For years I have presented classes, speeches, and presentations about the Founding Fathers of our United States of America. I love to do it. I suppose during one of my speeches, I had become a little too enthusiastic and bombastic. One attendee came up to me afterwards to tell me as much!
I was a little like Dr. Seuss described:
“You did it! Hooray!
You ought to be proud!
You ought to get boisterous,
Noisterous, and loud!”
(Yes, he made up the word “noisterous.” But it sounds good in context!
“Music is a part of our history. It is an expression of who we are and the times we’ve known, our highs, our lows, and so much that we love. Take away American music from the American story and you take away a good part of the soul of the story.
Benjamin Franklin wrote the book “The Art of Virtue” to help others understand that being true to oneself is being virtuous. Of course he also wrote this Autobiography, “Poor Richard’s Almanac”, and his book about Electricity. Several times he describes his “project for moral perfection, which he worked on all his life to improve his own character.
Besides being a successful printer, Benjamin Franklin was an inventor. He would often ask himself questions, such as how can I read my work and stay busy with other things. He needed to see things up close and at a distance.
In 1863 there lived a young, penniless widow in New Hampshire named Sarah Hale. She established a popular magazine called “Godey’s Lady Book.” In her “book” she wrote some columns, some articles, some editorials, and even some recipes. (Reminds you a little of Benjamin Franklin and his “Poor Richard’s Almanac” doesn’t it?)