Books were not the natural product of the Revolutionary Period, either. Men do not fight and write at the same time. Nor do they build empires and books together. Think of what filled the minds and imaginations of the “Founding Fathers” as the late President Harding called them—the war with England, the dreams of independence, of a new and different nation, of vast states lying westward, farms and factories, and all the mighty machinery, all the wealth required to build and establish their new nation! It was a time for much political thinking, a time not only for stump pulling, but for stump speaking. And as a matter of fact, the best writings of this period were letters, like those of Jefferson, and political pamphlets, like those of Hamilton and Thomas Paine (everybody should read his _Common sense_ and _The crisis_), and orations, like those by Patrick Henry and James Otis. There are two great and simple books, however, belonging here which are pure literature and worthy of a place among the twelve which I have chosen: the _Journal_ of the Quaker, John Woolman, and the _Autobiography_ of Benjamin Franklin, the wise man of the world. Quakers may be wise, too, but for canny wit, common sense, humor, honesty and everything else you can think of, especially learning and industry, as making up the typical Yankee, you find them shaken down and running over in B. Franklin of Boston and Philadelphia, and the world, and all time. You must read this autobiography, though it is not in the list of twelve. We really find the culture, the leisure, the perspective for literary work for the first time in America during the Period of the Republic, which follows the colonizing, the pioneering, and the fighting. We are still a westward-moving people, still on the frontier, spreading, multiplying, building, growing rich and strong and united. But we are a nation now; the spirit of democracy has taken hold on our social life; we have a social philosophy, a proud past, a thrilling present, and a mighty future. Now we can speak, for now we have something to say.