The Annotated Ben and Me
Robert Lawson (1939)
Cover (by Robert lawson)
Title Page
Forward by Robert Lawson, Rabbit Hill, 1939
According to the forward, the manuscript was found in a colonial era Philadelphia house by workmen doing renovations. This could be no later than 1938, or early 1939. The manuscript was presented to Robert Lawson by an unnamed "architect friend."
The manuscript was discovered in a small chamber beneath a bedroom hearthstone. It was a room, 18 inches square decorated with colonial period furniture, all scaled to mouse size.
In..."a secretary desk, was found a manuscript book, the leaves of which, about the size of postage stamps, was covered with minute writing."
Unammed architect, secretary desk, and manuscript.
The Brownsonian Institute analyzed the paper and ink, and it was of Early American manufacture. The writung was done with a quill pen. I could not discover any mention of a "Brownsonian Institute," but I have reason to believe that Lawson used this term rather than identify Brown University of Providence, Rhode Island, to protect an important source.
National Museum of Natural History stated that the writing was that of a mouse. This indicates that the United States government has had knowledge of intelligent mice since at least that time, and as the manuscript indicates, the founding fathers of the United States of America were heavily influenced by these mice. I would not be surprised to find that the verification was done by a mouse-scientist.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3 Chapter 1: I, AMOS
Amos, at his desk. Note the glasses, quill pen, and period coat.
"...recent death of...Ben Franklin" : Franklin was painfully afflicted in last years by bladder stones, and dies of pleurisy, accompanied by suppurated lungs. Ben died peacefully in his sleep on April 17, 1790. He was 84 years old.
"...many so-called historians have attempted to write accounts of..." Ben Franklin's life and achievements. : Though Franklin was very famous during his life, it wasn't until years after his death that his enormous contributions to science and statesmanship were reevaluated and his preeminence among the founding fathers was established. The discovery Amos' manuscript could not have come at a better time.
paw : first indication that AMOS is a mouse. The term paw and hand are used interchangeably by AMOS, which is common in books written by or about intelligent mice. Caught, as they are, between the human and animal world, their is some unavoidable confusion in the use of language to describe their nature.
Page 4
AMOS is the first of 26 children. Large families are common among mice, as are unusual and clever naming schemes. AMOS's brothers and sisters are named for each letter of the alphabet. BATHSHEBA, CLAUDE, DANIEL, XENOPHON, YSOBEL and ZENAS are named here, on page 110 we learn of EPHRAIM. Interestingly, in the Anatole books of Eve Titus, one of Anatole's children is named Claude.
His family lives in the Old Christ Church on Second Street, in Philadelphia, behind the paneling in the vestry. This is a major historical landmark.
Two views of Christ Church
In January 2006 I went on a trip to to Philadelphia and visted the church. The woman in the souvenir shop confirmed that the descendents and relatives of Amos and his family still live and thrive within the walls of the church.
The back of the church, and the organ.
Inside Christ Church
The vestry (2006): These days the walls are not paneled.
They were a little embaressed to show it to us because it's
something of a cluttertrap.
Page 5
"...poor as churchmice..." - Because they literally are churchmice. Amos is from common origins.
The Hard Winter of 1745
Note the scarf. Intelligent mice were tool users.
"Hard Winter of 1745": Hundreds of New Englanders died during the Siege of the Fortress of Louisbourg, described as the most imposing French stronghold in North America. It was a particularly fierce winter. See: here
"We were driven to eating prayer-books, and when those gave out we took to the minister's sermons...The prayer-books were tough, but those sermons!" - This is indicative of Amos' literal distaste for organized religion. Like most of the founding fathers, he was a simple deist.
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
"Everyone in Philadelphia knew the great Doctor Benjamin Franklin, scientist, inventor, printer, editor, author, soldier, statesman and philosopher." - Even at this early point in his career, Franklin was famous. With the help of Amos he would become moreso.
Page 9
Page 10, Chapter 2: WE INVENT THE FRANKLIN STOVE
Page 11
"WASTE NOT, WANT NOT," - Here Franklin is tossing around one of his famous maxims.
pewmonia- pneumonia; Robert Lawson, the editor of the book, could have corrected the spelling here, in his capacity as editor, but left it in, either as a way of showing that Amos isn't as smart as he thinks he is, or to lend the text a "cuteness" dependent on the way Amos pronounces certain words.
Hot-chestnut man
Page 12
"No one could have slept, not even a dormouse." - Is this a reference to Alice in Wonderland? If so it would anachronistic and would be a sign that Lawson tampered with the manuscript more than he has let on. What about a dormouse causes it to sleep soundly?
