Page:Poor Richard's almanack (IA poorrichardsalma00franrich).pdf/10

8 opportunity to enter public life. This sphere of activity was greatly to his liking. He held important offices and introduced many splendid reforms into the municipal government.

Franklin's pet project was an efficient institution of learning. When he was 37 years old, his plans materialized into the founding of an academy from which has grown the great University of Pennsylvania.

The scientists of Europe were at this time becoming aware of a mysterious force which they named electricity. Musschenbroeck, a German, came forth with the discovery of the Leyden jar. Franklin immediately devoted himself to a study of electricity. The subject proved toso [sic] interesting, so full of possibilities that he sold out his printing business in order to devote his entire effort to the new field. His business, started on nothing, brought the handsome price of $90,000.

When Franklin declared his belief that electricity and lightning were identical, the whole world laughed. He then made his famous kite test, and proved his theory. This demonstration gained world recognition for him as a scientist and won him many honors.

The colonies were now passing through the turbulent period preceding