TRAVELS IN PHILADELPHIA
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Jan. 17, 1919
Benjamin Franklin, sagacious and witty,
The greatest of all who have lived in this city,
Earnest and frugal and very discerning,
Always industrious, bent upon learning,
Athlete, ambassador, editor, printer,
Merchant and scientist, writer, inventor,
None was more canny or shrewder of brain,
None was more practical or more humane,
None was e'er wiser
With common sense ripe,
Great advertiser
And founder of type.
Troubles he suffered, but he didn't dodge any:
Born the fifteenth of a numerous progeny
(Seventeen children Josiah had sired,
A whole little font of good lower-case types;
A fact that the census man must have admired—
I think old Josiah might well have worn stripes,
But that was in Boston where folks are prolific)
He passed through a boyhood by no means pacific.
Through most of his teens, young Benjamin lent his
Best efforts to being his brother's apprentice,
But Jimmy was crusty—they didn't get on,
And one autumn morning young Benny was gone.
He vowed he would make his sour kinsman look silly,
And so he took ship and descended on Philly.
7
