January 17.
Today is Benjamin Franklin Day.
Ben Franklin was an author, scientist, politician, inventor (did you
know he invented the rocking chair?!), diplomat and one of the Founding Fathers
of the United States. This guy’s
biography reads like a compilation of the lives of 42 people – he did SO many
things. He is credited with the concept
of “Pay it Forward” – a wonderful act that involves being kind to others. He was a printer and a publisher and a
postmaster – responsible for opening Canada’s first official post office – here
in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He reportedly even owned 200 acres of land here! Who knew!
Besides standing in the rain with a kite,
waiting to be struck by lightning, in his work with electricity ( which MAY not
have happened EXACTLY as that – as it would have been TOO dangerous), Ben was
also known for his written works – including Poor Richard’s Almanack. A bunch
of his quotes (some of which have been modified) are commonly used today – like
“A penny saved is a penny earned,” and
“Fish and visitors stink in three days.”
Ben’s image appears on the US $100 dollar bill and has appeared on postage
stamps as well.
The Papers
of Ben Franklin include VOLUMES of letters, correspondence and personal
writings. And apparently in those
papers, there are some references to Franklin owning a Newfoundland dog. Apparently one reference is someone
commenting on the fact that he could never forget Franklin’s dog – which leads
me to believe it may NOT have been because the dog was WELL-BEHAVED. And the other reference actually seems to
confirm that notion– it was a reference to someone “returning” the dog –
because it sounds like the dog had been on the lam. I kind of envision a large, lumbering,
drooling Newfoundland dog roaming the neighborhood, while Franklin was busy
inventing and writing. I think it’s
surprising that in all his writings, he didn’t write stories about his
dog.
He was the author of couple of dog quotes :
·
He that lieth down with Dogs, shall rise up with Fleas. – which basically means if you hang out with bad people –
or in our case, bad dogs – you will become one.
No WONDER Frodo and Paxton stay away from me at times….
·
There are three faithful friends -- an old wife, an old dog,
and ready money. Now that one I like…
So go out today and celebrate the life
of a man who KNEW how to live! I wonder
what he would have thought about the internet…Something tells me, he DEFINITELY
would have had a blog!
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