December 28
ALMANACK DAY
The Pennsylvania Gazette, owned by Benjamin Franklin, ran an ad for the first issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack on this day in 1732. The ad promised “...Many pleasant and witty verses, jests and sayings ... new fashions, games for kisses ... men and melons ... breakfast in bed, &c.”
Poor Richard’s Almanack was published from 1733 to 1757 by Richard Saunders, who was really Ben Franklin. An almanac is a calendar, but Franklin found room on his calendars to include short, witty sayings about daily situations. This unique idea was a popular success and Franklin became very rich.
Here are some of the epigrams Ben served up in Poor Richard’s Almanack:
*Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
*Let thy maidservant be faithful, strong, and homely.
*God heals, and the doctor takes the fees.Not all of the maxims were as pointed or cynical. Writing in 1754, he advised:
*Think of three things: whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.
Franklin earned so much money with his almanack that, for the first time in his life, he could enjoy the luxury of leisure time. He began to fly kites (experimenting with electricity) and you know the rest of that story...
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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