ANECDOTE OF THE FAMOUS RHODE ISLAND CASE. Mr. Webster had a wonderful ability-an instinctive ability, as it wereto discover the vital point in a case or an argument, and this is well illustrated by an anecdote concerning the trial of the Rhode Island case, which grew out of the troubles of the Dorr Rebellion. Among those who had assisted in the trial of this case in the Lower Court was a young attorney by the name of Bosworth, who was sent to Washington to instruct Mr. Webster in the case being prepared for the Higher Court. When Mr. Bosworth had stated the case Mr. Webster inquired if that was all. Mr. Bosworth replied that he had a view of his own which he had submitted to the senior counsel in the case, and by him it had been rejected. At Mr. Webster's request he stated his view, and when he had concluded the great lawyer jumped up and exclaimed: "Mr. Bosworth, by the blood of all the Bosworths who fell on Bosworth field, that is the point of the case. it be included in the brief by all means." Let In his earlier days as a lawyer Mr. Webster was somewhat rough, unceremonious and overbearing both to the court and his fellow attorneys. TAKEN DOWN BY AN OLD LAWYER. An anecdote which illustrates his lack of consideration for a fellowattorney, and how completely he was taken down in consequence, is told of a case in which he was opposed by the eminent attorney, William Plumer, then Senator and afterward Governor of Massachusetts. In the trial of the case referred to, Mr. Plumer quoted from Peake's "Law of Evidence." Mr. Webster, with fine contempt, denounced the quotation as bad law, called the book a miserable two-penny affair, and, throwing it down, exclaimed: "So much for Mr. Thomas Peake's Compendium of the 'Law of Evidence."" "Such was his manner," writes Henry Cabot Lodge, "that everyone present appeared to think the point settled, and felt rather ashamed of ever having heard of Mr. Peake or his unfortunate book. Thereupon, Mr. Plumer produced a volume of reports, by which it appeared that the despised passage was taken word for word from one of Lord Mansfield's decisions. The wretched Peake's character was rehabilitated and Mr. Webster silenced." The same year that Mr. Webster retired from public life to his summer home at Marshfield, near Plymouth, Mass., he was thrown from his carriage and sustained injuries which resulted in his death some months later. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. CHAPTER XIV. IN THE REVOLUTION-GETS MEN, MONEY AND SHIPS FROM "W AND QUEEN OF FRANCE. E MUST all hang together in this business," said one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, as he was about to affix his signature to that famous document. "Yes," said Benjamin Franklin, "we must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." Franklin's discoveries and inventions in the field of science have been so important, his contributions to literature have been of such a valuable and permanent character that the tendency of historians has been to consider him first as a scientist and philosopher, and second, as a diplomat and statesman; yet the fact remains that no American except Washington rendered as valuable service to his country during the Revolutionary crisis as Benjamin Franklin. It was through his influence that France appropriated twenty million francs and sent sixteen warships and an army of four thousand men to aid the American cause. It was Franklin who sent to his country's aid the young French nobleman, the Marquis de Lafayette-whose soldierly achievements were second only to Washington's-and that stalwart German officer, the Baron von Steuben, who distinguished himself in the American struggle for freedom. The French fleet under De Grasse and the troops under La Fayette made it possible for Washington to compel the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown and gain the final victory for American freedom. Probably no greater tribute has been paid to Benjamin Franklin as a statesman than that contained in the remark of Thomas Jefferson when he was appointed to succeed Franklin at the Court of France: "You have come to replace Dr. Franklin?" inquired the celebrated French Minister, the Count de Vergennes. "I have come to succeed him; no one can replace him," replied Mr. Jefferson. Another glowing tribute to Franklin both as a statesman and a scientist is found in the announcement of his death at the National Assembly by the greatest of French orators, Mirabeau: "Franklin is dead! The genius that freed America and poured a flood of light over Europe has returned to the bosom of Divinity." But the story of Franklin's greatness in the realm of statesmanship cannot be told in a way to be fully appreciated without first telling the story of his early struggles in the field of letters and learning, which developed the philosopher and scientist and made him the best equipped and most available man to serve his country at the Court of Louis XVI. during the American Revolution and to conclude the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain. WORKED IN A SOAP FACTORY. Like most Americans who have won fame and wealth, Benjamin Franklin began life a poor boy with a limited education. He was the fifteenth child in a family of seventeen children. His father, Josiah Franklin, who came to America from Ecton, in Northamptonshire, England, was a soap manufacturer at the time Benjamin was born. When a small boy Benjamin was taken from school and put to work making soap. At the age of twelve he was bound to his brother, James, to learn the printer's trade. James, in 1720 or 1721, began the publication of a