the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第28节
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considerable profit from it； vending annually near ten thousand。 And
observing that it was generally read； scarce any neighborhood in the
province being without it； I consider'd it as a proper vehicle for conveying
instruction among the common people； who bought scarcely any other
books； I therefore filled all the little spaces that occurr'd between the
remarkable days in the calendar with proverbial sentences； chiefly such as
inculcated industry and frugality； as the means of procuring wealth； and
thereby securing virtue； it being more difficult for a man in want； to act
always honestly； as； to use here one of those proverbs； it is hard for an
empty sack to stand up…right。
These proverbs； which contained the wisdom of many ages and
nations； I assembled and form'd into a connected discourse prefix'd to the
Almanack of 1757； as the harangue of a wise old man to the people
attending an auction。 The bringing all these scatter'd counsels thus into a
focus enabled them to make greater impression。 The piece； being
universally approved； was copied in all the newspapers of the Continent；
reprinted in Britain on a broad side； to be stuck up in houses； two
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translations were made of it in French； and great numbers bought by the
clergy and gentry； to distribute gratis among their poor parishioners and
tenants。 In Pennsylvania； as it discouraged useless expense in foreign
superfluities； some thought it had its share of influence in producing that
growing plenty of money which was observable for several years after its
publication。
I considered my newspaper； also； as another means of communicating
instruction； and in that view frequently reprinted in it extracts from the
Spectator； and other moral writers； and sometimes publish'd little pieces of
my own； which had been first compos'd for reading in our Junto。 Of these
are a Socratic dialogue； tending to prove that； whatever might be his parts
and abilities； a vicious man could not properly be called a man of sense；
and a discourse on self…denial； showing that virtue was not secure till its
practice became a habitude； and was free from the opposition of contrary
inclinations。 These may be found in the papers about the beginning Of
1735。
In the conduct of my newspaper； I carefully excluded all libelling and
personal abuse； which is of late years become so disgraceful to our
country。 Whenever I was solicited to insert anything of that kind； and the
writers pleaded； as they generally did； the liberty of the press； and that a
newspaper was like a stagecoach； in which any one who would pay had a
right to a place； my answer was； that I would print the piece separately if
desired； and the author might have as many copies as he pleased to
distribute himself； but that I would not take upon me to spread his
detraction； and that； having contracted with my subscribers to furnish
them with what might be either useful or entertaining； I could not fill their
papers with private altercation； in which they had no concern； without
doing them manifest injustice。 Now； many of our printers make no scruple
of gratifying the malice of individuals by false accusations of the fairest
characters among ourselves； augmenting animosity even to the producing
of duels； and are； moreover； so indiscreet as to print scurrilous reflections
on the government of neighboring states； and even on the conduct of our
best national allies； which may be attended with the most pernicious
consequences。 These things I mention as a caution to young printers； and
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that they may be encouraged not to pollute their presses and disgrace their
profession by such infamous practices； but refuse steadily； as they may see
by my example that such a course of conduct will not； on the whole； be
injurious to their interests。
In 1733 I sent one of my journeymen to Charleston； South Carolina；
where a printer was wanting。 I furnish'd him with a press and letters； on an
agreement of partnership； by which I was to receive one…third of the
profits of the business； paying one…third of the expense。 He was a man of
learning； and honest but ignorant in matters of account； and； tho' he
sometimes made me remittances； I could get no account from him； nor any
satisfactory state of our partnership while he lived。 On his decease； the
business was continued by his widow； who； being born and bred in
Holland； where； as I have been inform'd； the knowledge of accounts
makes a part of female education； she not only sent me as clear a state as
she could find of the transactions past； but continued to account with the
greatest regularity and exactness every quarter afterwards； and managed
the business with such success； that she not only brought up reputably a
family of children； but； at the expiration of the term； was able to purchase
of me the printing…house； and establish her son in it。
I mention this affair chiefly for the sake of recommending that branch
of education for our young females； as likely to be of more use to them
and their children； in case of widowhood； than either music or dancing； by
preserving them from losses by imposition of crafty men； and enabling
them to continue； perhaps； a profitable mercantile house； with establish'd
correspondence； till a son is grown up fit to undertake and go on with it； to
the lasting advantage and enriching of the family。
About the year 1734 there arrived among us from Ireland a young
Presbyterian preacher； named Hemphill； who delivered with a good voice；
and apparently extempore； most excellent discourses； which drew together
considerable numbers of different persuasion； who join'd in admiring them。
Among the rest； I became one of his constant hearers； his sermons
pleasing me； as they had little of the dogmatical kind； but inculcated
strongly the practice of virtue； or what in the religious stile are called good
works。 Those； however； of our congregation； who considered themselves
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as orthodox Presbyterians； disapprov'd his doctrine； and were join'd by
most of the old clergy； who arraign'd him of heterodoxy before the synod；
in order to have him silenc'd。 I became his zealous partisan； and
contributed all I could to raise a party in his favour； and we combated for
him a while with some hopes of success。 There was much scribbling pro
and con upon the occasion； and finding that； tho' an elegant preacher； he
was but a poor writer； I lent him my pen and wrote for him two or three
pamphlets； and one piece in the Gazette of April； 1735。 Those pamphlets；
as is generally the case with controversial writings； tho' eagerly read at the
time； were soon out of vogue； and I question whether a single copy of
them now exists。
During the contest an unlucky occurrence hurt his cause exceedingly。
One of our adversaries having heard him preach a sermon that was much
admired； thought he had somewhere read the sermon before； or at least a
part of it。 On search he found that part quoted at length； in one of the
British Reviews； from a discourse of Dr。 Foster's。 This detection gave
many of our party disgust； who accordingly abandoned his cause； and
occasion'd our more speedy discomfiture in the synod。 I stuck by him；
however； as I rather approv'd his giving us good sermons compos'd by
others； than bad ones of his own manufacture； tho' the latter was the
practice of our common teachers。 He afterward acknowledg'd to me that
none of those he preach'd were his own； adding； that his memory was such
as enabled him to retain and repeat any sermon after one reading only。 On
our defeat； he left u
