"11. Do you think of anything at present, in which the Junto may be serviceable to mankind, to their country, to their friends, or to themselves? "15. Have you lately observed any encroachment on the just liberties of the people? "20. In what manner can the Junto, or any of them, assist you in any of your honorable designs?" Besides the answering of these questions, there were regular debates, declamations, and the reading of essays; while the wise Franklin took care always that no undue heat should enter into the proceedings. Singing and drinking and other amusements also claimed a fair share of the time. It is curious to observe that in his Autobiography Franklin half apologizes for mentioning the Junto, and declares that his reason for so doing was to show how the various members of the club aided him in his business. Were the Autobiography our only source of information, we might sum up the lessons of Franklin's life in the one word _Thrift_. The truth is that many of Franklin's schemes for public improvement first found a hearing in the secrecy of these friendly meetings. Before returning to Franklin's active life, let us insert here an amusing epitaph which he composed about this time, and which has become justly famous:-- THE BODY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PRINTER (LIKE THE COVER OF AN OLD BOOK ITS CONTENTS TORN OUT AND STRIPT OF ITS LETTERING AND GILDING) LIES HERE, FOOD FOR WORMS. BUT THE WORK SHALL NOT BE LOST FOR IT WILL (AS HE BELIEVED) APPEAR ONCE MORE IN A NEW AND MORE ELEGANT EDITION REVISED AND CORRECTED BY THE AUTHOR. IV THE SCIENTIST AND PUBLIC CITIZEN IN PHILADELPHIA