At a time when money was becoming scarce in the life of many Americans, Benjamin Franklin came up with a solution to solve this problem. “Doctor Franklin” created “The Art of Making Money Plenty in every Man’s Pocket.”
Benjamin Franklin, who was involved in nearly every other aspect of advancement at the time (creating a fire brigade, establishing a printing press and a library, discovering electricity, etc.) decided that he should release a humorous pamphlet into circulation that would give people insight to how they could “reinforce their pockets” (“The Art of Making Money”).
Franklin had “printed some of the first paper money used in America, and he continued to print money periodically throughout his life” (Weatherford 133) so when he came out with a guide instructing people of how they could save and increase their wealth, people were bound to believe him. However, Benjamin Franklin, who was a genius in every respect, didn’t want to give this sacred information to just anyone without having them work a little for it.
Doctor Franklin is a genius; not only in respect to the numerous inventions he created throughout the span of his life (the Franklin Stove, The Lightning Rod, the Bifocals) but he also used his wit in his writing. In the actual “The Art of Making Money Plenty in every Man’s Pocket: by Doctor Franklin,” he wrote out most of the text and placed some images within a few of the words that truly prove his literary genius. For instance, there is one sentence that is as follows: “thy cred[eye]tors will n[woman]r insult thee” (“The Art of Making Money”). To most, this may not make sense. The image of the “eye” is an obvious symbol for the letter “I” but the woman is a bit tricky. However, by using a manipulation of the surrounding letters as well as thinking of the context the woman could be used in, you realize that the woman represents “Eve” from the Bible and completes the word “never.”
Franklin is notorious for being crafty in his writing. His first sneaky act can be seen when he was working in his brother’s printing press and decided he wanted to contribute to the newspaper that James, his brother, was creating. Franklin “knew that James would never publish articles written by his little brother. So, Ben made up a new name: Silence Dogood” (Rushby 13). The articles that he wrote were the first step to his famous humorous pieces and he continued in this style when he created Poor Richard’s Almanack. In this “Almanack,” he wrote such familiar phrases as: “God helps those that help themselves” and “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealth, and wise” (Giblin 43).
This was a man who “believed that the world would be a far better place if everyone produced more and consumed less” (Weatherford 134), and it is evident in this publication. After more decoding of the images in his article, he states that people should “spend one penny every day [less] than thy dear gains” (“The Art of Making Money”) which translates to: whatever amount you gain through working, spend less than you make.
Franklin was a true innovator from his time. He created many useful institutions and inventions that helped out Americans in ways that were both cost efficient and beneficial (like in his invention of the Franklin Stove and his founding of the Library Company). However, I would also like to add that Benjamin Franklin was not a selfish man, he just wanted others to work for what they got. For example: “Franklin declined to apply for a patent on his inventions; he wanted them to be manufactured by anyone who wished to do so” (Weatherford 135). He was a man who wanted to promote the greater good of all mankind, but he did not want them to succumb to idleness so he made puzzles like “The Art of Making Money Plenty for every Man’s Pocket” that would benefit them if they only did a little work.
I have to admit, I could not decode the entire article myself and I did have to seek help. Try for yourself and see if you can decode the message Franklin is trying to give through this link (“The Art of Making Money”) (you can click the picture to enlarge it) and if you get to that point where you can no longer decode the rest of it, use the link here that contains the answers (“Ben Franklin”). But don’t cheat!
Works Cited
"The Art of Making Money." Library of Congress Home. 11 Apr. 2009 <http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/franklin-printer.html>.
"Ben Franklin." Haverford College. 11 Apr. 2009 <http://www.haverford.edu/library/franklin/rebus/index.html>.
Giblin, James. Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Scholastic P, 2000.
Rushby, Pamela. History Chapters: Ben Franklin Printer, Author, Inventor, Politician (History Chapters). New York: National Geographic Children's Books, 2007.
Weatherford, Jack. The History of Money. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1997.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Lion's Roar
In a world without the great usefulness of the Public Library, Benjamin Franklin rose to help educate the masses by creating the first library: The Library Connection. What better way to help educate the people then by asking them what books they wanted to read? Enter the “Lion’s Mouth” box.
Prior to the 1730s, books were too expensive for common people to have in vast quantities. In addition to books being expensive, they were also in very limited quantity since the printing press had yet to reach its full potential. Franklin, wanting to adapt the idea that “To support the common good is divine” (“The Library Company”), decided to create the first public library in United States history. To accomplish this goal, he created the “Junto,” which was an organization that discussed topics “from economics to solving social woes” (“The Library Company”), whose 50 members donated “40 shillings” each and agreed to donate an additional “10 shillings” each year to support its growth.
