Ben Franklin
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009When I was a senior in college attending Boston University in the storied state capital of Massachusetts, I had a rather interesting and somewhat different part time job. While others my age were delivering pizza, or waitressing, or bouncing for the local club I was dressing up like Ben Franklin three days a week and giving tours through Boston’s historic downtown. I would happily provide information about historical sites, all the way doing so in both the costume and the character of notable founding father and American icon, Ben Franklin. Playing the part was no accident as I have been a lifelong fan of Mr. Franklin. Ever since reading his autobiography as a young middle school student I have been fascinated by one of history’s most amazing individuals. Not only was the man a prolific inventor and scientist credited with designing bifocals and the public library system as well discovering electricity but he was also an amazingly skilled diplomat, without whom this country would not likely currently exist.