Judi Lutz Woods

Fourteen members attended the 12th virtual meeting of the Club’s 2020-21 year. President Mary Croxton introduced Judi Lutz Woods, presenting her paper on Benjamin Franklin:

Although most of us are fairly well acquainted with Benjamin Franklin’s many contributions as a scientist, inventor, politician, statesman, ambassador, philanthropist, and businessman, few of us are aware he wrote some of the most memorable, hilarious, satire of the 18th century. He loved to “skewer the comfortable by making sport of their foibles.” He took satire and put a uniquely American twist on it, inspiring future American humorists, such as Garrison Keller and Mark Twain. Franklin’s form of humor was witty, folksy wisdom that included a generous portion of irreverence. Ben valued humor not as an end in itself, but as a means to gain a competitive edge, disseminate information, or promote a program. He made them laugh … but also made them think.

Developing his first pseudonym, Silence Dogood, while just an apprentice at his brother’s printing shop, Franklin would go on to use more than a hundred pseudonyms in his literary life.

Franklin developed a satirical style of writing that examined the political, personal, and social issues of the time. Whether he was poking fun at conservative Bostonians or laughing at the battle of the sexes, Franklin’s style was entertaining, but carried a message. His satirical pieces “made ’em laugh” but also “made ’em think.”

He used the name Richard Saunders in Poor Richard’s Almanac; Busy Body, Anthony Afterwit, Alice Addertonuge, and Benevolus are some of the various names he wrote under. On his use of pseudonyms, Franklin said: “When the writer conceals himself, he has the advantage of hearing the censure both of friends and enemies, express’d with more impartiality.” He also just had more fun writing under silly names.

Ben bought a struggling newspaper and turned it into one of the most popular in Philadelphia. He published Poor Richard which included many of the “wise” sayings we still use today, such as: “He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas”; “Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead”; “Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices” and “Visitors and fish stink after 3 days”.

He was able to sell both of these publications when he was only 42, making a hefty profit and making himself independently wealthy. In retirement he put much of his work into science, civic matters and forming the new Republic. He also continued to write satirical articles and essays that would be published in other magazines or shared with his friends. Many of these essays are available online at franklinpapers.org. Franklin’s upward movement from working class to one of the most influential, wealthy men in the colonies is reflective of The American Dream played out in reality.

“His (Franklin’s) whole life has been one continued insult to good manners and to decency,” claimed John Adams. Yet he was the only person to have signed all four of the key documents forming our Republic (Declaration of Independence; Treaty of Alliance with France; Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain; and the United States Constitution). Franklin also introduced the first petition to the First Congress to end slavery (we can see how it failed).

His vision for a new world where all were free is what he seemed to work towards his entire life, whether in formal duties, like ambassador, or informally, with essays and satirical articles in his popular paper. Franklin showed us how laughter can be a powerful communication method, to reach the masses, to make them think, while making them laugh. We could use some of old Ben’s wisdom today, don’t you think?

The next meeting of the Fredonia Shakespeare Club will be dedicated to a special performance of a play written in 1985 to commemorate the Club’s centennial.