35. "Poor Richard"




Short Stories of Science and Invention A Collection of Radio Talks by Charles F. Kettering INDEX		*35.* *"Poor Richard"* Franklin went to London to act as a peace-maker in the dispute between America and Great Britain, but in 1775 he gave up and came home. The Revolution had already begun when he landed on May 7th and a little over a year later he, along with the other American patriots, signed the Declaration of Independence. After the Revolution, as we mentioned, Franklin went to France as the American ambassador. While in Paris, he became extremely interested in Montgolfier's balloon experiments; and, 160 years ago, he wrote this, "Five thousand balloons could not cost more than five large ships and where is the Ruler who can afford to cover his country with troops for its defense so that ten thousand men descending from the clouds could not do an infinite amount of harm?"