Of Poets and PestsThe story goes that Virgil had a pet housefly, and when the insect died, Virgil spent 800,000 sesterces—nearly all of his net worth—for an extravagant funeral. Celebrities swarmed ...

This plain suit would have created a stark contrast between Franklin and those in the elaborate dress typical of the opulent French Court, and Franklin crafted his appearance knowing that it was a ...