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 Franklin’s grandson, William Temple Franklin, who claimed to have the original _Ms_, said the date upon it was 1728. This disposes of the theory that Franklin took the idea from the Latin epitaph of an Eton school-boy, published in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_ for February, 1736. But, as writing comic epitaphs was a fashion in those days, there is no reason why both should not have been original. PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 6. No. 7. SERIAL No. 155 COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC. THE MENTOR · DEPARTMENT OF BIOGRAPHY MAY 15, 1918 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN By ALBERT BUSHNELL HART _Professor of Government, Harvard University_ Entered as second-class matter March 10, 1913, at the postoffice at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Copyright, 1918, by The Mentor Association, Inc. _MENTOR GRAVURES_ THE YOUNG BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 1723 THE MATURE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 1777 FRANKLIN DRAWING ELECTRICITY FROM THE SKY [Illustration] _MENTOR GRAVURES_ FRANKLIN BEFORE THE LORDS OF WHITEHALL, LONDON, 1775 DRAFTING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FRANKLIN AT THE COURT OF FRANCE, 1778 [Illustration] [Illustration: FRANKLIN From an engraving after a painting by Duplessis TRANSLATION OF THE INSCRIPTION--“Honor of the New World and Humanity, this true and amiable sage guides and enlightens them; like another Mentor, he hides in the common eye a divinity, beneath the features of a mortal.”--_M. Feutry._] Think of an American Revolution without Benjamin Franklin! As well think of English Literature without Shakespeare, a Civil War without Lincoln. Franklin _was_ the Revolution itself. That is, he prepared the way for it, represented it, infused it with his lively spirit. He was indispensable. If the British had carried out their cheerful project of hanging Sam Adams, Patrick Henry would have continued to breathe out the flame of Liberty. Washington and Franklin, however, were unique figures. Without the courage, faith and personal leadership of Washington, the army would have gone to pieces at Valley Forge, and the United States of America would have been postponed.