JANUARY, 1957
S8HWI
PAGE 5
Story Of Ben Franklin Began 251 Years Ago
As one of the founding fathers of the United
States, he contributed much to his country and to
society throughout the world. A man of firm pur
pose, he was noted for his wisdom, wit, com
mon sense and industry. His tolerance was broad
and he had a tact equaled by few great men in
history.
Of almost unbelievable sweep of interest, Ben
jamin Franklin became:
Printer, newspaperman, publisher, mechanic,
author, athlete, civic leader, business man, scien
tist and inventor, patriot, philosopher and a his
tory-making diplomat. Even these do not com
plete the catalog that belongs to the many-sided
genius whose birth anniversary is observed Jan
uary 17.
Plant Purchasing Agent R. L. Tompkins, who
has long esteemed the greatness of Franklin,
recalls some highlights of the patriot’s biography.
THE BIRTH of Franklin in 1706 was little cause
for jubilation for a family which already had 14
children. But in the spirit of “God helps them
that help themselves” Franklin left an indelible
influence on his own and succeeding generations.
Last year, on the 250th anniversary of his birth,
widespread recognition was given to his memory.
The Post Office Department issued a stamp
commemorating him.
Boston-born, the 15th of 17 children, he pos
sessed an unlimited curiosity for life even at an
early age. Mostly self-educated, he became dedi
cated to all human freedoms, believing that
service to his fellowman was the greatest service
to God. In keeping with this, one of his last
efforts in life was to crusade for abolition of
slavery. He helped write the Declaration of
Independence and the American Constitution.
THE PROVERBS Franklin collected in “Poor
Richard’s Almanack” were adapted to the under
standing of the masses, helping much toward a
tradition of responsibility and enterprise in the
young American nation.
As an apprentice to his brother who was a
printer, Benjamin began contributing pieces to
the “New England Courant.” At 17 he was a run
away in Philadelphia, where he was destined to
influence greatly the history of that city.
At 18 he was a printing craftsman in London.
On his way back to America he worked out a
code of behavior, which included a vow to
frugality, to pay his debts, sincerity, industry,
truthfulness, patience, to speak evil of no man
and “upon proper occasion to speak all the good
I know of everybody.”
OF HIS self-styled course in virtue, Frank
lin was surprised to find himself “so much fuller
of faults” than he had imagined, but persisting
for some years, had the satisfaction of “seeing
most of them diminish.” To take care of those
faults remaining, he once said: “A benevolent
man should allow a few faults in himself, so as
to help his friends keep a good countenance.”
At 26 he was publishing “Poor Richard’s Al
manack” and at 28 owned the “Pennsylvania
Gazette.”
As a scientist, Franklin is perhaps best-known
for his famous experiment with lightning, and
for his invention of the Franklin stove, a portable
fireplace of metal, designed to save fuel and in
crease heating comfort.
Besides the stove and the lightning rod, a few
of his inventions were: A device for removing
objects from high shelves, bifocal spectacles, a
clock with only three major moving parts, an
‘armonica’ which made music from spinning
glasses. For his inventions, he never obtained
patents, nor did he seek financial reward for
them.
His interest in science led to investigations in
heat absorption of colors, acoustics, heat conduc
tivity and insulation of materials. His experi
ments established that colds are spread by con
tagion, plotted the movement of storms, measur
ed the gulf stream, devised a navigation system
to speed ocean crossings, and showed the value
of daylight saving time.
His exchange of seeds, trees and other plants
between Old World countries and America, re
sulted in the introduction here of such vegetables
as kale and kohlrabi, and medicinal herbs.
HONORED in Europe for his scientific achieve
ments, Franklin used his friendship to gain
France’s assistance when the colonies revolted
against the British. He became an ambassador to
France, and at 78, saw his mission accomplished
and independence won for his country.
He was a member of the Continental Congress,
proposed the Articles of Confederation and Union,
and helped draft, and signed the Declaration of
Independence. In his later years he devoted his
life to public service, pioneering in fire preven
tion, insurance, universal education, street pav
ing and cleaning, postal delivery and hospital
planning.
To the end of his life, Franklin continued to
write on science and topics of public interest.
Apart from the profit from his “Almanack”, he
did not receive any pay for his writings.
His life was one of study and singleness of
purpose to promote the welfare of human society.
Good—After Two Centuries
For more than two centuries now, Ben Frank
lin has lived in the hearts of people in almost
every part of the world. For you who treasure his
morsels of wisdom, here are some of his typical
sayings, on the 251st anniversary year of his
birthday:
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys
it.
Many people hurry to catch up, very few
hurry to get ahead.
The biggest room in the world is the room for
improvement.
Money will buy a dog, but it won’t buy the
wag of his tail.
If you want a favour done, ask a busy man to
do it.
The worst wheel of a cart makes the most noise.
A penny saved is a penny got.
The nation that has the schools has the future.
In Your Hands When You Drive...
The following letter was written to the Elmira Advertiser, El
vira, N. Y. Its message is appropriate any time of the year, but
^specially so during the school season.
