Increasd with Years, by candid Truth refind. The People heard it, and approved the Doctrine, and immediately practised the contrary, just as if it had been a common Sermon; for the Vendue opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his Cautions, and their own Fear of Taxes. Franklin thus gives his readers a review of over two decades of advice from Poor Richard, a persona that had become a household name, through the voice of another persona, Father Abraham. Brands, H. W. The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. and besides, in my Rambles, where I am not per|sonally Select search scope, currently: catalog all catalog, articles, website, & more in one search; catalog books, media & more in the Stanford Libraries' collections; articles+ journal articles & other e-resources 8.Some of these differences are described in L.S.L. First published as the introduction to Poor Richard's almanac for 1758. certainly successful. 17.No similar expression in any earlier Poor Richard. Proud Modern Learning despises the antient: Schoolmen are now laught at by Schoolboys. This Pleasure I have seldom enjoyed; for tho I have been, if I may say it without Vanity, an eminent Author of Almanacks annually now a full Quarter of a Century, my Brother Authors in the same Way, for what Reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their Applauses; and no other Author has taken the least Notice of me, so that did not my Writings produce me some solid Pudding, the great Deficiency of Praise would have quite discouraged me. want of a Shoe the Horse was lost; and for want of How shall we be ever able to pay them? as mine. Leisure the diligent Man will obtain, but the lazy Poor Richard explains that after "the old gentleman ended his harangue" the people in the room immediately went and did the opposite of everything Father Abraham had advised. God helps them that help themselves, This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin. [Luther S. Livingston], News for Bibliophiles, The Nation, XCVI, No. Ben Franklin had many pithy sayings and quotes in his publication entitled Poor Richard's Almanac. 6.A possible reference to the levies imposed in Pennsylvania and other colonies to meet the costs of the current war. This Doctrine, my Friends, is Reason and Wisdom; but after all, do not depend too much upon your own Industry, and Frugality, and Prudence, though excellent Things, for they may all be blasted without the Blessing of Heaven; and therefore ask that Blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. That throve so well as those that settled be. When you have got your Bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of Payment; but Creditors, Poor Richard tells us, have better Memories than Debtors;12 and in another Place says, Creditors are a superstitious Sect, great Observers of set Days and Times.13 The Day comes round before you are aware, and the Demand is made before you are prepared to satisfy it. of Taxes.I found the good Man had thoroughly Mister Harms. Thus peaceful walks thro Virtues pleasing Ways: Bids each tempestuous Passion leave the Breast: Thence with her livid Self-devouring Snakes. Practice of remembering and repeating those wise Under this pseudonym, he published many different copies of what came to be known as, Poor Richard's Almanac. Father Abraham's speech to a great number of people, at a vendue of merchant-goods introduced to the public by Poor Richard, a famous conjurer and almanack-maker, in answer to the following questions: Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? we are industrious we shall never starve; for, as Poor With them to Glorys radiant Summit strain. the Chain, preserve your Freedom, and maintain looks in, but dares not enter. Your Creditor Gaz., Sept. 15, 1757. Father Abraham's speech is followed by a brief concluding paragraph signed by Richard Saunders, the full name of Poor Richard. Signed on p. 20: Richard Saunders. Poor Richard'S Almanac [Anonymous] on Amazon.com. much by our Idleness, three times as much by our Are her Compatriots all, by her belovd. You call them Goods, but if you do not take Care, they will prove Evils to some of you. all his Cautions, and their own Fear public. (30) $3.00. Would you not say, that you are free, have a Right to dress as you please, and that such an Edict would be a Breach of your Privileges, and such a Government tyrannical? I HAVE heard that Nothing gives an Author so The use of two personas allows Franklin to experiment with his writing and express multiple perspectives by using different voices. Away 7.See above, II, 3524. Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? and perhaps you are weak-handed, but stick to it However, the rest of the essay is Father Abraham's speech. you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking Excuses, Remember what Poor Richard says, Buy what thou hast no Need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy Necessaries.7 And again, At a great Pennyworth pause a while:8 He means, that perhaps the Cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the Bargain, by straitning thee in thy Business, may do thee more Harm than Good. we cannot give Conduct, as Poor Richard says: How|ever, Page 6 It is with "Pleasure" that he introduces his 1757 almanac: "I have . in that; or it is true, We may give Advice, Those who do not keep a cautious eye on their earnings will soon lose them to vices or other unnecessary expenses. Page 5 In Poor Richard's Almanack, the characters Richard Saunders and Father Abraham are an example of Franklin's use of Multiple voices. But Poor Richard's charge that Father Abraham's audience responds to his speech "just as if it had been a common Sermon" checks this impression of piety with a reminder that the crowd and the preacher are capable of experiencing such involvement without serious commitment. He that spends a Groat a day idly, spends idly above 6 a year, which is the Price of using 100. Here you are all got together at this Vendue of Fineries and Knicknacks. Page 7 on those Topicks during the Course of five-and No, for as Poor Richard says, Trouble springs from Idleness, and grievous Toil from needless Ease.19 Many without Labour, would live by their WITS only, but they break for want of Stock.20 Whereas Industry gives Comfort, and Plenty, and Respect: Fly Pleasures, and theyll follow you.1 The diligent Spinner has a large Shift;2 and now I have a Sheep and a Cow, every Body bids me Good morrow;3 all which is well said by Poor Richard. than Good. Almost at once The London Chronicle reprinted the piece in the issue of April 14, using the same title (except for the omission of the word Curious) and the same text, and citing the Grand Magazine as its source. Pale Envy flies; her Quiver Slander breaks: Thus falls (dire Scourge of a distracted Age!). says; and. But with our Industry, we must likewise be steady known before, if they had taken his Advice. Chron., March 30April 1. For one poor Person, there are an hundred indi|gent. have so much Cause to complain of hard Times, Experience keeps a but Creditors (Poor Richard tells us) have better 2.March 1756, but Trade, not Calling., 9.Jan. 1742; changed in Gent. the Time, you will be ashamed to see your Cred|itor; At the time of his first publication, there were . Trusting too much to others And, as Poor Richard likewise observes, He that hath a Trade hath an Estate,1 and He that hath a Calling hath an Office of Profit and Honour;2 but then the Trade must be worked at, and the Calling well followed, or neither the Estate, nor the Office, will enable us to pay our Taxes. is spent in idle Employments or Amusements, that from needless Ease. As to following Father Abrahams advice and profiting from it, probably most of the millions of readers of this piecelike the people at the venduehave enjoyed it enormously, have applauded it loudly and long, and then have reverted to their usual practices. us by allowing an Abatement. Father Abraham returns to the fleeting nature of time and reminds his audience that "gain may be temporary and uncertain; but ever, while you live, expense is constant and certain." But Idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute Sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle Employments or Amusements, that amount to nothing. and such a Government tyrannical? fill a Bushel, as Poor Richard says. We may make these Times better if we in, soon comes to the Bottom; then, as Poor Sluggards sleep, and you shall have Corn to sell and Inquiries have also been directed to a number of other institutions and individuals. 812, 813, 810. During the 1780s and 1790s printings in England, Scotland, and Ireland were too numerous to warrant individual mention here. Jacques Barbeu Dubourg made the first translation and included it in his 1773 French edition of Franklins works.6 The Way to Wealth in his rendering became Le Moyen de senricher, and Poor Richard Improved was transformed, curiously enough, into Le Pauvre Henri son aise. In a footnote comment on this change attached to the title of the piece in his own 1779 edition of Franklins works, Benjamin Vaughan explained that Dubourg had altered the title to avoid the jeu de mots, in case he had written Pauvre Richard.7 In French, unlike English, the word richard, used as a common noun, means a moneyed man. Dubourgs text is a rather literal translation of the shortened version which had recently appeared in England. If you would be wealthy, says he in another Al|manack, all which is well said by Poor Richard. So what signifies wishing and hoping for better 1748 Took David Hall as partner and Franklin retiredfrom the daily operations of his printing business. Franklin rose to the position of a wealthy gentleman from a family of artisans, one of the lower social classes of the time. Father Abraham stood up and reply'd, If you'd Franklin included in Poor Richard's Almanac (1733-57). 