Question

source: benjamin franklin, poor richards almanack, 1739
\kind reader,
encouraged by thy former generosity, i once more present thee with an almanack, which is the 7th of my publication. while thou art putting pence in my pocket, and furnishing my cottage with necessaries, poor dick is not unmindful to do something for thy benefit...
ignorant men wonder how we astrologers foretell the weather so exactly, unless we deal with the old black devil. alas!... for instance, the stargazer peeps at the heavens thro a long glass... he spies perhaps virgo (or the virgin;) she turns her head round as it were to see if any body observd her; then crouching down gently, with her hands on her knees, she looks wistfully for a while right forward. he judges rightly what shes about. and having calculated the distance and allowd time for its falling, finds that next spring we shall have a fine april shower.... o the wonderful knowledge to be found in the stars! even the smallest things are written there, if you had but skill to read....
besides the usual things expected in an almanack, i hope the professd teachers of mankind will excuse my scattering here and there some instructive hints in matters of morality and religion. and be not thou disturbed, o grave and sober reader, if among the many serious sentences in my book, thou findest me trifling now and then, and talking idly. in all the dishes i have hitherto cookd for thee, there is solid meat enough for thy money. there are scraps from the table of wisdom, that will if well digested, yield strong nourishment to thy mind...
when i first began to publish, the printer made a fair agreement with me for my copies, by virtue of which he runs away with the greatest part of the profit. - however, much good mayt do him; i do not grudge it him; he is a man i have a great regard for, and i wish his profit ten times greater than it is. for i am, dear reader, his, as well as thy
affectionate friend,
r. saunders.\
questions for analysis

1. describe franklins tone, citing examples from the text to support your characterization.
2. explain the causes of the popularity of poor richards almanack.
3. explain how this excerpt from poor richards almanack undermines a traditional source of social authority.

Explanation:

1. Tone is friendly and engaging, e.g., "Kind Reader". Popularity due to useful content like weather - forecasts and moral advice. Undermines by presenting alternative knowledge source (stars).
2. Content is practical and instructive, appealing to common people.
3. Challenges traditional authority by suggesting wisdom in stars over established sources.

Answer:

1. Friendly and engaging, e.g., "Kind Reader".
2. Practical and instructive content.
3. Suggests alternative wisdom source in stars.