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. Among 

 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 