newspaper called the New England Courant, his most popular contributor being his brother, Benjamin, who, fearing that James would not approve of his articles, signed them "Silence Dogood" and slipped them under the printing house door at night. When James discovered the identity of his anonymous contributor he grew jealous and treated his brother with great cruelty. This did not last long, for James published an article that displeased the Colonial Assembly, and he was sent to jail, leaving Benjamin as "sole editor and proprietor" of the offending paper. The prosperity of the paper was so great under Benjamin's management that James became envious of his success, and upon the latter's release from prison the brothers quarreled, separated, and Benjamin went to Philadelphia. His available cash upon his arrival consisted of a Dutch dollar and about a shilling in coppers. His wardrobe was mostly upon his back. Besides a shirt and jacket, he wore knee breeches of buckskin, low-cut shoes and woolen stockings. Over this attire was an enormous overcoat with huge pockets, into which Benjamin had crammed his surplus shirts and stockings. HOW HE MET HIS FUTURE WIFE. In this rather comical attire he arrived in Philadelphia on a Sunday morning in October, 1723, and proceeded to purchase a breakfast of threepenny puff rolls. Munching one of the rolls and with the others under either arm he passed a handsome young woman who laughed outright at him. Her name was Deborah Read, and in after years she became Mrs. Benjamin Franklin. The young printer soon found employment in the printing shop of Samuel Keimer. While there he met Sir William Keith, the British Governor, who promised him the public printing if he would engage in business for himself. Franklin went to see his father in Boston to secure his aid in purchasing a printing office, but the father refused to give him any encouragement, saying he was too young for such an important undertaking. Keith, however, promised to assist him in purchasing the necessary material in starting an office of his own, to be purchased in London. Upon his arrival in London Franklin discovered that Sir William was without credit, and he was obliged to find employment in a printing office to earn the expenses of a return voyage. The trip was not without good results, however, for on his way over he found a friend in a Mr. Denham, a Philadelphia stationer, in whose store Franklin went to work on his return. WISE AND WITTY SAYINGS OF "POOR RICHARD." Upon the death of Mr. Denham, Franklin returned to the printing trade with Keimer, and later with Hugh Meredith, whose father established the two boys in business. Franklin's prosperity dated from the year 1732, when he was the owner and publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, having purchased Meredith's interest. In December of this year he began the publication of "Poor Richard's Almanac," which immediately became popular, and had a large sale for a quarter of a century. Its popularity was not confined to this country alone, but it was published in many languages abroad. It was in this publication that Franklin established a reputation for those quaint, wise and witty maxims and sayings, which were characteristics of his writings and conversation in later life. As compiler of this Almanac, Franklin used the name of Richard Saunders. The following extracts from a page of "Poor Richard's Almanac" shows the character of wit and wisdom it contained: "Richard says, 'Tis foolish to lay out Money in a Purchase of Repentance; and yet this folly is practiced every Day at Vendues, for want of minding the Almanack. Wise Men, as Poor Dick says, learn by others' Harms, Fools scarcely by their own; but, Felix quen saciunt aliena Pericula cautum. Many a one for the sake of Finery on the Back, have gone with a hungry Belly, and half starved their families; Silks and Sattins, Scarlet and Velvets, as Poor Richard says, puts out the Kitchen Fire. These are not the Necessaries of Life; they can scarcely be called the Conveniences, and yet only because they look pretty, how many want to have them. The artificial Wants of Mankind thus become more numerous than the natural; and, as poor Dick says, For one poor Person, there are an hundred indigent. By these, and other Extravagancies, the Genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who through Industry and Frugality have maintained their Standing; in which case it appears plainly that a Ploughman on his Legs is higher than a Gentleman on his Knees, as Poor Richard says." FRANKLIN AS A SOLDIER. Spain having been joined by France in the war with England, danger threatened the American Colonies. This was in 1741. Franklin at once saw the helpless condition of Philadelphia against the French and Indian allies, and in a pamphlet urged the people to take some measures for defense. At least 10,000 people responded, eighty companies were organized and Franklin was elected Colonel. In this capacity he refused to serve, but enlisted as a private soldier and took his place in the ranks. The people saw in him a true friend, and his popularity greatly increased. The companies were soon abandoned, however, as the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle put an end to the danger. It was about this time, too, that Franklin became interested in scientific research and experiments. In 1743 he organized the American Philosophical Society, which included among its members Francis Hopkinson, the distinguished statesman and poet; Benjamin West, the celebrated painter; John Bartram, the greatest American botanist, and David Rittenhouse, the |