Benjamin Franklin; Self-Revealed, Volume 2 (of 2): A Biographical and Critical Study Based Mainly on his own WritingsBruce, Wiliam Cabell
History
Benjamin Franklin; Self-Revealed, Volume 2 (of 2): A Biographical and Critical Study Based Mainly on his own Writings
Bruce, Wiliam Cabell
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
At times we cannot but suspect that Franklin has deliberately created a
sensation for the purpose of quickening the sale of the _Gazette_. For
instance, a peruke maker in Second Street advertises that he will "leave
off the shaving business after the 22nd of August next." Commenting on this
advertisement, Franklin observes that barbers are peculiarly fitted for
politics, for they are adept shavers and trimmers; and, when the angry
peruke maker calls him to task for his levity, he replies that he cherishes
no animosity at all towards him, and can only impute his feelings to a
"Want of taste and relish for pieces of that force and beauty which none
but a University bred gentleman can produce."
On another occasion, when advertising the sailing of a ship, he added this
N. B. of his own: "No Sea Hens, nor Black Gowns will be admitted on any
terms." To such a degree were some of the clergy incensed by it that they
withdrew their subscriptions; but it is not unlikely that in a day or so
twice their number in scoffers were added to the subscription list of the
young printer. At times the fooling is bald buffoonery.
On Thursday last [he informed his readers] a certain
P--r ('tis not customary to give names at length on
these occasions) walking carefully in clean clothes
over some barrels of tar on Carpenter's Wharf, the head
of one of them unluckily gave way, and let a leg of him
in above the knee. Whether he was upon the Catch at
that time, we can not say, but 'tis certain he caught a
_Tar-tar_, 'Twas observed he sprang out again right
briskly, verifying the common saying, as nimble as a
Bee in a Tar barrel. You must know there are several
sorts of bees: 'tis true he was no honey bee, nor yet a
humble bee: but a _Boo-bee_ he may be allowed to be,
namely B. F.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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