As you know, Benjamin Franklin was a printer since his early days when he was apprenticed to his brother, James. He eventually moved on from Boston to Philadelphia, where he became a very successful printer with his own company.

Because he was a printer, he was also an avid reader, even though he had a rudimentary education. His access to books helped him become a leader in the City, then the State, then throughout the Colonies, then in England and France, and finally at the Constitutional Convention.

His love of words helped to make his an exceptional diplomat and Founding Father. He was also extremely witty and even humorous. Someone who can be compared just a little bit with Franklin would be Samuel Clemons, or Mark Twain. He was also humorous, and witty. And sometimes even a little bit droll.

One Sabbath day, Mark went to an awfully dramatic Church service. The parson was overly flamboyant, much to Twain’s distaste. After the meeting, Mark stayed long enough to talk to the parson. Twain reported that the sermon was just too much. “Well, yes, it was a ripsnorter all right, Reverend Carter, but you know I have a book at home that has every word in it.”

The preacher was quite taken aback and replied: “Quite impossible. I would certainly like to see that book, if it exists.”

“So you shall,” replied Twain. “I will mail it to you first thing in the morning.”

Sometime later a bulking container arrived from Mark Twain with an prodigious ‘postage due’ statement attached. The parson paid the amount due and ripped open the package.

Inside was an unabridged dictionary!