In high school one of the books that was required reading was Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography. I don’t know if it still is. But I do know it had an effect on me, not a major one at the time, but still an effect. Which is saying something for a high schooler.
I’ve read it several times since. It is an amazing book. Did you know that even though Franklin was not the first to write an autobiography, he was the first to have one become what we would now call a Bestseller? It was highly successful commercially. In his day it was even translated into French, Spanish, German and English (that is there was a British equivalent).
Betsy Ross was a recent widow, and she was a poor, struggling seamstress when the story goes, she was approach by a team, including General George Washington to create a new flag for the hope of a new nation. It was apparently a secret meeting. General Washington asked her for help in the preparation of a brand new flag, and a new concept for a struggling nation.
When George Washington left office after serving two terms as President of the United States, he gave a Farewell Address. History says he didn’t actually deliver the speech, but had it printed and disseminated to Congress.
As I told you yesterday, I have learned some interesting facts from reading a fiction Bestseller. But I didn’t mention the name of the book or the author. So if you are interested, the name of the book is “the Fifth Assassin” by Brad Meltzer. The main character is Beecher White who is an archivists and the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Alexander Hamilton said it this way: “The law . . . dictated by God Himself is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this.”
“I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.” –Martha Washington, First American First Lady, 1732-1802.
Several years ago while I was a successful practicing attorney, I was looking through the morning newspaper. Yes, we still had one on home delivery in those days.
Washington was well known for sticking to a task that he had undertaken. He couldn’t be shaken from doing his duty, or fulfilling his promise.