In 1721， James Franklin（brother of Benjamin Franklin）be－gan to publish a newspaper，the New England Courant.Ben hadtaught himself to write well by rcading good authors.He wouldput down his own thoughts，copying the style of a famous writer，and then would read the author's book again to see how exact hisimitation was.He began to write for the Courant， pretending tobe an old woman called“Silence Dogood”。James printed lettersfrom Mrs.Dogood in the Courant during the spring and summer of 1722.These letters made fun of various people and things inBoston， and because of them James was put in prison. Eventhough he would not tell the authorities who had written theletters，James was released.Because Ben was afraid of being named as the author of the offensive letters，he decided to leave Boston.
1721年，詹姆斯·富兰克林（本杰明·富兰克林的哥哥）开始出版一种报纸，叫《新英格兰报》。本杰明通过阅读著名作家的作品，自学写文章写得很好。他常常模仿一位著名作家的风格表达自己的思想，然后再把这位作家的作品读一遍，看看他模仿得是否逼真。他假装名叫“赛伦思·杜古德”的老太婆，开始替这家报纸撰稿。1722年春夏期间，詹姆斯在《新英格兰报》上刊登了杜古德夫人的来信。这些信嘲讽了波士顿形形色色的人物和事件，正因为这些信，詹姆斯被关进了监狱。虽然詹姆斯不愿向当局说明这些信出自谁的手笔，他还是被释放了。本杰明害怕有人说出他就是这些具有冒犯性的信件的炮制者，他打定了主意，要离开波士顿。