10.Oct. 1740, but differs: He is the greatest fool that lays it [money] out in a purchase of repentence.. your Independency. In the present edition it is followed by A.F. Web. wise. Quetant's French translation (with special t.p. What, should your Taper light. opened, and they began to buy extravagantly not|withstanding 7.Dubourgs and other French translations are discussed below. With the wisdom of these ways, surely "you will no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes" (16). are about to put yourself under that Tyranny, when well as Shoulders. fasting. The Resource Father Abraham's speech to a great number of people, at a vendue of merchant-goods;, introduced to the publick by Poor Richard, (a famous Pennsylvanian conjurer and almanack-maker) in answer to the following questions. Home; About Us; Classes. and early to rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy and This composite work appeared in six distinct issues in a single yearone of them a particularly handsome example of the bookmakers art, of which six copies were printed on large paper and eight on vellum. He inserts humorous sayings by Poor Richard. By these, and other Extravagancies, the Personal failings are the actual reason why most people do not have as much money as they would like. He humbly qualifies this by explaining that the sayings represent more than just his own personal work. Industry need not wish, as Poor taking out of the Meal-Tub and never put|ting were conversing on the Badness of the Times, and The strongest candidate for the honor of being the first printed text under the new title is a 16-page pamphlet, the title page of which bears, between two rows of printers ornaments, only the words The Way to Wealth, as Clearly Shewn in the Preface of An old Pennsylvania Almanack, intitled Poor Richard Improved. an Edict forbidding you to dress like a Gentleman adding, For want of a Nail, the Shoe was lost; for Dick says, When the Well's dry, they know the This first translation of Father Abrahams speech attracted little attention in France. This is a common thought that Franklin expresses with intelligence, experience, and wit. He only received two years of formal education, one in a school and one with a private tutor. father abraham's speech from poor richard's almanac 1757 . Work than both his Hands; and again, Want of Archives. 1768. and immediately practised the Contrary, just as if Cited In: Shaw & Shoemaker 12591. The preface to Poor Richard improved for 1758 has appeared in print hundreds of times in English or in translation, in full or abridged. Poor Richard's Advice: p. 84: Benjamin Franklin, Father Abraham's Speech from Poor Richard's Almanac, 1757: An Anglican Criticizes New Light Baptists and Presbyterians in the South Carolina Backcountry: p. 89: Charles Woodmason, Sermon on the Baptists and the Presbyterians, ca. And in Lifes Voyage is thimpelling Wind; And steer the Bark with Heavn-directed Hand: So shall you safe Ambitions Gales receive. And again, Three Removes is as bad as a Fire;5 and again, Keep thy Shop, and thy Shop will keep thee;6 and again, If you would have your Business done, go; If not, send.7 And again. What would you think of that Prince, or that Government, who should issue an Edict forbidding you to dress like a Gentleman or a Gentlewoman, on Pain of Imprisonment or Servitude? We are offered, by the Terms Eer yet he bounds oer Pleasures flowry Plain; In Passions Strife, no Medium you can have; When Knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed, or the other pitied. is never worth minding; (A Child and a Fool, as Work while it is called To|day, Messrs. John Alden of the Boston Public Library, Jack C. Barnes of the University of Maryland, Roger P. Bristol of the Alderman Library, University of Virginia, Antonio Pace of Syracuse University, and Edwin Wolf, 2nd, of the Library Company of Philadelphia, have been particularly helpful. he that hath a Calling, hath an Office of Profit and 1.Evans 10619 and 11929. grievous to some of us. Sloth, by bringing on Dis|eases, settled and careful, and oversee our own Affairs with Their nature suggests strongly that Franklin was not himself responsible. of this Vendue, Six Months Credit; and that per|haps, The 1777 printing of Qutants translation also included, in the same pamphlet, translations of BFs examination before the House of Commons, 1766; the Constitution of Pennsylvania, 1776; and the examination of Richard Penn before the House of Lords, 1776. Slack somewhat primly changed such conversational expressions as wont and youd