46 FuRNESS: Franklin 



him in a watchman's coat, put a lantern in his hand, 

 placed him in a sentry-box, and — he was asleep in ten 

 minutes." After much persevering effort, Franklin at 

 last succeeded in breaking up the old system and in 

 substituting one which was supported by a tax levied 

 in proportion to the value of property. 



When Franklin was twenty-five years old, there was 

 not in all America a public circulating library. He 

 began one, and it still survives as " The Philadelphia 

 Library," and is one of the largest in the land. 



In a small town mostly of wooden houses, a conflagra- 

 tion in those early days was only a little less alarming 

 than an attack by Indians. Franklin organized the first 

 Fire Company, whereof every member was obliged to 

 keep on hand " six leather fire-buckets, and two bags 

 made of good oznaburg " (whatever that may be) for 

 the preservation of personal effects. 



When Franklin was thirty-seven, there was not a 

 single organized scientific society in America. He 

 founded this, our American Philosophical Society. 



The first militia law in this State was drawn up by 

 Franklin, and, when a battery was built below the city, 

 he took his turn in the nightly sentinel's watch as a 

 common soldier, although the battery had been built 

 and equipped mainly by his exertions, and he had been 

 offered the colonelcy of the regiment that manned it. 



