the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第24章
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period； that the first and latter part may be put together； and if it is not yet
continued； I hope thee will not delay it。 Life is uncertain； as the preacher
tells us； and what will the world say if kind； humane； and benevolent Ben。
Franklin should leave his friends and the world deprived of so pleasing
and profitable a work； a work which would be useful and entertaining not
only to a few； but to millions？ The influence writings under that class have
on the minds of youth is very great； and has nowhere appeared to me so
plain； as in our public friend's journals。 It almost insensibly leads the
youth into the resolution of endeavoring to become as good and eminent
as the journalist。 Should thine； for instance； when published （and I think it
could not fail of it）； lead the youth to equal the industry and temperance of
thy early youth； what a blessing with that class would such a work be！ I
know of no character living； nor many of them put together； who has so
much in his power as thyself to promote a greater spirit of industry and
early attention to business； frugality； and temperance with the American
youth。 Not that I think the work would have no other merit and use in the
world； far from it； but the first is of such vast importance that I know
nothing that can equal it。〃
The foregoing letter and the minutes accompanying it being shown to
a friend； I received from him the following：
Letter from Mr。 Benjamin Vaughan。 〃PARIS； January 31； 1783。
〃My DEAREST SIR： When I had read over your sheets of minutes of
the principal incidents of your life； recovered for you by your Quaker
acquaintance； I told you I would send you a letter expressing my reasons
why I thought it would be useful to complete and publish it as he desired。
Various concerns have for some time past prevented this letter being
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written； and I do not know whether it was worth any expectation；
happening to be at leisure； however； at present； I shall by writing； at least
interest and instruct myself； but as the terms I am inclined to use may tend
to offend a person of your manners； I shall only tell you how I would
address any other person； who was as good and as great as yourself； but
less diffident。 I would say to him； Sir； I solicit the history of your life from
the following motives： Your history is so remarkable； that if you do not
give it； somebody else will certainly give it； and perhaps so as nearly to do
as much harm； as your own management of the thing might do good。 It
will moreover present a table of the internal circumstances of your country；
which will very much tend to invite to it settlers of virtuous and manly
minds。 And considering the eagerness with which such information is
sought by them； and the extent of your reputation； I do not know of a more
efficacious advertisement than your biography would give。 All that has
happened to you is also connected with the detail of the manners and
situation of a rising people； and in this respect I do not think that the
writings of Caesar and Tacitus can be more interesting to a true judge of
human nature and society。 But these； sir； are small reasons； in my opinion；
compared with the chance which your life will give for the forming of
future great men； and in conjunction with your Art of Virtue （which you
design to publish） of improving the features of private character； and
consequently of aiding all happiness； both public and domestic。 The two
works I allude to； sir； will in particular give a noble rule and example of
self…education。 School and other education constantly proceed upon false
principles； and show a clumsy apparatus pointed at a false mark； but your
apparatus is simple； and the mark a true one； and while parents and young
persons are left destitute of other just means of estimating and becoming
prepared for a reasonable course in life； your discovery that the thing is in
many a man's private power； will be invaluable！ Influence upon the private
character； late in life； is not only an influence late in life； but a weak
influence。 It is in youth that we plant our chief habits and prejudices； it is
in youth that we take our party as to profession； pursuits and matrimony。
In youth； therefore； the turn is given； in youth the education even of the
next generation is given； in youth the private and public character is
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determined； and the term of life extending but from youth to age； life
ought to begin well from youth； and more especially before we take our
party as to our principal objects。 But your biography will not merely teach
self…education； but the education of a wise man； and the wisest man will
receive lights and improve his progress； by seeing detailed the conduct of
another wise man。 And why are weaker men to be deprived of such helps；
when we see our race has been blundering on in the dark； almost without a
guide in this particular； from the farthest trace of time？ Show then； sir；
how much is to be done； both to sons and fathers； and invite all wise men
to become like yourself； and other men to become wise。 When we see how
cruel statesmen and warriors can be to the human race； and how absurd
distinguished men can be to their acquaintance； it will be instructive to
observe the instances multiply of pacific； acquiescing manners； and to find
how compatible it is to be great and domestic； enviable and yet good…
humored。
〃The little private incidents which you will also have to relate； will
have considerable use； as we want； above all things； rules of prudence in
ordinary affairs； and it will be curious to see how you have acted in these。
It will be so far a sort of key to life； and explain many things that all men
ought to have once explained to them； to give； them a chance of becoming
wise by foresight。 The nearest thing to having experience of one's own； is
to have other people's affairs brought before us in a shape that is
interesting； this is sure to happen from your pen； our affairs and
management will have an air of simplicity or importance that will not fail
to strike； and I am convinced you have conducted them with as much
originality as if you had been conducting discussions in politics or
philosophy； and what more worthy of experiments and system （its
importance and its errors considered） than human life？
〃Some men have been virtuous blindly； others have speculated
fantastically； and others have been shrewd to bad purposes； but you； sir； I
am sure； will give under your hand； nothing but what is at the same
moment； wise； practical and good； your account of yourself （for I suppose
the parallel I am drawing for Dr。 Franklin； will hold not only in point of
character； but of private history） will show that you are ashamed of no
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