsummer Night's Bream (Haney)The Tempest (Barley)Twelfth Night (Weld)Southey'sLife of NelsonStevenson'sInland Voyage and Travels with a Donkey (Armstrong)Treasure Island (Fairley)Swift'sGulliver's Travels (Gaston)Tennyson'sIdylls of the King—Selections (Willard)Princess (Shryock)Thackeray'sHenry Esmond (Bissell)Washington'sFarewell Address, andWebster'sFirst Bunker Hill Oration (Lewis)Webster'sBunker Hill Orations (See also Washington's Farewell Address)Wordsworth'sPoems—Selections (Venable)
Addison'sSir Roger de Coverley Papers (Underwood)
Arnold'sSohrab and Rustum (Tanner)
Bunyan'sPilgrim's Progress (Jones and Arnold)
Burke'sConciliation with America (Clark)Speeches at Bristol (Bergin)
Burns'sPoems—Selections (Venable)
Byron'sChilde Harold (Canto IV), Prisoner of Chillon, Mazeppa, and other Selections (Venable)
Carlyle'sEssay on Burns (Miller)
Chaucer'sPrologue and Knighte's Tale (Van Dyke)
Coleridge'sRime of the Ancient Mariner (Garrigues)
Cooper'sPilot (Watrous)The Spy (Barnes)
Defoe'sHistory of the Plague in London (Syle)Robinson Crusoe (Stephens)
De Quincey'sRevolt of the Tartars
Dickens'sChristmas Carol and Cricket on the Hearth (Wannamaker)Tale of Two Cities (Pearce)
Dryden'sPalamon and Arcite (Bates)
Eliot'sSilas Marner (McKitrick)
Emerson'sAmerican Scholar, Self-Reliance, Compensation (Smith)
Franklin'sAutobiography (Reid)
Goldsmith'sVicar of Wakefield (Hansen)Deserted Village (See Gray's Elegy)
Gray'sElegy in a Country Churchyard, andGoldsmith'sDeserted Village (Van Dyke)
Hughes'sTom Brown's School Days (Gosling).
Irving'sSketch Book—Selections (St. John)Tales of a Traveler (Rutland)
Lincoln'sAddresses and Letters (Moores)Address at Cooper Union (SeeMacaulay'sSpeeches on Copyright)
Macaulay'sEssay on Addison (Matthews)Essay on Milton (Mead)Essays on Lord Clive and Warren Hastings (Holmes)Lays of Ancient Rome and other Poems (Atkinson)Life of Johnson (Lucas)Speeches on Copyright, and Lincoln's Address at Cooper Union (Pittenger)
Milton'sL'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, Lycidas (Buck)Paradise Lost. Books I and II (Stephens)
Old Ballads(Morton).
Old Testament Narratives(Baldwin)
Poe'sSelected Poems and Tales (Stott)
Pope'sHomer's Iliad. Books I, VI, XXII, and XXIV Rape of the Lock and Essay on Man (Van Dyke)
Ruskin'sSesame and Lilies (Rounds)
Scott'sAbbotIvanhoe (Schreiber)Lady of the Lake (Bacon)Marmion (Coblentz)Quentin Durward (Norris)Woodstock
Shakespeare'sAs You Like It (North)Hamlet (Shower)Henry V (Law)Julius Cæsar (Baker)Macbeth (Livengood)Merchant of Venice (Blakely)Midsummer Night's Bream (Haney)The Tempest (Barley)Twelfth Night (Weld)
Southey'sLife of Nelson
Stevenson'sInland Voyage and Travels with a Donkey (Armstrong)Treasure Island (Fairley)
Swift'sGulliver's Travels (Gaston)
Tennyson'sIdylls of the King—Selections (Willard)Princess (Shryock)
Thackeray'sHenry Esmond (Bissell)
Washington'sFarewell Address, andWebster'sFirst Bunker Hill Oration (Lewis)
Webster'sBunker Hill Orations (See also Washington's Farewell Address)
Wordsworth'sPoems—Selections (Venable)
Transcriber's NoteObvious punctuation and spelling errors repaired.Footnotes moved to the end of the appropriate chapter.Notes [n] are at the end of the book as originally published.Some notes link directly to footnotes moved to the end of the appropriate chapter.