AND The University of Pennsylvania 171 



structive fires raged until he tamed the lightning, and 

 ships tossed in danger until he cast oil upon the waves. 

 Wherever he was present, weighty matters were dis- 

 cussed and projects moved. He thought, he spoke, he 

 wrote, he acted. He did things and inspired others to 

 do them. With Lord Bacon he believed that a good 

 motion never dies. No matter what the meeting he 

 attended, whether composed of business men, doctors of 

 medicine, philosophers or politicians, he was always 

 chosen President or Chairman. 



Hewas Socraticin his method of reasoning; but, he was 

 eminently practical and not metaphysical. He imitated 

 Addison in his style; but what essay of Addison's resem- 

 bles the speech of " Father Abraham"? It is in large part 

 a collection of other men's sayings and of ancient saws; 

 but Franklin made the collection and cut the diamonds. 

 He improved on Sydney when he said "God helps those 

 who help themselves." He improved on Bishop Home 

 when he said "Sloth eats more than rust," and "The 

 used key is always bright." He improved on Ben 

 Johson when he said " Keep thy shop and thy shop will 

 keep thee," and he added as his own, " He that riseth 

 late must trot all day, therefore drive thy business, let it 

 not drive thee." Poor Richard's Almanac illustrates Sir 

 John Russell's definition of a proverb — "The wisdom 

 of many but the wit of one." Was there ever a better 

 description of the dignity of labor than "A plowman 



