It's the same old, same old.

.....I've been reading a biography of Benjamin Franklin who was born on January 17, 1706 and by my calculation that was 300 years ago. If I were to live the life he led, I'd be worn out by the time I was 30, and I don't think I'd make it to 40. The man was tireless; especially in bed. What amazes me is, that with the exception of the Puritans, morality and sexual promiscuity seemed to be the order of the day. Ben's mother, Mary, bore ten children by a previous "relationship." When she was 21 and still unmarried, she moved to Boston. Less than five months later, she met and married Ben's father, Josiah Franklin. What happened to her ten children in Philadelphia is left to the imagination, as is any knowledge about whether or not Josiah was, himself, previously married. Over the next twelve years she had six more, and along with the five children Josiah contributed that made eleven living in a tiny house. They did have another son who died as a child. Their next was Benjamin, who luckily for us, survived. So, by my calculation, Mary Franklin had eighteen children, a veritable baby machine that cranked out babies. I would call that sexual harassment. I'm assuming that back then, the pill and the condom had not yet been invented.

.....Franklin was not happy with the situation in Boston, so at the age of 17 he ran away to Philadelphia, a huge and thriving city of 35,000 residents who could now fit into any of the baseball stadiums in the United States. After getting into the printing business and getting engaged to Deborah, his landlady's daughter, at the age of 18 he had to go to London to buy printing equipment for his boss. At the time, London was enjoying a golden age of peace and prosperity and prostitutes. Franklin with a lusty sexual appetite enjoyed the acquaintances he had with prostitutes and other women of low repute. I suppose you could call this a kind of adultery since he had a girlfriend back in Philly. Also, Franklin was asked by a good friend of his, James Ralph, to watch over Ralph's girlfriend while he had to go to another city on business. Ben watched over her all right; however, as part of the watching, he attempted to seduce her, and when Ralph returned, he was furious and broke off the friendship. After two years in London, Franklin returned to Philadelphia, and while searching for a wife, preferably with a large dowry, he fathered an illegitimate son, whom he named William. The name of William's mother is shrouded in mystery.

.....Since there was no way he would find a woman with a large dowry who would consent to marry a lowly printer, Franklin finally began a common-law marriage to Deborah when he was 24. Years later, Ben's son, William, also fathered an illegitimate child. Ho Hum. Like father, like son. Adulterous behavior in the 18th Century seemed to be the order (or custom) of the day. So, in 300 years nothing has changed; so why blame Tiger and Edwards, and the biblical Abraham, and et cetera? I recently read an article where the author claimed that there is no man who has not committed adultery. I wonder if that can be true??? Well, since the 18th Century, I believe America has Puritanicalized.