For one thing, people are the same, no matter what the year or century. They may wear either pants or britches, speak with an American or a British accent, ride horses or newfangled automobiles, write letters or send notes on Twitter... but there are certain aspects of human behavior that remain the same, year after year.
On the other hand, I have noticed that people's historical knowledge has become quite a bit fuzzier, the longer the span between Colonial times and today. At a recent book signing appearance I had the good fortune to be a part of, at the Second Hand Prose Bookstore in Groton, MA., I expounded on a few of the experiences I've had at public gatherings.
How to view Ben on Youtube
While I am not able to go into a great deal of depth here on what the contents of my remarks were, I did re-create a few of them, embellished with a few special effects, and put the video up on Youtube for you to enjoy. Just click here to view my little production.
To make a long story short, the reactions of some folks to my occasional forays out and about at fairs, festivals, holiday celebrations, and other such events, are simply priceless. I truly wish that I were able to capture some of these encounters on film or tape (is that what they use these days... or is everything digital now?) in order to share them with you.
Your humble servant,
B.Franklin