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The signature, too, Silence Dogood, was characteristic of the man who turned all religion into a code of morality, and was famous for his power of keeping a secret. Like the ancient poet Simonides, he knew the truth of the saying, Silence hath a safe reward. Those days were not easy times for printers, nor was the freedom of the press any more respected than liberty of conscience.
"Who is 'Silence Dogood'?" was the most common inquiry. "I wonder who 'Silence Dogood' can be," was a frequent remark, showing that the article attracted much attention. Benjamin wondered as much as any of them. "A queer signature to put to an article," he said. "What in the world could suggest such a nom de plume to a writer?"
"Dogood is a good name for such a writer." "And we shall have more of them, no doubt," suggested James; "it is quite evident that the writer means to keep on." "I hope he will; such articles will call attention to the paper, and that is what we want," added another. "In the mean time, let us find out if possible who the writer is," suggested still another.
Besides, the many remarks he had heard about it gave him points for another communication, so as to make it sharper, better adapted to the times, and hence more timely. Within a short time, the second article was slipped under the door at night for James to pick up in the morning. "Another article from 'Silence Dogood," exclaimed James, as he opened it and read the signature.
I have known the poor to die in that same grim, silent way not the poor that you, my delicately-gloved Lady Bountiful and my very excellent Sir Simon DoGood, know, or that you would care to know; not the poor who march in processions with banners and collection-boxes; not the poor that clamour round your soup kitchens and sing hymns at your tea meetings; but the poor that you don't know are poor until the tale is told at the coroner's inquest the silent, proud poor who wake each morning to wrestle with Death till night-time, and who, when at last he overcomes them, and, forcing them down on the rotting floor of the dim attic, strangles them, still die with their teeth tight shut.
They have been pretty conclusively identified as the series of articles signed "Silence Dogood," and are a clever enough imitation of the "Spectator's" style of allegory and humorous satire, such as Franklin was fond of using all his life.
In a little while some of the "knot of liberals" came in, and the article was read to them. "It is a good article, and it was slipped under the door last night," said James. "It is signed 'Silence Dogood." "You have no idea who wrote it, then?" inquired one. "Not the least whatever." "It is capital, whoever the author may be," remarked one of the critics.
Perhaps he thought that he had praised the articles enough when he did not know who the author was. But he appeared to be abstracted in thought until some of the "knot of liberals" came in. "I have discovered who 'Silence Dogood' is," he said. "You have? Who can it be?" and the speaker was very much surprised. "No one that you have dreamed of." "Is that so?
Accordingly the article was prepared, describing his ideal of character, and that was the character he himself formed, and was forming then; and he signed it SILENCE DOGOOD. This article he slipped under the printing office door at night, where James found it in the morning, and read it with evident satisfaction, as Benjamin thought, who narrowly watched him.