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By Root 696 0

bio on his book Benjamin Franklin, Sterling Professor of History Emeritus at Yale University and is cited as “one of America’s most distinguished historians.” The Yale History Faculty’s website quotes a student as saying: “Morgan doesn’t teach history, he narrates it. Listening to his lectures is like listening to a story.” Even the picture of Morgan on the dust jacket of his book reveals a man whom no one could find disagreeable. And he clearly loves Ben Franklin. His affection for his subject pours out in the first words of his book. So here we have a gifted writer, scholar, and teacher who has a genuine affection for Franklin, and he is a likable guy in his own right. What does he think of Franklin’s course of virtues?

Morgan describes Franklin’s choice of virtues as a “puzzle,” and he says that it is “as interesting for what it leaves out as for what it includes.”1 While conceding that the virtues pass the test of “usefulness,” Morgan contends that their usefulness has a character of self-centeredness, in contrast to Franklin’s own character as well as his other writings and actions. He regards the bulk of the virtues as aimed at personal happiness and the remainder as morally ambiguous.

Other observers have called the project “odd,”2 “not to the modern taste,”3 and “not heroic.”4

Not heroic? Self-centeredness? That’s harsh.

And more than harsh, the critics may just be plain wrong. While Frugality might smack of self-centeredness, it might just as well be grounded in Charity, as I suggested above. Is giving money away not an expense that benefits others? Are Charity and Frugality not inextricably linked? I think Franklin’s critics sell him short.

If they criticized me, on the other hand, they’d be right on the money (so to speak). Even though I recognized the altruistic aspects of the virtue, I failed to practice them, at least not in any extravagant way.

I was mindful, however, that even small acts of generosity can be meaningful. I gave money to a panhandler specifically because it was the week of Frugality. Hardly Mother Teresa-like, I admit, but it felt good. Even in such minor acts of generosity, however, one must exercise some caution.

Chris had suggested that as part of Frugality I practice “random acts of generosity.” As an example, he proposed that at some point I buy a coffee for the next person in line at a coffee shop. Flush with the Franklinian notion of Frugality, I decided to give it a try. One morning as I stood paying for my morning coffee and muffin (yes, I was back to the coffee and muffin—let’s just say I’m omelet shy), I handed the cashier double the price.

Signaling to the person behind me, I said, “Let me buy that next person’s breakfast.” The cashier shrugged and moved on to serve my beneficiary. For a moment, I felt good.

My self-satisfaction at this tiny act of generosity quickly disappeared, however, when I noticed that the customer behind me seemed to have taken my gesture the wrong way. I’m a long way from the days of flirting, but there was little to mistake in her slightly downcast eyes, the fluttering of her lashes, the coy smile, and her tiny wave.

As I caught myself in the midst of waving back, I realized, in horror, that she had taken my Franklinian gesture of Frugality/ Charity as a come-on. Like a puppy caught stealing food from the cupboard, I looked left and right for the nearest exit and scurried off in fear.

So, the lesson here is that if you are going to be spontaneously charitable, ensure that you are not suspected of ulterior motives. On the upside, if you are in the dating market, it seems a coffee and a muffin are good icebreakers.

FRUGALITY

{CHAPTER 6}

Industry

Lose no time; be always employed in something useful;

cut off all unnecessary actions

{A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.}

HERE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES OF BEN FRANKLIN. FOR MORE than a decade leading up to the American Revolution, Franklin had been America’s point guy in the mother country. He was the representative