Better late than never, they say.
And so, after a long and frankly inexplicable delay, I started to read ‘Poor Richards Almanac’, a yearly almanac published by THE Benjamin Franklin, whose passing mention in our school history books had something to do with electricity. Of course, if I had schooled in the USA, this would have been quite different, but then, nobody cared to draw attention to the rich life of this gentleman, and his gift of the written word. And so here I am, possibly more than three decades late, but eerily enough, reading something that seems quite familiar.
The joys of reading involve more than crafting a new world with your imagination. A book is an intimate conversation between the author and the reader, in many cases separated by centuries…their thoughts conveyed directly to you, a meeting of minds that leaves an imprint far greater than any other.
And so as I spoke with this person from the 18th century, I found a lot of contemporary wisdom seeping through his words and thoughts – it’s almost as if he was born in this millennium. The language was far more rich and colorful though – Shashi Tharoor has surely some literary ancestry owed to Franklin. But delightful nevertheless.
Sample this:
“Sir,
As your last Paper was reading in some Company where I was present, these Words were taken Notice of in the Article concerning Governor Belcher, “After which his Excellency, with the Gentlemen trading to New-England, died elegantly at Pontack’s.” The Word died should doubtless have been dined, Pontack’s being a noted Tavern and Eating-house in London for Gentlemen of Condition; but this Omission of the letter (n) in that Word, gave us as much Entertainment as any Part of your Paper.”
and this:
“One took the Opportunity of telling us, that in a certain Edition of the Bible, the Printer had, where David says I am fearfully and wonderfully made, omitted the Letter (e) in the last Word, so that it was, I am fearfully and wonderfully mad; which occasion’d an ignorant Preacher, who took that Text, to harangue his Audience for half an hour on the Subject of Spiritual Madness. Another related to us, that when the Company of Stationers in England had the Printing of the Bible in their Hands, the Word (not) was left out in the Seventh Commandment, and the whole Edition was printed off with Thou shalt commit Adultery, instead of Thou shalt not, &c. This material Erratum induc’d the Crown to take the Patent from them which is now held by the King’s Printer.”
Cannot wait to get back to him, now paused mid-sentence on page 35.
On another note, a little over a year back, I chanced upon John Felton – a writer of the delightful Henry and Grumps books. Here is what I had written then…
Had a chance meeting with an elderly gentleman today, at the Arte Market at Times Square Mall. A grandfather of many, John Felton retired 17 years back and settled in Dubai – he now writes delightful rhymes for kids packaged with beautiful illustrations. I found Keshav responding to his way of narrating stories and we ended up buying a couple of his books for the young one.
Here is the Amazon listing of one – https://www.amazon.ae/Henry-Bubbles-John-Felton/dp/9948000196
The reason I bring this up today is that I wrote about Keshav, octopi and bubbles a few months back and we ended up with a Henry and Bubbles story today:) Here it is!
Anyone who has been through a toddler knows the importance of bubbles in their lives. They demand it at will, and the popping of these temporary spheres of soap becomes the primary focus of the moment, or moments, until it’s ‘bye bye’ bubbles.
Rohāmrta is no exception. It is for him that I found a way to blow way above the average size bubble, ones that I like to pop as well, in mock competition. He usually pops these bubbles with his index finger, but off late, he has found a new companion who he invites(drags) to join him during the popping sessions. The friendly neighborhood octopus. One that we purchased from Ikea and who has been relaxing on our couch ever since, under minimal toddler supervision.
And so Keshav grabs Mr. Octopus and rushes back to pop these bubbles one by one – using the tentacles of his newly found pop-the-bubble buddy. Until he tires and says ‘bye bye’ bubbles, unceremoniously drops Mr. Octopus to the floor, and embarks on his next adventure – pick a spoon.
Oh, the kind of combinations kids come up with! What can possibly be the connection between bubbles and octopuses??