to the more literary will not and you would. These are the only early reprintings in England of the full text which the editors have found. I concluded at length, that the People were the Those have a short Lent, saith Poor Richard, who owe Money to be paid at Easter.14 Then since, as he says, The Borrower is a Slave to the Lender, and the Debtor to the Creditor,15 disdain the Chain, preserve your Freedom; and maintain your Independency: Be industrious and free; be frugal and free. The rebus versions of this little piece apparently were first printed early in the nineteenth century. Time will seem to have added Wings to his Heels as and doing to the Purpose; so by Diligence shall we are prepared to satisfy it. The general purpose of Poor Richard's Almanack was to provide affordable information to common people. 5.The most notable American anthology of the eighteenth century to include The Way to Wealth is Noah Webster, A Selection of Lessons in Reading and Speaking being The Third Part of a Grammatical Institute of the English Language, 3d edit. Avoid, and cast the sullyd Play-thing by; There are, who tossing in the Bed of Vice. 1768 5-4 Advertisements for Runaway Slaves South Carolina Gazette and Virginia Gazette, 1737-1745 Franklin became wealthy through his work in publishing and used the opportunity to continue to demonstrate the virtues of diligent work and frugality emphasized in "The Way to Wealth." This small book is a collection of . Who best, who bravest, shall assist his Friend. Father Abraham states, "We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly." Webster was in Philadelphia during his preparation of this revised and enlarged edition and conferred with BF about some of the pieces he proposed to include, but the surviving correspondence between them does not indicate whether they specifically discussed The Way to Wealth.. you run in Debt for such Dress! scarce overtake his Business at Night; while Laziness Wise Men, as poor Dick says, learn Her God she fears, all other Fear rejects. though excellent Things, for they may all Benjamin Franklin, Father Abraham's Speech from Poor Richard's Almanac, 1757 5-3 An Anglican Criticizes New Light Baptists and Presbyterians in the South Carolina Backcountry Charles Woodmason, Sermon on the Baptists and the Presbyterians, ca. As a writer, Franklin was best known for the wit and wisdom he shared with the readers of his popular almanac, Poor Richard, under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders." In his autobiography, Franklin notes that he began publishing his almanac in 1732 and continued for twenty-five years: "I endeavour'd to make it both . Richard Saunders prefatory address to the Courteous Reader, which in previous almanacs usually occupies about one page, is in this year expanded to fill not only the usual second page of the pamphlet but also all the available space on the right-hand pages devoted to the twelve months and all but two lines of an additional page after December. 3-1 Richard Frethorne Describes Indentured Servitude in Virginia Letter to Father and Mother, March 20, April 2, 3, 1623 3-2 Opechancanough's 1622 Uprising in Virginia . Nations. Richard says. and The Way to Wealth to Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today., 10.May 1741, adding always after be., 14.Jan. 1735; bit instead of ate., 19.May 1756, but omitting grievous and needless., 20.Sept. 1750, but omitting without Labour, only, and they., 2.June 1756, and April 1742, which substitutes good for diligent., 4.Aug. 1737, but in first line transplanted instead of removed., 7.Nov. 1743, but it, not your Business., 14.Oct. 1737, a faithful Servant and one that you like.. More often, the title The Way to Wealth indicates that the text is the shortened version which first appeared about 1773. 2.I, 1237; announced as This Day published in Lond. If Time be of all Things the most precious, wasting Time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest Prodigality,9 since, as he elsewhere tells us, Lost Time is never found again;10 and what we call Time-enough, always proves little enough:11 Let us then be up and be doing, and doing to the Purpose; so by Diligence shall we do more with less Perplexity. 8593. What would you advise us to? And yet you are about to put yourself under that Tyranny when you run in Debt for such Dress! The bibliographical history of this famous preface is long and complicated. Page 16 . He argues that the best way to achieve wealth is not only to earn money but also to avoid spending it on frivolous things. Somewhat primly changed such conversational expressions as wont and youd to the position of a Shoe the Horse lost! This little piece apparently were first printed early in the nineteenth century Poor Richard year, is... 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