Page 13
ship-rats - In intelligent mouse fiction we find many different depictions of Rats, from enemies to allies. Amos grew up poor, in the american colonies, mostly self-educated and home-schooled. His rough and tumble life introduced him to the ship-rats of coastal Philadelphia, and at least here, in this time, Rats and Mice could be allies.
Page 14
Page 15
"...good big tankard of ale." - Though there is some evidence that Robert Lawson tampered with the manuscript to make it a better children's book, references to drinking, written for children, during prohibition, survived, adding great weight to the idea that the manuscript is authentic. Such references would never be added to a kid friendly book, only subtracted by an over zealous editor.
Page 16
Page 17, Chapter 3: THE BARGAIN
Note the signature of Amos. He could read and write, at least a little.
"An Account of the New Pennsylvania Fireplaces, Recently Invented by Doctor Benjamin Franklin, Wherein Their Construction and Their..."
Page 18
"...in a cold vestry..." - The room of the church in which Amos' family lived is mentioned.
"THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS HIRE"
"...maxims don't fill empty stomachs."
Page 19
Page 20
Franklin's fur cap becomes a place for Amos to live. From the cap Amos can secretly give advice and council to Franklin. The cap is divided into miniature rooms, and has various ports through which Amos can see and listen.
Page 21
The illustration depicts Amos with miniature "STOP" and "GO" signs on little paddles that Amos can use to help the absent minded Franklin navigate through the streets.
Page 22
Page 23, Chapter 4: SWIMMING
Is this a historically verifiable event?
Page 24
Schuylkill River -
"...prey to any wandering cat, dog, hawk or snake..." - among intelligent mice in North America these are four of their greatest natural predators. Owls are also a threat.
overgrown grampus -
Page 25
Page 26
Note the dialect of the locals, "Dr. Frankling" and "drownded." It is apparent that over the years of his association with Franklin Amos has developed a larger vocabulary and an ear for uncultured speach. The Amos at this point would probably not say "pewmonia."
Page 27
Governor of Pennsylvania
Mayor of Philadelphia
prominent citizens
Ben's First Volunteer Fire Brigade
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31, Chapter 5: WE DO SOME PRINTING
"Poor Richard's Almanack"
Page 32
EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE - Amos calls Franklin of this particular maxim, pointing out that Franklin is never up early or to bed early, and that Franklin is both healthy and wealthy. (Though he declines to call him wise.)
THE CAT IN GLOVES CATCHES NO MICE - to be deleted in the next edition. For Amos to have caughtthis means that he's become quite the reader. Despite Franklin's promise the maxim was not deleted in the neext edition.
Page 33
Page 34
"only name I could spell" - Amos is being a bit disingenuous here, as we have ample evidence of his mastery of English, or perhaps at this point in his life he's a better reader than writer.
Each maxim begins "As Poor Richard Says..." or "Says Poor Richard..."
Tide Table
Harbor Master
Page 35
HASTE MAKES WASTE
Page 36
The date in the illustration is 1756, the only other concrete date given in the book.
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39, Chapter 6: ELECTRICITY
Page 40
"...some glass tubes and a book of instructions sent him by a London friend."
static electricity
Page 41
Page 42
"...elaborate machine that could produce much greater currents..."
Page 43
"The Philosophical Society"
Page 44
Page 45
Governor of Pennsylvania and his Lady
Mayor of Philadelphia
several of the clergy
Chief of the Volunteer Fire Brigade (with his silver trumpet)
Page 46
Page 47
Page 48
"..granted the Governor is one." (a human being) - Amos is being ironic here, but the statement shows a distrust of political figures in pre-revolutionary colonial america.
Page 49, Chapter 7: THE LIGHTNING ROD
Electrical Exhibition
Page 50
Page 51
Page 52
Page 53
Page 54
Page 55
Page 56, Chapter 8: THAT KITE
Kite and Platform
Kite Car with collapsable sail for going up the string.
The umbrella may be a primitive parachute.
Page 57
Kite built with tiny platforrm, and a little car to travel up and down the kite string. - This is an excellent example of mouse technology. We can be sure that Amos developed this in partnership with Franklin.
Page 58
Page 59
Page 60
Page 61
Page 62
Page 63
Page 64
ship-rats - leaving the ship because of the lightning rods. Amos must have spread a distrust of Franklins electrical experiments throughout the community of Philadelphia mice and rats.
Page 65
Page 66, Chapter 9: WAR!
Without the help of Amos, Franklin's trip to negotiate some sort of settlement with England was a total failure.
Page 67
Mr. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia
Declaration of Independence Commitee -
Page 68
Red - Red is a mouse, who is to Thomas Jefferson what Amos is to Franklin. He's red headed, a fiery revolutionist, and a great talker. Red and Amos become fast friends, and Amos introduced Red to "...many prominent Philadelphia mice."
