Shocking Facts about Thomas Jefferson

[doublejm1]

I'm a huge history buff and often write history articles for leisure, the latest one featuring Thomas Jefferson: http://socyberty.com/history/six-shocki ... jefferson/

This, however, is a work in progress, for I update the article with additional facts about Thomas Jefferson as I come across them. Do you feel there was anything "shocking" about Jefferson's presidency -- or, more generally, his life -- that I left out and should be included? The article centers on the many contradictions Jefferson is still getting flak for to this day.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

[doublejm1]

Do you guys think that Jefferson got too much flak for being a slave owner when so many other men of his day owned slaves as well?

[doublejm1]

Just curious -- where does Jefferson rank among your favorite presidents?

[doublejm1]

Do you guys have any fun facts on Thomas Jefferson -- or any Founding Father for that matter - you'd like to share?

[Penn44]

Do you guys have any fun facts on Thomas Jefferson -- or any Founding Father for that matter - you'd like to share?

Ben Franklin on farting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fart_Proudly

Penn44

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[Penn44]

Also from Ben Franklin, his advice to a young man on the merits of an older woman:

“I repeat my former Advice, that in all your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. You call this a Paradox, and demand my Reasons. And they are these:
1.Because as they have more Knowledge of the World and their Minds are better stor’d with Observations, their Conversation is more improving and more lastingly agreable.
2.Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Men, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a 1000 Services small and great, and are the most tender and useful of all Friends when you are sick. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an old Woman who is not a good Woman.
3.Because there is no hazard of Children, which irregularly produc’d may be attended with much Inconvenience.
4.Because thro’ more Experience, they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your Reputation. And with regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be rather inclin’d to excuse an old Woman who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his Manners by her good Counsels, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.
5.Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part: The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: So that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.
6.Because the Sin is less. The debauching a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her for Life unhappy.
7.Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend the making an old Woman happy.
8.8thly and Lastly They are so grateful!!

Penn44

.

[doublejm1]

Also from Ben Franklin, his advice to a young man on the merits of an older woman:

“I repeat my former Advice, that in all your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. You call this a Paradox, and demand my Reasons. And they are these:
1.Because as they have more Knowledge of the World and their Minds are better stor’d with Observations, their Conversation is more improving and more lastingly agreable.
2.Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Men, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a 1000 Services small and great, and are the most tender and useful of all Friends when you are sick. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an old Woman who is not a good Woman.
3.Because there is no hazard of Children, which irregularly produc’d may be attended with much Inconvenience.
4.Because thro’ more Experience, they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your Reputation. And with regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be rather inclin’d to excuse an old Woman who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his Manners by her good Counsels, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.
5.Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part: The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: So that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.
6.Because the Sin is less. The debauching a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her for Life unhappy.
7.Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend the making an old Woman happy.
8.8thly and Lastly They are so grateful!!

Penn44

.

Where is that from?

[Rob Stuart]

Franklin appears on a Canadian stamp which was introduced last month: http://o.canada.com/2013/06/07/benjamin ... ary-stamp/. I was surprised to learn that it was under his auspices that the first postal service in what is now Canada was started, before the revolution.

There is another connection between Canada and a famous American of the revolutionary era: Benedict Arnold lived in my home town, Saint John, after the revolution: http://new-brunswick.net/Saint_John/ben ... edict.html. When I was a teenager I walked by the site where his house had stood on my way to high school every day. I guess that in his day he was not seen as a traitor by his fellow Saint Johners, who no doubt saw the winners of the revolution as the traitors.

Rob

[Penn44]

Where is that from?

My apologizes for not including it earlier. There are several sources on the Internet to include this one:

http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorse ... 1-fra.html

Penn44


.

[Penn44]

Where is that from?

My apologizes for not including it earlier. There are several sources on the Internet to include this one:

http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorse ... 1-fra.html

Penn44.

I will have to do some thinking. Someone in colonial times wrote a story about a woman who wanted to enlarge her breasts so she inserted a hollow needle into the nipple of each of her breasts and inflated them with air. She then plugged each insertion hole with wax. During some gala affair the woman's body heat melted the wax, and her breast admitted the high pitch sound of air escaping which naturally embarrassed the woman. I am thinking Ben Franklin is the source of that story.

While ambassador to France, Franklin was reportedly quite popular with the French ladies. According to the account I heard from one of my professors, the French women believed that Franklin was a man of nature (and therefore, more virile) as he came from America which they believe was in a state of nature.

Penn44

.

[doublejm1]

Franklin appears on a Canadian stamp which was introduced last month: http://o.canada.com/2013/06/07/benjamin ... ary-stamp/. I was surprised to learn that it was under his auspices that the first postal service in what is now Canada was started, before the revolution.

I had no idea. There's always something new to learn about Teddy.

[doublejm1]

Can anyone recommend any Jefferson books worth reading?

[doublejm1]

Bump

[Carl Schwamberger]

There are his collected writings.