Today, on this day in 1790, Benjamin Franklin died.

Today, on this day in 1842, Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst was born.

As much or as little as I know about American history– and in particular this period– I never know quite what to make of Ol’ Ben.

Charles Henry Parkhurst (April 17, 1842 – September 8, 1933) was an American clergyman and social reformer, born in Framingham, Massachusetts. Although scholarly and reserved, he preached two sermons in 1892 in which he attacked the political corruption of New York City government. Backed by the evidence he collected, his statements led to both the exposure of Tammany Hall and to subsequent social and political reforms.

That Infallible Source

Daily Readings 4/17/20

• Franklin’s Autobiography, 6–Pt.II:35-75 (in the event that you, unlike I, own your own personal Pocket University Library, all 23 volumes)
• “A Remarkable Dream”

So go read some Franklin. That’s easy. Just pull down your favorite book of quotations.

“A Remarkable Dream” is not so easy. It is either this by Mark Twain, or this by St. Ignatius. As I am familiar with other works by two editors of The Pocket University Guide to Daily Reading, and as Twain’s has no article in the title, my money’s on St. Ignatius.

From somewhere in the middle:

When heaven opened and St. Sergius came out, the demons stepped back a bit, as if deflected by such a power. St. Sergius took the archimandrite by the hand and led him into heaven, after which heaven closed. While heaven was open, it could be seen that inside it was an unspeakably wondrous light, and extraordinary orchards.

Sort of interesting.

Stay well and keep reading!