Okla-homey
2/7/2007, 07:13 AM
Feb 7,1775 : Benjamin Franklin publishes “An Imaginary Speech”
http://aycu27.webshots.com/image/9786/2003380227565605395_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003380227565605395)
232 years ago in London on this day in 1775, Benjamin Franklin publishes “An Imaginary Speech” in defense of American courage.
http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/10253/2003398324951543205_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003398324951543205)
Franklin's London home from 1757-1775. #36 Craven Street. It's a miracle, of sorts, that the house still stands. It was originally built c. 1730 as a lodging house. Many of the neighboring houses were torn down long ago.
Some were destroyed during the Blitz.During the Victorian era, #36 was remodeled to add more rooms that could be rented to lodgers. That renovation took out support pillars which resulted in bowed walls and a sagging roof. After an 8 year project, which shored up the floors and strengthened the walls, the Benjamin Franklin House opened to the public for the first time in mid-January 2006. Fortunately, many of the original architectural details of the house survived the various renovations.
Franklin’s “speech” was intended to counter an unnamed British officer’s comments to Parliament that the British need not fear the colonial rebels, because “Americans are unequal to the People of this Country [Britain] in Devotion to Women, and in Courage, and…worse than all, they are religious.”
http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/10253/2003386761168333496_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003386761168333496)
Popular contemporary image created by Franklin depicting the need for a united front against Britain.
Franklin responded to the three-pronged critique with his usual wit and acuity. Noting that the colonial population had increased while the British population had declined, Franklin concluded that American men must therefore be more “effectually devoted to the Fair Sex” than their British brethren.
As for American courage, Franklin relayed a history of the Seven Years’ War (Known as the French and Indian War on this side of the Atlantic) in which the colonial militia repeatedly saved blundering British regulars from strategic error and cowardice. With poetic flare, Franklin declared, “Indiscriminate Accusations against the Absent are cowardly Calumnies.”
In truth, the colonial militias were notoriously undisciplined and ineffective at the beginning of the Seven Years’ War. New Englanders, unused to taking orders and unfamiliar with the necessary elements of military life, brought illness upon themselves when they refused to build latrines and were sickened by their own sewage. During the American Revolution, Washington repeated many of the same complaints spoken by British officers when he attempted to organize American farmers into an effective army.
With regard to religion, Franklin overcame his own distaste for the religious zealotry and reminded his readers that it was zealous Puritans that had rid Britain of the despised King Charles I. Franklin surmised that his critic was a Stuart sympathizer, and therefore disliked American Protestants, “who inherit from those Ancestors, not only the same Religion, but the same Love of Liberty and Spirit…”
http://aycu31.webshots.com/image/10390/2003377674741604589_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003377674741604589)
[I]People still love Ben. This statue is in west Philadelphia and depicts Ben reading a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
The following month, in March 1775, Franklin quit London and headed home to Philadelphia where he set about making his fellow Americans understand the British were intent on keeping the colonies a part of the British Empire.
http://aycu06.webshots.com/image/9845/2003954107477614303_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003954107477614303)
Notice published reporting Franklin's return and posing a warning.
As an interesting aside, old Ben was no prude. Check out this letter who wrote to a young man thirty years before the Revolution who asked him for practical advice to help properly channel a young man's "desire" in lieu of taking the marriage plunge. Ben, BTW, was clearly a fan of marriage and of "older women.":D
June 25, 1745
MY DEAR FRIEND:-
I know of no Medicine fit to diminish the violent natural inclination you mention; and if I did, I think I should not communicate it to you. Marriage is the proper Remedy. It is the most natural State of Man, and therefore the State in which you will find solid Happiness. Your Reason against entering into it at present appears to be not well founded. The Circumstantial Advantages you have in View by Postponing it, are not only uncertain, but they are small in comparison with the Thing itself, the being married and settled. It is the Man and Woman united that makes the complete Being. Separate she wants his force of Body and Strength of Reason; he her Softness, Sensibility and acute Discernment. Together they are most likely to succeed in the World. A single Man has not nearly the Value he would have in that State of Union. He is an incomplete Animal. He resembles the odd Half of a Pair of Scissors.
If you get a prudent, healthy wife, your Industry in your Profession, with her good Economy, will be a Fortune sufficient.
But if you will not take this Counsel, and persist in thinking that Commerce with the Sex is inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice that in your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. This you call a Paradox, and demand my reasons. They are these:
1. Because they have more Knowledge of the world, and their Minds are better stored with Observations; their conversation is more improving, and more lastingly agreeable.
2. Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Man, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a thousand Services, small and great, and are the most tender and useful of Friends when you are sick. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an Old Woman who is not a good Woman.
3. Because there is no hazard of children, which irregularly produced may be attended with much inconvenience.
4. Because through more Experience they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your reputation; and regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be inclined to excuse an old Woman, who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his manners by her good Councils, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.
5. Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part. The Face first grows lank and Wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower parts continuing to the last as plump as ever; so that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old one from a young one. And as in the Dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of Corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal and frequently superior; every Knack being by Practice capable by improvement.
6. Because the sin is less. The Debauching of a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her Life unhappy.
7. Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend making an old Woman happy.
8. 8th & lastly. They are so grateful!!!
