BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 3 



writing pretty well," but failed in arithmetic. Then he 

 was placed in the chandler's shop, and gained the rest of 

 his education there, in the printing office, and in practical life. 



Having developed a strong taste for reading, Franklin 

 eagerly devoured such books 'as came within his reach. He 

 adopted a vegetable diet and applied the money he saved there- 

 by to the purchase of books, while he devoted the time he 

 could gain from his meals to reading. His collection of books 

 was a miscellaneous one, but it included some works, like The 

 Spectator and others of its kind, that were remarkable for the 

 graces of their style, and some that were quickening to thought. 

 Perceiving the defects in his own style as a writer, he undertook 

 to cultivate it systematically. 



The printer Keimer, Franklin's employer in Philadelphia, 

 loved argument and engaged in many disputations with his 

 journeyman. Franklin practised himself in the Socratic method 

 of discussion, and had much amusement, with great advantage to 

 himself in self-discipline, in drawing the old printer unawares into 

 quandaries by leading questions, begetting difficulties and contra- 

 dictions, till he became accustomed, before answering even com- 

 mon questions, to ask, " What do you intend to infer from that ? " 



On his return from a visit to England in 1726, Franklin 

 formed a club or debating society among his friends, called the 

 Junto, and drew up its rules. Every member of this associa- 

 tion was required in turn to produce one or more queries on 

 some point of morals, politics, or natural philosophy for dis- 

 cussion by the company ; and once in three months to read an 

 essay of his own writing, on any subject he might select. The 

 debates were expected to be conducted in the sincere spirit of 

 inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute, desire of vic- 

 tory, expression of positiveness in opinion, or direct contradic- 

 tion. Applicants for admission to this society were asked a list 

 of questions intended to determine that they were catholic in 

 spirit or free from bigotry or strong prepossession, culminating in 

 the interrogatory, " Do you love truth for truth's sake, and will 

 you endeavour impartially to find and receive it yourself, and 

 communicate it to others?" 



A selection from the questions discussed in the Junto was 

 made by Dr. William Smith from a record which came into his 

 possession at the time the American Philosophical Society was 

 instituted. They indicate a desire for the real increase of 