Red is also a writer, who has constructed a list of grievances on the behalf of mice everywhere, to present to humanity. It begins: "When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to dissolve thee bands which have linked him to his master..."
According to Amos when Franklin hears this he decides to appropriate it for the Declaration of Independence. What's interesting here is Red's use of the term "master." This is certainly not the relationship between Amos and Franklin, and is not the relationship Red shares with Jefferson. Perhaps the term is revolutionary hyperbole. My guess is that Red was writing a document that would have revealed the existence of intelligent mice to the world at large, a document that would demand equal standing with humanity. This dangerous and revolutionary ploy would be opposed by the vast majority of mice-kind.
Page 69
Page 70
Page 71, Chapter 10: LA BELLE FRANCE
General George Washington -
wheat on Mount Vernon -
Page 72
"Beautiful ladies" - this is the first admission we get concerning Franklin's (and by extension Amos') infamous skirt chasing. Franklin is tempted to France by the promise of women.
Page 73
armed sloop Reprisal -
Page 74
Page 75
new theory for setting sails - Franklin here experiments with new sail arrangements, apparently with no success.
PAge 76, Chapter 11: AT COURT
Passy - a small town on the outskirts of Paris -
Page 77
more about French Women, to which Amos and Franklin devoted much time while in France.
Page 77-78
Amos is Franklin's spy, reading others mail and listening in on conversations. Due to Amos, Franklin is much more successful this time as a diplomat than he was thee first time around.
Page 78
King and Queen of France
HE THAT GOES A-BORROWING GOES A-SORROWING
Page 79
"Every evening it's dinner with Madame this or Countess that." - More evidence of Franklin's busy social schedule.
FOOLS MAKE FEASTS AND WISE MEN EAT THEM
Madame Helveticus - a favorite of Franklin, but not Amos. She keeps cats.
FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED
Madame Brillon -
Page 80
Sophia - a very beautiful white mouse from the court of Versailles. An aristocrat and a lady, she lived in Madame Brillon's headdress. Her english was exceellent (indicating that Amos' French was lacking) and she was beautifully educated.
Page 81
Mouse intrigues: These passages say a lot about aristocratic mouse society in France circa 1776. Among intelligent mice race plays a part, with white mice being considered more cultured, sophisticated and intelligent. Consider Miss Bianca from the series The Rescuers. But there is also something about the white mouse that is considered decadent and in-bred, hence their affiliation here with the decadent kings of pre-revolutionary France. the before mentioned Miss Bianca is a white mouse but without the pink eyes. Her's are a deep brown.
Sophia's husband is a member of one of the oldest mouse families in France. He was forced to flee to Philadelphia. Sophia was forced to flee Veersailles, leaving herseven children behind.
Page 81-82
Sophia's children are held in a small cell directly behind the thrrone of the Queen of France.
Page 83
Page 84, Chapter 12: PLANS
Note Amos with his sword, Mouse scaled and Mouse crafted.
"...defy the entire Court of France..." - Here Amos is refering to the Mouse Court of France, not the human. Amos speaks interchangeably about both the human and mouse world, andd to his credit we are seldom confused.
Page 85
Lord Cornwallis' surrender
Page 86
trousseau -
peasant mice of Passy - a stupid, timid lot, downtrodden and half-starved, they naturally hated the aristocracy of Versailles. Note the parallels between mouse and human societies. The peasant mice are treated exactly as the human peasantry is treated. Whereas in human France the distinction is classist, in mouse society the distinction is classist and racsist, with the white mice being the aristocracy. It's no wonder that white mice are looked down upon later, and that pink eyes are thought ugly.
Russian mice - wild uncouth fellows - Amos continues his racial and classist stereotyping, with some politically incorrect observations.
Page 87
Swedes - stalwart, steady and powerful warriors.
Italian and Spanish mice - their erratic temperments ar not to be counted on.
Thomas Jefferson is assigned the Ambassadorship to France, and arrives with Red Jefferson. It is intersting to note that Red has taken Jefferson's last name. Is Amos Amos Franklin?
Page 88
Page 89
The White Mice of Versailles are hundreds, perhaps thousands in number, with several skilled swordsmen among them.
John Paul Jones - his fleet is in the French port town of Lorient. His ship-rats are the greatest fighters in the world. By this I assume Amos to mean the Mouse World.
The downtrodden Slum Mice and Sewer Rats of Paris are ripe for revolution. Red resolves to lead them. This is a curious instance of an event in Mouse World, i.e. The French Revolution, taking place before the cooresponding event in the human world.
