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The Collected Works of Silence Dogood
• This e-book publication is a publisher’s own compilation of essays by Benjamin Franklin published under false persona name of Silence Dogood..
• A new table of contents with working links has been included by a publisher.
• This edition has been proof-read and corrected for spelling and grammatical errors.
From review published in 1900.:
"THE DOGOOD PAPERS"
Franklin has told in his Autobiography how he wrote an anonymous paper when he was but sixteen years of age and put it in at night under the door of his brother's printing house. The following morning it was commented on in his hearing, and he had "the exquisite pleasure" of finding that it met with the approbation of the contributors to Couranto, as the New England Courant was then called. In all probability this article was the first of the "Dogood Papers," and March, 1722 is therefore the time of Franklin's first adventure in literature. Editorial encouragement was promptly given to the unknown author. In the same issue of the newspaper that contained his communication appeared the notice, "As the Favour of Mrs. Dogood's Correspondence is acknowledged by the Publisher of this Paper, lest any of her Letters should miscarry, he desires they may be deliver'd at his Printing-House, or at the Blue Ball in Union street, and no questions shall be ask'd of the Bearer." Thus encouraged Franklin continued to write the letters of Mrs. Silence Dogood, at fortnightly intervals, until the series ended with the fourteenth paper, published October 8, 1722.
They were first accredited to Franklin by J. T. Buckingham in 1850 ("Specimens of Newspaper Literature," I, 62), and further ascribed to him by James Parton in his "Life and Times of Franklin" (1864, Vol. I, p. 84). In the first sketch, or draft scheme, of his Autobiography Franklin claims "Mrs. Dogood's letters" as his own. They have never appeared in any collection of his writings. They are now reprinted from the file of the New England Courant in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
The character of the young Franklin is interestingly revealed in these papers; and it will be seen that his sedulous attention to the language of the Spectator had already formed his literary style, and stamped it with those qualities that have given him a high and enduring place among American writers.
• A new table of contents with working links has been included by a publisher.
• This edition has been proof-read and corrected for spelling and grammatical errors.
From review published in 1900.:
"THE DOGOOD PAPERS"
Franklin has told in his Autobiography how he wrote an anonymous paper when he was but sixteen years of age and put it in at night under the door of his brother's printing house. The following morning it was commented on in his hearing, and he had "the exquisite pleasure" of finding that it met with the approbation of the contributors to Couranto, as the New England Courant was then called. In all probability this article was the first of the "Dogood Papers," and March, 1722 is therefore the time of Franklin's first adventure in literature. Editorial encouragement was promptly given to the unknown author. In the same issue of the newspaper that contained his communication appeared the notice, "As the Favour of Mrs. Dogood's Correspondence is acknowledged by the Publisher of this Paper, lest any of her Letters should miscarry, he desires they may be deliver'd at his Printing-House, or at the Blue Ball in Union street, and no questions shall be ask'd of the Bearer." Thus encouraged Franklin continued to write the letters of Mrs. Silence Dogood, at fortnightly intervals, until the series ended with the fourteenth paper, published October 8, 1722.
They were first accredited to Franklin by J. T. Buckingham in 1850 ("Specimens of Newspaper Literature," I, 62), and further ascribed to him by James Parton in his "Life and Times of Franklin" (1864, Vol. I, p. 84). In the first sketch, or draft scheme, of his Autobiography Franklin claims "Mrs. Dogood's letters" as his own. They have never appeared in any collection of his writings. They are now reprinted from the file of the New England Courant in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
The character of the young Franklin is interestingly revealed in these papers; and it will be seen that his sedulous attention to the language of the Spectator had already formed his literary style, and stamped it with those qualities that have given him a high and enduring place among American writers.
45 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2011
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About the author
Benjamin Franklin
2,531 books1,904 followersBenjamin Franklin was a writer, a philosopher, a scientist, a politician, a patriot, a Founding Father, an inventor, and publisher. He helped with the founding of the United States of America and changed the world with his discoveries about electricity. His writings such as Poor Richards' Almanac have provided wisdom for 17 years to the colonies.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 1, 2018
The early newspapers must have been desperate for interesting material.
There is some genuinely witty stuff in here, and I find the concept of a 16-year old boy writing as a middle-aged widow to be amusing, and there are a few good observations of human nature with good suggestions for remedying societal ills, but for the most part it actually does feel like a 16-year old boy, who imagines himself to be sage and giving brilliant observations, but which mostly lack the experience of years to really make them worthwhile.
Think I'm being too critical? Ask yourself whether they would be worthy of reading if Franklin hadn't written them.
There is some genuinely witty stuff in here, and I find the concept of a 16-year old boy writing as a middle-aged widow to be amusing, and there are a few good observations of human nature with good suggestions for remedying societal ills, but for the most part it actually does feel like a 16-year old boy, who imagines himself to be sage and giving brilliant observations, but which mostly lack the experience of years to really make them worthwhile.
Think I'm being too critical? Ask yourself whether they would be worthy of reading if Franklin hadn't written them.
Displaying 1 of 1 review