Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-12
POETRY.
"PROGRESS"-A SATIRICAL POEM.

The New York papers speak in high terms of ,
new poem by j. G. SAKE, ESQ.,, who is described
as sandy-haired, long-legged Yankee, who arriv-
ed IN New York about six weeks ago from the
northwest corner of the Green Mountain State. and
brought with him the manuscript of his poem
which he wished to see in print 1t is added tina,
the very first publisher he called upon, Mr. Joseph
Allen, was 80 much struck with its merits that he
at once agreed to bring it out. few extracts are
given-among the rest the following Introductory
lines
"In this our happy and progressive" age,
When all alike ambitious cares engage
when beardcss boys to sudden sagcs grow,
And miss her nurse abaudons for beau;
When Tor their dogmas non rcsisants fight,
When ounces lecture and when dandcs write
When, martial honors to the children thrown.
Zach 1--WE loot minor is "Major" grown;
When matrons, seized with oratoric pangs,
Give happy birth to masculine haraneues,
ana spinsters trembling for the nations fate,
Neglect their stockings to preserve the state;
When critic wits their brazen iustrc shed
On golden authors whom they never read,
With parrot praise Of "Roman grandeur" speak,
And in bad English euogisc the Greek;
When facts like these apprehension bring,
May net, unccnsured, the attorney sing ?"
The following is hit at fashionable education in
Ladies' Schools -
y w mere hapless maids, IN spite OF wish or taste,
On VAIN eaccomp lishmcnts" their moments waste,
BY cruel parents here condemned to wrench
Their tender Threats in mis- -proDouncng Frcnch
Here doomed to force, by unrclcntng knocks,
Reluctant music from tortured box;
Here taught, in inky shades and rigid lines,
To perpetrate equiyoca ''desgns."
Drawings" that prove their title plainly true,
BY showing Nature drawn and "quartered" too 20
In portion Of the poem referring to social pro-
gress, the poet makes the following invocation to
France, which New York contemporary recon-
mends to the notice of the Harpers:
'lnvcntive France! what wonder work ing schemes
Astound the world whcne'er Frenchman dreams
What fine spun Neutrality-suspicious. new
Sublime, stupendous every thing but true
One little favor, "Imprrial France 90
Still teach the world 10 cook, to dress, TO dance;
Let, if thou wilt, thy boots and BARRIERS roam,
But keep thy morals and thy crceds at home.'
The writer WfqNls up with the Press, and va
rety of subjects, such as
'Bibles and Novels. Treatses and Songs,
Lectures on 'Rights" and Structures upon wrongs
Verse III all metres, Travels in all climes
Rhymes without reason, Sonnets without rhymes;
lransiaons from the FRENCH" vilcly done,
The wheat escaping, leaves the chaf alone;
ilemoirs, where ounces sturdily essay
To cheat Oblivion of her certain prev:
CritIques, where podants vauntingiy expose
Unlicensed verses in unlawful prose 80
lampoons, whose authors strive in vain to throw
Their headless arrows from ncrveless bows
Poems by youths, who, crossing Nature,s W ill
Harangue the landscape they were born to till
Small Epigrams, all sadly ont of Joint,
And poIntlcss, save the ''exclamation point
w men stands IN state, with vacant wonder raught,
The pompous tombstone Of some pauper thought"