FRANKLIN AND THE HATTER.

Western Star, Issue 1387, 7 September 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

FRANKLIN AND THE HATTER.

Dr Franklin said that he was once applied to by a young man named John Thompson, when setting up in business as a hatter, to write ’an inscription to be placed over his shop door, which he consented to do ; and considering that at starting he could not afford to give credit the doctor wrote thus—- “ John Thompson, hatter, makes and sells hats for ready money.” The young man was delighted, and set off to show it to his friends. The first on looking it over, said : “It is too long ; no one will stop to read it; besides it is tautology, because a person who makes hats must be a hatter.” So the word hatter was struck out. The next said, “ If you say ‘ for ready money ’ very few people will enter your shop I can tell you.” Those words were therefore struck out. 'T'he third said, ‘ Nobody will care a farthing who makes the hats so that they are good.’ ‘ makes and ’ were accordingly erased, and “ John Thompson sells hats ’ remained. The last friend said, “It is ridiculous to tell peopleyou sell hats, for nobody will think you such an idiot as to give them away.” The last two words were therefore taken out and nothing was inscribed on his door but “ John Thompson.” Dr Franklin said that he would never write anything else that was subject to to other people’s revision.