This group then began to import books and choose staff members to run the Library Company but something was always missing. The books that were imported and donated consisted mostly of books and subjects the founders and contributors of the Library Company thought would be beneficial. If the citizens of the United States wanted other books in the Library, they would either have to donate it themselves or find someone to donate it for them. It wasn’t until the creation of the “Lion’s Mouth” box that they could really have their requests heard.
The “Lion’s Mouth” box stands 5 ½ in. high and is 11 3/8 in. long by 7 ¾ in. wide (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”). It also had two open hinges hanging off the top where it could be placed on a wall and was transcribed with “Gentlemen are requested to deposit in the Lion’s Mouth The Titles of such Books As they may wish to have Imported” (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”). It was through a slot located in the “mouth” of the lion painted on the box that people could put their requests for certain books they would like the Library Company to acquire.
This “Lion’s Mouth” box was created around 1750 (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”) and the inscription on the box is definitely evident of this time frame. The mere word “Gentlemen” suggests a time when society was relatively homogenous and was very formal. Even the design of the box shows traces of this old lifestyle in the sense that the box itself was made of tin that was then painted both with black enamel and yellow paint for the lettering and the lion.
I work at the Pinole Library and our “suggestion box” is quite different than this. It is much less formal in the sense that it is a “treasure chest” made of cardboard-like material with different signs around it that entice people to place their ideas of the books we should hold in our library.
I find it interesting that the symbol they chose to put on the box was a lion. A lion generally represents courage and strength. The lion, according to “Symbolism –lion,” represents “noble nature and having the position and title of king” as well as a “valiant warrior.” Could this symbol of the lion be a prelude to courage that the Americans would soon display in the American Revolutionary War that was approaching quite quickly? Or could it have just symbolized the “noble nature” as “Symbolism – lion” suggests? If the lion, in this instance, does symbolize the “noble nature” of Americans, it is interesting that not only nobility were allowed to post their requests in the box. Although the outside of the box says “gentlemen,” it is not only referring to men of noble birth; anyone who went into the Library was given the opportunity to put their suggestions in the box.
The concept of this “Lion’s Mouth” box gave everyone equal opportunity for change. Sure, not everyone’s ideas for books to “import” (“‘Lion's Mouth’ box”) were chosen, but everyone had an equal opportunity to express their opinion. It is this very essence that gives rise to change; which is evidenced by the “comment cards” that various businesses hand out that rate the service of the business in areas of excellence and those that need improvement. This “Lion’s Mouth” box, whether it symbolized power or nobility, was an opportunity for the American citizens to bound together, support their local Library, and attempt to make a difference in how they controlled their lives.
Works Cited
"The Library Company." 20 Mar. 2009 <www.ushistory.org/FRANKLIN/philadelphia/library.htm>.
"‘Lion's Mouth’ box, ca. 1750." The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary. 20 Mar. 2009 <www.benfranklin300.org/frankliniana/result.php?id=563&sec=0>.
"Symbolism - lion." Coats of Arms (Family Crests) & Surname Histories. 20 Mar. 2009. 20 Mar. 2009 <www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp/keyword.lion/qx/symbolism_details.htm>.
Prior to the 1730s, books were too expensive for common people to have in vast quantities. In addition to books being expensive, they were also in very limited quantity since the printing press had yet to reach its full potential. Franklin, wanting to adapt the idea that “To support the common good is divine” (“The Library Company”), decided to create the first public library in United States history. To accomplish this goal, he created the “Junto,” which was an organization that discussed topics “from economics to solving social woes” (“The Library Company”), whose 50 members donated “40 shillings” each and agreed to donate an additional “10 shillings” each year to support its growth.
This group then began to import books and choose staff members to run the Library Company but something was always missing. The books that were imported and donated consisted mostly of books and subjects the founders and contributors of the Library Company thought would be beneficial. If the citizens of the United States wanted other books in the Library, they would either have to donate it themselves or find someone to donate it for them. It wasn’t until the creation of the “Lion’s Mouth” box that they could really have their requests heard.
The “Lion’s Mouth” box stands 5 ½ in. high and is 11 3/8 in. long by 7 ¾ in. wide (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”). It also had two open hinges hanging off the top where it could be placed on a wall and was transcribed with “Gentlemen are requested to deposit in the Lion’s Mouth The Titles of such Books As they may wish to have Imported” (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”). It was through a slot located in the “mouth” of the lion painted on the box that people could put their requests for certain books they would like the Library Company to acquire.
