What would Ben Franklin say?
First, the current news:The Associated Press WASHINGTON: The FBI is warning police officials across the United States to be alert for people carrying almanacs, cautioning that the popular reference books covering everything from abbreviations to weather trends could be used for terrorist planning. In a bulletin sent Christmas Eve to about 18,000 police organizations, the FBI said terrorists might use almanacs ‘‘to assist with target selection and pre-operational planning.’’ It urged officers to watch during searches, traffic stops and other investigations for anyone carrying almanacs, especially if the books are annotated in suspicious ways. ‘‘The practice of researching potential targets is consistent with known methods of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations that seek to maximize the likelihood of operational success through careful planning,’’ the FBI wrote. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the bulletin this week and verified its authenticity.
So, in addition to our almost high alert status, we should be wary of those scurrilous folks who read almanacs Which brings to mind the most famous almanac, sorry, almanack writer, Richard Saunders. Or, as you are probably more familiar with him, Benjamin Franklin, author of the original Poor Richard's Almanack. Here, let me quote from the 1733 edition about why Poor Richard was writing his almanack:Courteous Reader,
I might in this place attempt to gain thy Favor, by declaring that I write Almanacks with no other View than that of the public Good; but in this I should not be sincere; and Men are now a-days too wise to be deceived by Pretenses how specious so ever. The plain Truth of the Matter is, I am excessive poor, and my Wife, good Woman, is, I tell her, excessive proud; she cannot bear, she says, to sit spinning in her Shift of Tow, while I do nothing but gaze at the Stars; and has threatened more than once to burn all my Books and Rattling-Traps (as she calls my Instruments) if I do not make some profitable Use of them for the good of my Family. The Printer has offered me some considerable share of the Profits, and I have thus begun to comply with my Dame's desire.
Indeed this Motive would have had Force enough to have made me publish an Almanack many Years since, had it not been overpowered by my Regard for my good Friend and Fellow-Student, Mr. Titan Leeds, whose Interest I was extremely unwilling to hurt: But this Obstacle (I am far from speaking it with Pleasure) is soon to be removed, since inexorable Death, who was never known to respect Merit, has already prepared the mortal Dart, the fatal Sister has already extended her destroying Shears, and that ingenious Man must soon be taken from us.
He dies, by my Calculation made at his Request, on Oct. 17, 1733, 3:29 P.M., at the very instant of the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury: By his own Calculation he will survive till the 26th of the same Month. This small difference between us we have disputed whenever we have met these 9 Years past; but at length he is inclinable to agree with my Judgment; Which of us is most exact, a little Time will now determine.
As therefore these Provinces may not longer expect to see any of his Performances after this Year, I think my self free to take up the Task, and request a share of the public Encouragement; which I am the more apt to hope for on this Account, that the Buyer of my Almanack may consider himself, not only as purchasing an useful Utensil, but as performing an Act of Charity, to his poor
Friend and Servant
R. SAUNDERS.
Sure, Mr. Saunders was a tongue-in-cheek hoax by Franklin but people only partially buy almanacs for the information they contain. Sometimes it may turn out to be incorrect:On his way to a distant town one day, John Partridge, a charlatan famed for his immensely popular almanacs, stopped to rest at a local inn. Some time later, as he prepared to set off on his horse again, the innkeeper stopped him. "You should stay," the man advised, "because if you go on you will certainly be overtaken by heavy rain." "Nonsense!" Partridge cried, riding off.
Sure enough, Partridge was soon overtaken by heavy rain. Intrigued by the innkeeper's predictive powers, he returned to the inn and offered the man a sizable sum for his 'secret'.
Pocketing his payment, the innkeeper explained: "You see, we have an almanac in the house called Partridge's Almanac, and the fellow is such a notorious liar that whenever he promises fine weather we can be sure it will rain. Now today he had put down 'settled weather, fine; no rain,' so when I looked that up before I saddled your horse I was able to put you on your guard."
And farmers, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, used weather information for planning, though they knew enough to look out the window the night before to help them figure out what was really going to happen. But many people read Poor Richard's for the homespun wisdom they found. Gems like:
Oh, and what about poor Mr. Leeds? You know, the fellow R. Saunders had predicted would die "at the very instant of the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury:" The following year's almanac had Mr. Leed's response.Kind Reader,
Perhaps it may be expected that I should say something concerning an Almanack printed for the Year 1733. Said to be writ by Poor Richard or Richard Saunders, who for want of other matter was pleased to tell his Readers, that he had calculated my Nativity, and from thence predicts my Death to be the 17th of October, 1733. At 22 min. past 3 o'clock in the Afternoon, and that these Provinces may not expect to see any more of his (Titan Leeds) Performances, and this precise Predicter, who predicts to a Minute, proposes to succeed me in Writing of Almanacks; but notwithstanding his false Prediction, I have by the Mercy of God lived to write a Diary for the Year 1734, and to publish the Folly and Ignorance of this presumptuous Author. Nay, he adds another gross Falsehood in his said Almanack, viz That by my own Calculation, I shall survive until the 26th of the said Month, (October) which is as untrue as the former, for I do not pretend to that knowledge, although he has usurpt the knowledge of the Almighty herein and manifested himself a Fool and a Lyar. And by the Mercy of God I have lived to survive this conceited Scriblers Day and Minute whereon he has predicted my Death; and as I have supplied my Country with Almanacks for three seven Years by past, to general Satisfaction, so perhaps I live to write when his Performances are Dead. Thus much from your annual Friend, Titan Leeds. October 18. 1733. 3 ho. 33 min. P.M.
And if you want more of the same, click here.
Peace, gentle readers... My reflection on the year that was will be out later today.
