In 1732, Benjamin Franklin began publishing “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” which “contained the wisdom of many ages and nations,” such as “it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright.”

Brilliant! Profound! Yeah, I don’t understand it either.

Probably due to the low level of literacy in the colonies, the almanac was a smash hit, selling better than “Twilight.”

Franklin also had a newspaper, and he made good money by including free advice in it, too.

Will the editor of this newspaper include some free advice? I’ll give them an inch of column space to pour out everything in their brain:

I could not have put it better myself.

Franklin refused to publish character assassinations in his newspaper, believing that spreading libel and abuse in the name of liberty of the press was disgraceful to the country.

I lament the loss of this practice. If our writers were polite and pleasant, perhaps there would be peace, and joy, and — no fun at all to read the news.

Over........

© The Saratogian