This “Lion’s Mouth” box was created around 1750 (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”) and the inscription on the box is definitely evident of this time frame. The mere word “Gentlemen” suggests a time when society was relatively homogenous and was very formal. Even the design of the box shows traces of this old lifestyle in the sense that the box itself was made of tin that was then painted both with black enamel and yellow paint for the lettering and the lion.
I work at the Pinole Library and our “suggestion box” is quite different than this. It is much less formal in the sense that it is a “treasure chest” made of cardboard-like material with different signs around it that entice people to place their ideas of the books we should hold in our library.
I find it interesting that the symbol they chose to put on the box was a lion. A lion generally represents courage and strength. The lion, according to “Symbolism –lion,” represents “noble nature and having the position and title of king” as well as a “valiant warrior.” Could this symbol of the lion be a prelude to courage that the Americans would soon display in the American Revolutionary War that was approaching quite quickly? Or could it have just symbolized the “noble nature” as “Symbolism – lion” suggests? If the lion, in this instance, does symbolize the “noble nature” of Americans, it is interesting that not only nobility were allowed to post their requests in the box. Although the outside of the box says “gentlemen,” it is not only referring to men of noble birth; anyone who went into the Library was given the opportunity to put their suggestions in the box.
The concept of this “Lion’s Mouth” box gave everyone equal opportunity for change. Sure, not everyone’s ideas for books to “import” (“‘Lion's Mouth’ box”) were chosen, but everyone had an equal opportunity to express their opinion. It is this very essence that gives rise to change; which is evidenced by the “comment cards” that various businesses hand out that rate the service of the business in areas of excellence and those that need improvement. This “Lion’s Mouth” box, whether it symbolized power or nobility, was an opportunity for the American citizens to bound together, support their local Library, and attempt to make a difference in how they controlled their lives.
Works Cited
"The Library Company." 20 Mar. 2009 <www.ushistory.org/FRANKLIN/philadelphia/library.htm>.
"‘Lion's Mouth’ box, ca. 1750." The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary. 20 Mar. 2009 <www.benfranklin300.org/frankliniana/result.php?id=563&sec=0>.
"Symbolism - lion." Coats of Arms (Family Crests) & Surname Histories. 20 Mar. 2009. 20 Mar. 2009 <www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp/keyword.lion/qx/symbolism_details.htm>.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tired of Shifting Your Glasses So You Can See Distant and Near Objects?
During a time when one could only see either what was far away from him or what was near to him, depending on the type of glasses they had, Benjamin Franklin rose above his fellow men in an attempt to make vision clearer for everyone. His goal: to create the first ever bifocal lens.
Benjamin Franklin had two pairs of glasses, one for reading and one for seeing objects that were far away. He constantly had to shift between each pair in order to distinguish things that were either far away or right next to him, and found this quite “troublesome” (Fleishman). Ben decided that a change needed to be made that would not only make it easier for him to see, but a change that would allow him to see both objects that were far away and close to him at the same time, instead of having to change between glasses. His conclusion: To create “double spectacles, which served for distant objects as well as near ones” (Fleishman).
However, it should be noted that Benjamin Franklin was not the inventor of the bifocal lens, but instead the one who “came up with the idea by himself” (Fleishman). This is evidenced in a letter that Mr. H. Sykes sent to him addressing the fact that he tried to make Benjamin a pair of glasses he desired but that, in the process of making them, they “broke and spoilt three glasses” (Fleishman). However, as I previously stated, it was Benjamin Franklin who came up with the idea of the bifocal lens.
In a letter addressed to George Whatley, who was one of Franklin’s friends, he addresses how the use of his bifocal spectacles have allowed him to “see the food he was eating and watch the facial expressions of those seated at the table with him” (United States). He also included a diagram that showed the construction of his bifocal lens (Franklin).
Franklin wrote this letter himself, to his friend in 1785 because he was being challenged on the basis that the bifocal lens that he designed was only suitable for his ailment. The first part of his letter addresses the fact that Peter Dollond, the man challenging Franklin’s claim to the use of his double spectacles, does not understand the “construction” (Franklin) of the lenses he had designed and then included a diagram explaining how the lenses are constructed. On the right lens, the upper half is divided into the “Least convex for distant objects” and the lower half is labeled “Most convex for reading” (Fleishman). The left lens follows the same pattern, again labeling the upper portion “Least convex” and the lower part “Most convex” (Fleishman). The second half of his letter goes into detail on how the bifocal glasses have improved his own life. Going into detail on how his use of the glasses helped him when he was in France, allowing him to “understand French better by the help of my spectacles” (Franklin).