So, in addition to our almost high alert status, we should be wary of those scurrilous folks who read almanacs Which brings to mind the most famous almanac, sorry, almanack writer, Richard Saunders. Or, as you are probably more familiar with him, Benjamin Franklin, author of the original Poor Richard's Almanack. Here, let me quote from the 1733 edition about why Poor Richard was writing his almanack:Courteous Reader,
I might in this place attempt to gain thy Favor, by declaring that I write Almanacks with no other View than that of the public Good; but in this I should not be sincere; and Men are now a-days too wise to be deceived by Pretenses how specious so ever. The plain Truth of the Matter is, I am excessive poor, and my Wife, good Woman, is, I tell her, excessive proud; she cannot bear, she says, to sit spinning in her Shift of Tow, while I do nothing but gaze at the Stars; and has threatened more than once to burn all my Books and Rattling-Traps (as she calls my Instruments) if I do not make some profitable Use of them for the good of my Family. The Printer has offered me some considerable share of the Profits, and I have thus begun to comply with my Dame's desire.
Indeed this Motive would have had Force enough to have made me publish an Almanack many Years since, had it not been overpowered by my Regard for my good Friend and Fellow-Student, Mr. Titan Leeds, whose Interest I was extremely unwilling to hurt: But this Obstacle (I am far from speaking it with Pleasure) is soon to be removed, since inexorable Death, who was never known to respect Merit, has already prepared the mortal Dart, the fatal Sister has already extended her destroying Shears, and that ingenious Man must soon be taken from us.
He dies, by my Calculation made at his Request, on Oct. 17, 1733, 3:29 P.M., at the very instant of the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury: By his own Calculation he will survive till the 26th of the same Month. This small difference between us we have disputed whenever we have met these 9 Years past; but at length he is inclinable to agree with my Judgment; Which of us is most exact, a little Time will now determine.
As therefore these Provinces may not longer expect to see any of his Performances after this Year, I think my self free to take up the Task, and request a share of the public Encouragement; which I am the more apt to hope for on this Account, that the Buyer of my Almanack may consider himself, not only as purchasing an useful Utensil, but as performing an Act of Charity, to his poor
Friend and Servant
R. SAUNDERS.
Sure, Mr. Saunders was a tongue-in-cheek hoax by Franklin but people only partially buy almanacs for the information they contain. Sometimes it may turn out to be incorrect:On his way to a distant town one day, John Partridge, a charlatan famed for his immensely popular almanacs, stopped to rest at a local inn. Some time later, as he prepared to set off on his horse again, the innkeeper stopped him. "You should stay," the man advised, "because if you go on you will certainly be overtaken by heavy rain." "Nonsense!" Partridge cried, riding off.
Sure enough, Partridge was soon overtaken by heavy rain. Intrigued by the innkeeper's predictive powers, he returned to the inn and offered the man a sizable sum for his 'secret'.
Pocketing his payment, the innkeeper explained: "You see, we have an almanac in the house called Partridge's Almanac, and the fellow is such a notorious liar that whenever he promises fine weather we can be sure it will rain. Now today he had put down 'settled weather, fine; no rain,' so when I looked that up before I saddled your horse I was able to put you on your guard."
And farmers, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, used weather information for planning, though they knew enough to look out the window the night before to help them figure out what was really going to happen. But many people read Poor Richard's for the homespun wisdom they found. Gems like:
- He's a Fool that makes his Doctor his Heir.
- Beware of meat twice boiled, and an old foe reconciled.
- The favor of the Great is no inheritance.
- Beware of the young Doctor and the old Barber.
- The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, enough not one.
- Eat to live, and not live to eat.
- To lengthen thy Life, lessen thy Meals.
- The proof of gold is fire, the proof of woman, gold; the proof of man, a woman.
- Neither Shame nor Grace yet Bob.
- He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas.
- Distrust and caution are the parents of security.
- Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.
- Men and Melons are hard to know.
- He's the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines.
- A fine genius in his own country, is like a gold in the mine.
- The heart of a fool in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.
- Innocence is its own Defense.
Oh, and what about poor Mr. Leeds? You know, the fellow R. Saunders had predicted would die "at the very instant of the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury:" The following year's almanac had Mr. Leed's response.Kind Reader,
Perhaps it may be expected that I should say something concerning an Almanack printed for the Year 1733. Said to be writ by Poor Richard or Richard Saunders, who for want of other matter was pleased to tell his Readers, that he had calculated my Nativity, and from thence predicts my Death to be the 17th of October, 1733. At 22 min. past 3 o'clock in the Afternoon, and that these Provinces may not expect to see any more of his (Titan Leeds) Performances, and this precise Predicter, who predicts to a Minute, proposes to succeed me in Writing of Almanacks; but notwithstanding his false Prediction, I have by the Mercy of God lived to write a Diary for the Year 1734, and to publish the Folly and Ignorance of this presumptuous Author. Nay, he adds another gross Falsehood in his said Almanack, viz That by my own Calculation, I shall survive until the 26th of the said Month, (October) which is as untrue as the former, for I do not pretend to that knowledge, although he has usurpt the knowledge of the Almighty herein and manifested himself a Fool and a Lyar. And by the Mercy of God I have lived to survive this conceited Scriblers Day and Minute whereon he has predicted my Death; and as I have supplied my Country with Almanacks for three seven Years by past, to general Satisfaction, so perhaps I live to write when his Performances are Dead. Thus much from your annual Friend, Titan Leeds. October 18. 1733. 3 ho. 33 min. P.M.
And if you want more of the same, click here.
Peace, gentle readers... My reflection on the year that was will be out later today.