Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-09-25
PROGRESS..A satire,


the rery cevcrest poems of the age. The pcrusal
of it has afforded us especial qualification. be.
'aaSe, while 1t is rich in cpgrammatic point,
sparkling with wit and humour, and withal. dis
closes uncommon poirer OF sarcasm in the au-
thor, it is written in the kinlea spirit and with
out an apprcciabe infusion of unfair severity
from the first line to the last. 1t is very keen
and polished but good-naturcd and discrimina-
ting, castgaton of the mulhlorm Follics of the
day that are marshallcd under the imposing ban
ner of " PROGRESS Mr.. SAKE is an ddgiraJlc |
Satrist, and we mean to tell lin so if ever we .
get an opportunity It is so rare that this en-
dowment is found in Saf hands-so seldom that
one who
has giants strength"
is willing to iorcgo the inhuman ftn of
using it like gioni,"
that when n really civilized and enlightened and
humane possessor of the faculty divine as
sumcs the Ccnsor's ungratcful office. we are
glad to acknowledge his authority and bow TO
his DEGREES 1t is better to iqugh man out of
his follics than to Rog him out besides being,
beyond dispute, more practicabie. But to one
who possesses the ready ab3ay to ridiculo those
about him, the temptation to exercise it merci-
icSyiy is prodigious--it is only not irresistible
Mr.. SAXEs Poem is delightful example of
the true and generous use and purpose Of Satire
Pointed but never personal. earnest and severe
but never ill-tempcred, it seeks TO reform rather
than to punish. 1t makes us join in the laugh
which the exposure Of our own absurditics and
(olles eXcites, and unite in condcmning the vi
ccs that we practice. This, we take it, is the
| legitimate and proper Office and function Of
Satirst--to arrest the disease not by killing, but
by curing, the patient.
The vcrsiication of the poem is easy, flowing
and graceful; and, besides, Mr.. SAKE stops when
he has reached his paint. lie never smothers
a happy conceit, or a striking image, in a sea
of words. Commend us to this practicc We
airays loved the young man, and respected the
father, between whom the following correspond
ence took place: Dear Father. am going to
be married. -" Dear Son, Go ahead" Mr..
Sake is something Of this temper. and, on the
whole, we incline to paraphrase his own wit
against himself, and say
yet Imayl he sing to Yankee license true
n [A}qrOred pyl Horace and Mnerro' too
: We justify our high opinion OF the excellence
of this Satire by few extracts.
The following hits are at the Z" Frcnch-taught
in-siX-casy-lc,son5' system:
In other times 'twas many years ago
The scholars course tul.-onc, rough and slow,
The tar HGn1ulli's were sought III tears,
o And came, the trophy OF Iabonous years.
Nor Lramlugs shrine each idle youth may seek,
, And, spending there shilling and week,
{ tAt iiLntcst cost of study, cash and lungs
i Come back, like Runor, with "a hundred tongues :
. Nor less o Progress, are thy newest rules
Enforced anI honored in the" Ladies : ,hoos =
=. Where Education. in IL nuDcr -rns",
Gives place TO Lcamings shallowest pretencc:
Where haplcs' minds. III spite OF wish or taste,
= On vain accomplishments thclr moments waste;
: By crun. parents here condemned to wrench
| Thor. II Ter tnrp1ts IN I'M 'prpuolnclng French
l. Here doomed to force by uurc.cntIng knocks,
l. Reluctant music from Il tortured box
Here taught, IN inky shades and riGid lines,
:, To peTpctmte equiyocal designs, :
- Drawings that prove their title plainly true,
by showing nnturc " drawn" ana quartrred' toe
i The following is a fine cuiogy on the sturd
Saxon" tongue Of our ancestors;
/ Oftongucs each maiden had but one t is said,
c (inoD4h, t was thought TO serve lady, hrad1
But that was ENGLlSA--grrut and GLORIOUS tongue
That CHATHAM spoke, y MILTON. SHAKESPEARE sun
/ i.sl tn9u4 l TOO idt TO re- my uL.,Seu
! L.; lovers breathe ltalan-Lkr, IN sootn,
20 Its singers, soft, cra-ru!a'' and SMOOTH
But for tongue, whose AMP" powers embrace
" Beauty and l1Icr, s8aulay ald grace,
Is Ornate or PLAIN, harmonious yet strong,
ind formed alike Tor cuquencc and song
y tive me the tN1IlNH--apest tongue 10 paint
N \ sagc or Ounce, a Villain OF SAINT
To spur the S1thiu, couis The distressed
l. To lash the oppc-sor, and 10 s)utlc the oppressed
is To lend fantastic iiumur ilrrst scope,
To marshal all his !au9lirr-moVin9 troop,
SnJ WI his hrj'[,t,st and hi, kerne,t stinEs.
Progressive " fasaio,t receives this trbut
lmonr others:
y Fashion, intrusive, seeks 10 rule the heart;
K ts'Iut'S n,ic"y mem JUS now ron! 10 mourn
: And marks il, measure in ri5toa's shade!
= Morr hnpols q, WAen through h'r "ahtoh laws
Shows how "thr narrow road" is easiest trod
or ana now ginieri,st' worm, may worship "od'
And reimbursement wear naughty face;
How sinners, long in follys mazcs whirled,
Id With pomp and slcndor may "renouncc the world
How with all saints hereafter to appear