There was some validity to what Dollond had said though; the spectacles that Franklin designed are not for all people. I, myself, am farsighted but I can see objects in front of me and objects that are slightly far away just fine. This results in not having to wear my glasses at all times, allowing me to see objects up close without the help of glasses and having to put them on when I want to see things farther in the distance. If I could neither see what was close to me nor what was far away I would have a greater need for the bifocal glasses.
It was through these events that lead to the eventual creation and spreading of the bifocal lens. Even today the effects of Franklin’s concept of the bifocal lens can be felt. One of my friends wears bifocal lenses and instead of having to constantly shift between her glasses for seeing and taking them off to read, which is what she would have to do for a normal pair of glasses, she instead can look either straight ahead to view things that are far away and shift her eyes down to read a book in front of her.
Works Cited
Fleishman M.D., David A. “Benjamin Franklin-Father of the Bifocal.” 26 Nov. 2006. Antique Spectacles and Other Vision Aids. 11 Feb. 2009. <http://www.antiquespectacles.com/topics/franklin/ franklin.htm>.
Franklin, Benjamin. Benjamin Franklin to Goerge Whatley (ca. 1709-1791), May 23, 1785. <http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/bf0036s.jpg>.
United States. Librbary of Congress. Franklin’s Design for Bifocals. July 2006. 11 Feb. 2009. <http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/ treasures/franklin-scientist.html>.
Benjamin Franklin had two pairs of glasses, one for reading and one for seeing objects that were far away. He constantly had to shift between each pair in order to distinguish things that were either far away or right next to him, and found this quite “troublesome” (Fleishman). Ben decided that a change needed to be made that would not only make it easier for him to see, but a change that would allow him to see both objects that were far away and close to him at the same time, instead of having to change between glasses. His conclusion: To create “double spectacles, which served for distant objects as well as near ones” (Fleishman).
However, it should be noted that Benjamin Franklin was not the inventor of the bifocal lens, but instead the one who “came up with the idea by himself” (Fleishman). This is evidenced in a letter that Mr. H. Sykes sent to him addressing the fact that he tried to make Benjamin a pair of glasses he desired but that, in the process of making them, they “broke and spoilt three glasses” (Fleishman). However, as I previously stated, it was Benjamin Franklin who came up with the idea of the bifocal lens.
In a letter addressed to George Whatley, who was one of Franklin’s friends, he addresses how the use of his bifocal spectacles have allowed him to “see the food he was eating and watch the facial expressions of those seated at the table with him” (United States). He also included a diagram that showed the construction of his bifocal lens (Franklin).
Franklin wrote this letter himself, to his friend in 1785 because he was being challenged on the basis that the bifocal lens that he designed was only suitable for his ailment. The first part of his letter addresses the fact that Peter Dollond, the man challenging Franklin’s claim to the use of his double spectacles, does not understand the “construction” (Franklin) of the lenses he had designed and then included a diagram explaining how the lenses are constructed. On the right lens, the upper half is divided into the “Least convex for distant objects” and the lower half is labeled “Most convex for reading” (Fleishman). The left lens follows the same pattern, again labeling the upper portion “Least convex” and the lower part “Most convex” (Fleishman). The second half of his letter goes into detail on how the bifocal glasses have improved his own life. Going into detail on how his use of the glasses helped him when he was in France, allowing him to “understand French better by the help of my spectacles” (Franklin).
There was some validity to what Dollond had said though; the spectacles that Franklin designed are not for all people. I, myself, am farsighted but I can see objects in front of me and objects that are slightly far away just fine. This results in not having to wear my glasses at all times, allowing me to see objects up close without the help of glasses and having to put them on when I want to see things farther in the distance. If I could neither see what was close to me nor what was far away I would have a greater need for the bifocal glasses.
It was through these events that lead to the eventual creation and spreading of the bifocal lens. Even today the effects of Franklin’s concept of the bifocal lens can be felt. One of my friends wears bifocal lenses and instead of having to constantly shift between her glasses for seeing and taking them off to read, which is what she would have to do for a normal pair of glasses, she instead can look either straight ahead to view things that are far away and shift her eyes down to read a book in front of her.
Works Cited
Fleishman M.D., David A. “Benjamin Franklin-Father of the Bifocal.” 26 Nov. 2006. Antique Spectacles and Other Vision Aids. 11 Feb. 2009. <http://www.antiquespectacles.com/topics/franklin/ franklin.htm>.
Franklin, Benjamin. Benjamin Franklin to Goerge Whatley (ca. 1709-1791), May 23, 1785. <http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/bf0036s.jpg>.
United States. Librbary of Congress. Franklin’s Design for Bifocals. July 2006. 11 Feb. 2009. <http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/ treasures/franklin-scientist.html>.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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