xcellent school for his eager mind (Culver 4630). This was to be the foundation of Benjamin Franklin's education.
             In 1721, Franklin's brother decided to publish a newspaper called The New England Courant (Doreen 19). The paper was but a single sheet printed on both sides. There were already two newspapers to compete with in town, so Franklin's brother James decided to spice up his newspaper by printing sensational controversies. So unlike the other two newspapers, The Courant was now open to the public by means of a commentary section (Meltzer 44). Many individuals in the area would drop off letters anonymously with hopes of them being published. Soon the newspaper's commentary section was receiving a tremendous response, so young Franklin decided to get involved in this newfound public journalism. Franklin secretly wrote letters under the alias of Mrs. Dogood knowing that if his brother found out the letters would not be printed (Crane 11). He secretly slipped the first letter under the door, at the age of only sixteen. Author Verner Crane believes that this hidden secret was "Perhaps a means by which to use his pen to free himself of always being looked down upon as merely a boy and an apprentice"(10). His brother James along with the rest of the readers loved the letters. Mrs. Dogood was a delicious change from what the Bostonians were use to. Franklin put his own thoughts into her mouth and sprinkled her speech with generous quotations from Defoe and Cicero (Meltzer 46). Mrs. Dogood made fun of religious hypocrites, the town drunks, and women's hoop petticoats (46). However, the letters also advocated political views, such as freedom of speech, insurance for widows, and asked why girls should not be educated as much as boys. Needless to say the controversies flared sales. But after a total of fourteen letters, young Franklin ran dry and confessed to his brother James. Instead o...