| While assisting his
elder brother James with their paper, the New England
Courant, young Benjamin Franklin was heavily influenced
by the underlying satirical tone of the paper itself. In
1722, he began writing articles employing his own sarcasm
toward the Puritan leaders of Boston. He adopted the
pseudonym Mrs. Silence Dogood, giving the author a female
role so as to make "her" comments and
observations all the more cutting. The name Dogood was
invented in jest of the venerable Cotton Mather, a
Puritan priest who stressed his ideals in his
"Essays to do Good". Mrs. Silence Dogood, the humble yet dignified widow of a country parson, wrote in a style filled with serious conclusions and clever humor. Her role was to inform the narrow-minded public of the art of doing good. She was very sensible and had experiences with the ways of the world. Silence Dogood's articles received immediate attention and acclaim from James Franklin and fellow editors. Once she established her ground in the field of journalism, the captivating writer began to utilize her literary prowess to the fullest extent. She exhibited her virtues and carped at the corruption and bad manners of Bostonian society, especially the conservatism of the wealthy young gentlemen at Harvard University. The novice writer soon joined forces with James Franklin and other critics who greatly opposed the rich and powerful ways of the Puritan community. When James was imprisoned for his views, it was up to Benjamin to take the reins of the family paper, and he used his power to the fullest extent. The younger Franklin revealed the true identity of Mrs. Silence Dogood and boldly continued to publish his witty articles which had now become the center of Puritan attention. |
The following is a sampling of Mrs. Silence Dogood's writing, in which the witty and clever widow shares her own wisdom on the art of drinking. "Tis true, drinking does not
improve our faculties, but it enables us to use them; and
therefore I conclude that much study and experience, and
a little liquor, are of absolute necessity for some
tempers, in order to make them accomplished
orators....The moderate use of liquor and a well-placed
and well-regulated anger often produce this same effect;
and some wits who cannot ordinarily talk but in broken
sentences and false grammar do in the heat of passion
express themselves with as much eloquence as
warmth....But after all it must be considered that no
pleasure can give satisfaction or prove advantageous to a
reasonable mind which is not attended with the restraints
of reason....'Tis strange to see men of a regular
conversation become rakish and profane when intoxicated
with drink, and yet more surprising to observe that some
who appear to be the most profligate wretches when sober
become mighty religious in their cups, and will then, and
at no other time, address their Maker but when they are
destitute of reason and actually affronting Him.
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