James Thurber: On Freedom

“A woman [Mrs. Eliza Powel of Philadelphia] asked Dr. Franklin well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy[?]—A republic replied the Doctor if you can keep it.”

James McHenry (1753–1816), Diary September 18, 1787

James Thurber's response to the children of Class 5-1 in Public School 11 in the Bronx is dated May 2, 1960, toward the end of the school year. Thurber starts out stating that he hasn't had time to read all their letters and he notes that he gets "three thousand letters a year now and couldn't get anything else written if I answered them all." His tone is a bit harsh for a message directed at a group of fifth graders all of whom wrote him letters, and particularly so to the girl who wrote and advocated for freedom. His response, written in the years after Joseph McCarthy, seems to be the sort of warning that boys and girls might not yet be ready to appreciate, but that adults from Benjamin Franklin's time to our own would do well to heed.

Still, there's a certain illogic here, a laxness of rigor. Thurber chides the girl who wrote, "Everybody wants to keep hold of freedom," then himself writes, "Too many people leave it [freedom] lying around instead of holding on to it..." So what exactly would he have wanted her to write instead? 

James Thurber
Bonhams New York listing accessed December 1, 2022

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/thurber-james-1894-1961-typed-letter-signed-james-116-c-2374ac8a9d?objectID=175991045&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=446dfacab903806e07dd52a2b4998172

Presale estimate

Despite the continuing relevance of Thurber's warning, the letter went unsold at auction on December 13.

04169

Book Review: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

In addition to his myriad other accomplishments, Benjamin Franklin wrote one of the first great autobiographies. He did not complete it or publish any part of it in his lifetime, and it unfortunately does not include the topic of the American Revolution. The autobiography, which he conceived as a memoir, is initially addressed to his son William, but this pretense later seems forgotten or abandoned. He wrote for posterity, for us, and he always was eager to instruct. For example, he goes into great detail about his personal plan for self-improvement.

Franklin's style is informal, even chatty. He seldom misses an opportunity to tell us his views on thrift and industry. He believed very much that his accomplishments should serve the public good. He points out that he refused to take out a patent on his famous stove.

Franklin had distinguished careers as a printer, author, postmaster, assemblyman, scientist, inventor, and statesman. He was evidently very charming, outgoing, and personable. Even among America's accomplished founding fathers, he was truly exceptional.

0117