A few weeks ago, I saw a little girl struck by a car as
she tried to cross the street. I saw a father race toward her
■^nd hold her to him as she struggled in the agony of death.
I saw dashed to pieces all the plans that had been made
for her, and the look of despair over the father’s face. I could
^nly offer a prayer that such a thing might never happen
^gain.
Today, my daughter, who is six years old, started off to
School. “Scoot”, her cocker spaniel, watched her leave and
Shined his belief in the folly of education.
/Tonight we talked about school. She told me about the
§irl who sits in front of her, a girl with yellow curls, and
^hout the boy across the aisle who makes faces; about the
“^acher who has eyes in the back of her head; about the
r^ees in the school yard and the big girl who does not believe
Santa Claus,
We talked about a lot of things—tremendously vital and
^fiimportant things.
. Now, as this is written, she is sound asleep with her doll
her arms.
, When her dolls gets broken or her finger gets cut or her
I^^^d gets bumped, I can fix them. But when she starts across
street—then, Mr. Driver, she is in your hands.
R. L. TOMPKINS, plant purchasing agenl, and a long-time
admirer of the Boston-Born patriot, looks over an old drawing of a
print shop similar to that in which Ben Franklin printed "Poor
Richard's Almanack." On the desk is a copy of a biography tilled,
"Benjamin Franklin, First Civilized American."
Hugh James Is Veteran Announcer
With Company TV-Radio Program
Glenda Veitch
Little Miss Optimist
Glenda Veitch, daughter of
McClure Veitch and Mrs. Veitch,
both of SYC Weaving, is reign
ing as Little Miss Optimist of
Gastonia for the current year.
The 15-year-old Ashley High
For the past 18 years on “The
Voice of Firestone”, radio listen
ers have come to look upon
Hugh James as the voice of “The
Voice.” And for more than 10 of
those years he has also been the
voice for the television audience
of the program.
Hugh, who was 41 years old in
November, aspired to be an an
nouncer back in the days of his
childhood in Westchester
County, N. Y. Following his high
school days, he got a job as a
studio page. Then his hopes were
realized when an executive over
heard him one day on a guided
tour and sent him to a tutor for
instruction in announcing.
HE RECALLS that his climb
up the ladder to announcing
success started much as it does
with other announcing hopefuls
— making station break an
nouncements in the middle of
the night.
Later he conducted a remote
pickup of the Hal Kemp band
from the Hotel Pennsylvania and
then moved on to assignments in
Philadelphia and Washington
stations.
Hugh contracted for his first
commercial radio show—a com
edy series — in 1937, Another
member of the same show—
Eddie Albert—also was destined
to make a name for himself in
the entertainment world.
Before he joined “The Voice
of Firestone” in 1938, listeners
probably knew Hugh best as the
announcer for Lowell Thomas.
It was with the famed news
caster in 1940 that Hugh made
his first appearance on TV, then
a pioneering communications
medium.
ON THE Company program,
Hugh takes special pains to pro
nounce correctly the names of
foreign compositions and com
posers. Complete accuracy, how-
School sophomore was chosen
recently for the title and was
honored during National Opti
mist Week near the end of 1956.
The employees’ daughter will
hold the Little Miss Optimist
title until her successor is chosen
at the end of this year.
She attends Loray Baptist
Church, where she participates
in activities of the Sunday
school.
ever, occasionally is a handicap,
he admits.
“You have to tread the middle
path in announcing foreign
names,” he explains. “If your
pronounciation is too accurate, it
sounds stilted. Quite often an
anglicized version sounds more
appropriate.”
Mr. and Mrs. James live at
Bryn Mawr Knolls in West
chester County, N. Y., with their
two sons, Hugh, Jr., 7; and
Bruce, 4.
The “Voice” announcer is an
amateur movie camerman and
an avid hi-fi devotee, who has
just recently ventured into the
field of stereophonic sound. He
owns some 400 long-playing re
cordings and several tape re
cordings. Besides liking classical
and light classical music, he
enjoys jazz and motion picture
scores.
Social Security
—From Page 1
the 13 quarter period ending
with the quarter of his disable
ment, and 20 quarters of cover
age in the 40-quarter period end
ing with the quarter of his dis
ablement.
Persons who are disabled be
fore they reach age 50 and who
meet all the coverage and eligi
bility requirements, should ap
ply immediately to have their
Social Security earnings record
“frozen'’ to protect their own
and their family’s rights to fu
ture benefit payments.
Workers already disabled
when the new law went into ef
fect also can collect, if they are
50 or older. But their benefits in
some cases may be computed
under a different formula which
may bring somewhat lower pay
ments.
Disabled children of a de
ceased or retired employee also
receive aid under the new law
provided the disability occurred
before the disabled child in
question reached age 18. Besides
this, a widow caring for a dis
abled child will continue to re
ceive payments which ordinar
ily would be stopped after the
child reaches age 18.
Further explanation and addi
tional information may be had
from the local Social Security
office at 212 West Second ave
nue. Telephone UN 5-4611.