He published "Poor Richard," a record of homely wisdom in such shape that hundreds of thousands of readers were made better and stronger by it. He created the post-office system of America, and was the first champion of a reformed spelling. He invented the Franklin stove, which economized fuel, and suggested valuable improvements in ventilation and the building of chimneys. He robbed thunder of its terrors and lightning of some of its power to destroy. He founded the American Philosophical Society, the first organization in America of the friends of science. He suggested the use of mineral manures, introduced the basket willow, promoted the early culture of silk, and pointed out the advisability of white clothing in hot weather. He measured the temperature of the Gulf Stream, and discovered that northeast storms may begin in the southwest. He pointed out the advantage of building ships in water-tight compartments, taking the hint from the Chinese, and first urged the use of oil as a means of quieting dangerous seas. Besides these great achievements, accomplished largely as recreation from his life work as economist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin helped the whole race of inventors by a remark that has been of incalculable value and comfort to theorists and dreamers the world over. When someone spoke rather contemptuously in Franklin's presence of Montgolfier's balloon experiments, and asked of what use they were, the great American replied in words now historic: "Of what use is a new-born babe?" "This self-taught American," said Lord Jeffrey, in the _Edinburgh Review_ of July, 1806, "is the most rational, perhaps, of all philosophers. He never loses sight of common sense in any of his speculations. No individual, perhaps, ever possessed a greater understanding, or was so seldom obstructed in the use of it by indolence, enthusiasm, or authority. Dr. Franklin received no regular education; and he spent the greater part of his life in a society where there was no relish and no encouragement for literature. On an ordinary mind, these circumstances would have produced their usual effects, of repressing all sorts of intellectual ambition or activity, and perpetuating a generation of incurious mechanics; but to an understanding like Franklin's, we cannot help considering them as peculiarly propitious, and imagine that we can trace back to them distinctly almost all the peculiarities of his intellectual character."