Franklin's Grave

Benjamin Franklin's grave is in a neglected conditiou. No appropriate stone rises over it, the gronnd round about it is uncared tor, and the tomb of tbe great seholar and statesman is as obscure as that of a inau whose name and fame wero no part of the glory of his country. His grave is destitute even of a headstone. It is covered by au old fashioned marble slab which was placed there 100 years ago and is now vvorn rud discolored by age. Notbiug bas been done to it since Franklin was buriecl thero, a:id even the modest arrangement of the grave are not kept in the perfect condition that is expected of a great man's tomb. The earth on all sides is bare of grass, the common tbatching of the commonest grave, and uji air of desolation is about the whole place. The sexton said tbat the descendant of Franklin would not do auythiug to repair the grave; neither would they allow anybody else to do anything. Every day he has received offers of subscriptions trom visitors, wbo are distressed by the forlorn appearance of Franklin's resting place aud who would like to see it irnproved. In reply he says, as he has been instructed, that Franklin wished it so, "being a plain man averse to display of any kind." Kot long ago, at his own expense, he had the fading inscription recut, or else even the only distinguishing mark, the name, would be gone. If he had uot done so, the last resting place of the greatest man, outsida of Washington, in American history would have been torgotten and unknown. Who is respon si ble f or thiscondition of affairs? Not the living relatives of Pranklin. The responsibility rests with the American people, to whom the man belongs. They should see to it in the future that what little Í3 there to mark the grave is kept in better order than it has been in the past. Beíore he died ïranklin provided for his own gravestone and instructed a stonecutter of his acquuintauce in every detail, even to the inscription which was to be placed upon it. He desired to be buried beside his wife, who had died some years before, and a comrnon slab was to be placed over them both. The inscription arranged as he ordered it reads: BENJAMIN ) i : and VFRANKLET DEBORAH ) : : itüO : Everything was done as ha desired, and the work was paid for out of his estáte and stands today the same as when he