186 



THE ESSAYS. 



Franklin's essays represented his most finished work. Among 

 them indeed are the only compositions written with a dis- 

 tinctly artistic purpose. Many years after his death a small, 

 thin portfolio was found among his papers. On its cover was 

 written " BAGATELLES," and within were fifteen or more 

 of his own favorite essays. These were prepared for the enter- 

 tainment of that brilliant circle of friends in Paris, in whose 

 meetings the venerable author took so much delight. Anions; 

 them were many of his most graceful and witty productions 

 — such as " The Morals of Chess," " The Dialogue between 

 Franklin and the Gout " and " The Ephemera." 



The Bagatelles were written when he was over seventy. In 

 some of his satires, half a century earlier in date, as for instance 

 "The Speech of Mistress Polly Baker," he exhibited equal 

 force and skill, though a wit less mellow and refined and a 

 style less polished through familiarity with French literature. 



His essay writing began when he contributed to his brother's 

 newspaper in Boston a series of satirical letters signed " Silence 

 Dogood" — which are highly praised by those who have read 

 them. " So well," says McMaster, " did the lad catch the spirit, 

 the peculiar diction, the humor of his model, the Spectator, that 

 he seems to have written with a copy of Addison open before 

 him." 



Seven years later he prepared for a Philadelphia newspaper, 

 The Mercury, a series of essays under the title of " The Busy 

 Body." This was his first effort in a strictly literary direction. 

 Some admirer has described them as being written " after the 

 manner of the Spectator, but more readable." 



Although the critic of to-day may not fully agree with this 

 judgment, he cannot fail to be pleased with the graceful, easy 



