Trivia: Under what name did 16-year-old Ben Franklin submit to a weekly newspaper?
O. Henry
Mrs. Silence Dogood
Ann Landers
Mrs. Doubtfire
Correct Answer: Mrs. Silence Dogood
So why is this answer correct? : Ben Franklin submitted a number of essays to his brother’s newspaper the “New England Courant” in the 1720s under the pseudonym “Mrs. Silence Dogood.” In his essays, he portrayed himself as a fictitious widow, offering her opinions on everything from marriage to current events and religion. The letters gained popularity, and after receiving many marriage proposals from hopeful bachelors, Franklin had to reveal himself to the public.