Page 90, Capter 13: THE BATTLE OF VERSAILLES
Note the interesting Mouse Weaponry.
The Ship-Rats, the mouse on the right has a gun!
Page 91
third south window of the throne room -
map - see the illustration on page 84 for a copy of the map
Red is armed with a cudgel
"Up and at'em!" - Would later be the rallying cry of Atom Ant.
A winter at Valley Forge with Von Steuben.
Page 92
Page 93
Page 94
Page 95
scythes, clubs and other crude weapons
Page 96
Page 97
The date of the ball is July 4, the King and Queen of France fainted at the sight of the mice.
Page 98
Page 99
Page 100
Page 101
Yankee Doodle
Page 102
Page 103
A Yankee Ship and a Yankee Skipper
Page 104, Chapter 14: HOME
Page 105
delegations from Congress
Mayor of Philadelphia
City Council
First Volunteer Fire Brigade
Page 106
Page 107
Sophia's family became popular in Philadelphia. Many of Amos' brothers and sisters started families.
Page 108
Amos' brother Xenophon and his sisters Ysobel and Zenas marry Sophia's oldest three children in a triple wedding celebration.
Page 109, Chapter 15: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Page 110
It's Franklin's 81'st birthday.
Amos, with the help of his brothers Claude, Daniel and Ephraim buys Franklin a brand new beaver fur cap.
Page 111
Amos' parents are gray-furred, but alive. Intelligent mice have human lifespans.
Happy Birthday to You - Is the inclusion of this song an anachronism? Or is this a mouse song stolen by humans?
Page 112
barley sugar
Page 113
Page 114
[HERE THE MANUSCRIPT ENDS] - Amos doeesn't write about Franklin's death, perhaps the memory was too painful. Amos also avoids any mention of Franklin's son and common-law wife. Though the book is most commonly thought to be a first hand bigraphy of Franklin what is most fascinating is its unique insight into mouse society and customs in Colonial America and pre-revolutionary France.
A 1953 edition
The Disney Version
On November 11, 1953 Disney released their 25 minute short based on Ben and Me. The short was nominated for an Academy award. Amos was voiced by Sterling Holloway, Benjamin Franklin by Bill Thompson and Thomas Jefferson the great Hans Conried. the movie was directed by Hamilton Luske and written by Bill Peet, Del Connell, Robert Lawson, Ted Sears and Winston Hibler.
Video box cover
Offered on eBay Feb-21-05 for $99.00, described by seller as:
Here's a hand-drawn pencil production drawing of Amos
from the 1953 Disney cartoon
Ben And Me. He's 3 1/2 in. tall, on a 10 x 12, 3 peghole
Disney sheet, with # 19 in
the bottom right corner, a cute drawing. It's unframed...
Offered on eBay Mar 23, 2005 for $9.95, described by seller as:
>>>>> Disney 1951 SIGNED FINANCIAL DOCUMENT
for BEN AND ME <<<<<
Walt Disney Productions BEN AND ME SIGNED FINANCIAL DOCUMENT, 1951. This four-page
Mortgage of Chattels-Pledge and Assisnment document is signed by WDP Vice-President
Gunther R. Lessing and WDP Secretary James A. Johnson and dated Mar. 5, 1952.
It sets out the terms of a $4,000,000.00 to $6,000,000.00 line of credit opened
by Bank of America for WDP on June 1, 1951 against which WDP pledges receipts
for the animated featurette Ben and Me released in 1953. It is notarized on
the last page and bears the corporate embossing stamps of Walt Disney Productions
and the notary public. An interesting document that was standard for the production
of Disney films in this period. There are two punch holes in top margin, in
superb condition: VERY FINE+.
The Golden Book adaptation of the Disney short film.
Earlier adaptation book cover
Four Color #539 March 1954
Comic Book adaptation from Dell Publishing
Comic page
In 1989 the island of Grenada put out a set of stamps commemorating the Disney adaptation of Ben and Me.
Walt Disney's Classic Collection
Amos Mouse
"Pint-Size Patriot"
from: Ben and Me
including a Tack Pin of Amos
Walt Disney's Classic Collection
Amos Mouse makes history as Ben Franklin's lifelong friend and advisor in the 1953 Walt Disney short "Ben and Me". This sculpture is limited to one year of production and is available exclusively through independent retailers. Pin included with purchase. Details include a commemorative 50th Anniversary Backstamp on the bottom. It was released April, 2003.
Has Certificate of Authenticity and measures 4.75" high. Has the 2003 "Singing Harp" production marking on bottom of the figurine and on box. This figurine comes with a Tac Pin of Amos Mouse.