Thus much for my Paradox. But still I advise you to marry immediately; being sincerely
Your Affectionate Friend,
Benj. Franklin
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/12003/2003343420466176874_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003343420466176874)
http://aycu27.webshots.com/image/9786/2003380227565605395_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003380227565605395)
232 years ago in London on this day in 1775, Benjamin Franklin publishes “An Imaginary Speech” in defense of American courage.
http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/10253/2003398324951543205_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003398324951543205)
Franklin's London home from 1757-1775. #36 Craven Street. It's a miracle, of sorts, that the house still stands. It was originally built c. 1730 as a lodging house. Many of the neighboring houses were torn down long ago.
Some were destroyed during the Blitz.During the Victorian era, #36 was remodeled to add more rooms that could be rented to lodgers. That renovation took out support pillars which resulted in bowed walls and a sagging roof. After an 8 year project, which shored up the floors and strengthened the walls, the Benjamin Franklin House opened to the public for the first time in mid-January 2006. Fortunately, many of the original architectural details of the house survived the various renovations.
Franklin’s “speech” was intended to counter an unnamed British officer’s comments to Parliament that the British need not fear the colonial rebels, because “Americans are unequal to the People of this Country [Britain] in Devotion to Women, and in Courage, and…worse than all, they are religious.”
http://aycu14.webshots.com/image/10253/2003386761168333496_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003386761168333496)
Popular contemporary image created by Franklin depicting the need for a united front against Britain.
Franklin responded to the three-pronged critique with his usual wit and acuity. Noting that the colonial population had increased while the British population had declined, Franklin concluded that American men must therefore be more “effectually devoted to the Fair Sex” than their British brethren.
As for American courage, Franklin relayed a history of the Seven Years’ War (Known as the French and Indian War on this side of the Atlantic) in which the colonial militia repeatedly saved blundering British regulars from strategic error and cowardice. With poetic flare, Franklin declared, “Indiscriminate Accusations against the Absent are cowardly Calumnies.”
In truth, the colonial militias were notoriously undisciplined and ineffective at the beginning of the Seven Years’ War. New Englanders, unused to taking orders and unfamiliar with the necessary elements of military life, brought illness upon themselves when they refused to build latrines and were sickened by their own sewage. During the American Revolution, Washington repeated many of the same complaints spoken by British officers when he attempted to organize American farmers into an effective army.
With regard to religion, Franklin overcame his own distaste for the religious zealotry and reminded his readers that it was zealous Puritans that had rid Britain of the despised King Charles I. Franklin surmised that his critic was a Stuart sympathizer, and therefore disliked American Protestants, “who inherit from those Ancestors, not only the same Religion, but the same Love of Liberty and Spirit…”
http://aycu31.webshots.com/image/10390/2003377674741604589_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003377674741604589)
[I]People still love Ben. This statue is in west Philadelphia and depicts Ben reading a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
The following month, in March 1775, Franklin quit London and headed home to Philadelphia where he set about making his fellow Americans understand the British were intent on keeping the colonies a part of the British Empire.
http://aycu06.webshots.com/image/9845/2003954107477614303_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003954107477614303)
Notice published reporting Franklin's return and posing a warning.
As an interesting aside, old Ben was no prude. Check out this letter who wrote to a young man thirty years before the Revolution who asked him for practical advice to help properly channel a young man's "desire" in lieu of taking the marriage plunge. Ben, BTW, was clearly a fan of marriage and of "older women.":D
June 25, 1745
MY DEAR FRIEND:-
I know of no Medicine fit to diminish the violent natural inclination you mention; and if I did, I think I should not communicate it to you. Marriage is the proper Remedy. It is the most natural State of Man, and therefore the State in which you will find solid Happiness. Your Reason against entering into it at present appears to be not well founded. The Circumstantial Advantages you have in View by Postponing it, are not only uncertain, but they are small in comparison with the Thing itself, the being married and settled. It is the Man and Woman united that makes the complete Being. Separate she wants his force of Body and Strength of Reason; he her Softness, Sensibility and acute Discernment. Together they are most likely to succeed in the World. A single Man has not nearly the Value he would have in that State of Union. He is an incomplete Animal. He resembles the odd Half of a Pair of Scissors.
If you get a prudent, healthy wife, your Industry in your Profession, with her good Economy, will be a Fortune sufficient.
But if you will not take this Counsel, and persist in thinking that Commerce with the Sex is inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice that in your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. This you call a Paradox, and demand my reasons. They are these:
1. Because they have more Knowledge of the world, and their Minds are better stored with Observations; their conversation is more improving, and more lastingly agreeable.
2. Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Man, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a thousand Services, small and great, and are the most tender and useful of Friends when you are sick. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an Old Woman who is not a good Woman.
3. Because there is no hazard of children, which irregularly produced may be attended with much inconvenience.
4. Because through more Experience they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your reputation; and regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be inclined to excuse an old Woman, who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his manners by her good Councils, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.
5. Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part. The Face first grows lank and Wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower parts continuing to the last as plump as ever; so that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old one from a young one. And as in the Dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of Corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal and frequently superior; every Knack being by Practice capable by improvement.
6. Because the sin is less. The Debauching of a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her Life unhappy.
7. Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend making an old Woman happy.
8. 8th & lastly. They are so grateful!!!
Thus much for my Paradox. But still I advise you to marry immediately; being sincerely
Your Affectionate Friend,
Benj. Franklin
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/12003/2003343420466176874_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003343420466176874)