The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-10
ABDEYLE C. II, SOUTH CAROLINA FRIDAY MORNING. TO-
tFrom the Syracuse Journal.l
John Godfrey Sake.

John Godfrey SAKE.
The world is not disposed to give n man
credit for moro than one thing at time
Bryant is known as the poet rather than the
publisher. There are plenty of people who
arc aware that Longfcllow was, for years,
one Of the most popular and successful Pro-
fcssors of Harvard College. Doctor Hitch
cock writes and breaches excellent sermons.
but fame has covered them with geological
strata; aud when Perciva died, the World
mourned the poet and not the geologist.
John G. Sake supports, in the molly ranks
of life, the title Of 1.-THE witty poet;" which
WAS long since awarded him by accIamation,
and title wlich-unlike hosts Of others
is richly deserved. lie is, indeed, spoken of
occasionally as the "cdtor Of the Bcrlington
Sentinel but he might have edited that
hcbdoinadal for century without having
been suspected 10y nine people out of ten, OF
having finger in its pi, or its leaders. SAKE
is known to the public as the witty poet,
and title is barnacle that will cling to his
anatomical tmbers until they are sl,ivcrcd
by the bomb of death-a missile that makes
no noise when it explodes. But, like every
other son Of genius, SAKE lives an inner iii.
OF which the world knows but little, so that
those who love and admire the poet may be
constrained to admire and love the man.
Sake Is a cOnversationalist-a word that
carries its own superlative with it. As s,,cl,
VIC have rarely met his peer or his ST.
perior. lie brings to bear upon his forte Of
conversational power the effective artillery
OF a comprehensive. Intelligence, an opulent
fancy, the kcenest wit, the rcadest rcpartec,
and possesses that faculty of adapting him.
self to trivial, or wrestling with a lofty
subject, the envy Of which is as common as
its lack. His language is ever fresh and
plquant-never stale and Improbable. lie
talks as easy as brook flows; and, like the
brook, the wide margins ofhis conversations
are beautifed by violets and clover blossoms
OF simple and elegant rhetoric One Of tile
secrets OF his power in this respect exists in
the fact that Sake is n thorough scholar. The
classics are his playthings. lie remembers
what he has studied, and can quote the knot
tlest Greek sentences with no more trouble
than he cxpends in the act of respiration.-
ne knows every spear of grass in the field
Of bellies lcttrcs. Metaphysics are never a
dose to him. and his love for the natural
sciences is almost unnatural. He is we'll
informed man-to adopt conventional
phrase which really means more than it
seems to mean-able to cope with the pro-
fessor, the divine, the savant and sure to
hold his own" with the best of them. His
power is an educated power, allied to gen.:
ius OF no ordinary character, and controlled
by the strongest good sense, the most. re-
fined good taste, and the incest sense of
propricty. lie makes no show of his learn
ing; lie never attempts to air his yocabul-
AIRY ; but it is impossible for nim to con-
verse at all without evincing the qualities
which We have here set downto his credit
and rcnowD.
Sake possesses the attribute of geniality
to remarkable extent. The secret of this
possession lies in his own heart. Tie
heart is a gushing fountain, and not an
Artesian well. Its emotions flow forth
spontaneously, because they must they
are hot drawn up in buckets. He is not
soured by care or suffering. Through them
all--and he has had his full share-he has
preserved an amiahility, feeling of fratern-
ity that boams from his honest face like a
morning sun. lie loves and hates most
cordially-loves the good, the beautiful
and true, and hates their opposites. lie is
perfectly familiar with the acids of sar-
casm, but he never employs thcm-upon
the vitrIol tLrower's principe-to crafty
any private piquc or animosity. His wit is
attic; it never grovels in the basement.
1t is ever ready to flow, and OF its flow he
himself is unconscious.
1t might be supposed that one villa had
climbed to the pinnaclcs of popularity
who had been flattered, as the world loves to
fiatter its favorites-would be in danger
of entertaining sclf-conceit which would
render him repulsive to his less favored fcl-
lows. This is not SO. SAKE possesses Just
appreciation of his own abilties-and he is
to he pitied who does not-but it Is as dif.
ferent from the feeling Of selfconceit as THAI:
bergs "I.ast Rose Of Summer IS different
from dried flower; Not one who really
knows SAKE can fail to credit him with mod.
esty rs well as with genius.
u Readiness is one Of Saxe's prominent CHAR.
!, acteristics. Tax him as you will, you will
always find him equal to the emergency
As pretty instance Of this quality, let us
mentioissthe fact, that when he was last in
this city, and just as lie was preparing To
leave, a literary gentleman-one of his warm.
J est admirers-begged bis autograph. SAKE
. instantly seized pen-literally the pen ofa
ready writer-and dashed off the following
impromptu:-
My autograph! tits pleasant to reflect
; Although the thought may cost single sigh
. That what banker would with scorn reject
May find a value in q scholars eyel
Is not that neat and pointed9
The career Of JohuFG. SAKE, marked
> though it has been by glorious achievements
and signal honors, has but fairly begun. II
kind heaven continues his life and health
his future will be lit by the rays Of stats that
stl,e world has not yet discovered, and'by
q beautiful flowers whose gems haves not ye,
. spreuted. FupSoes not bold its courts n
vain-and tits no. mean. honor to be it
Il Prime Minister.
The Newark Dahy Advertise gays; The
crop Of strawberries in New Jerssy.this yea
n r.. Ma, -, - In H. Ia "A ffb.