Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-27
Health Of the Poet SAKE.

At the risk of being again charged by the
Montpelier -irgus with abusing Mr.. John G.
SAKE, To whom we never in our lives made
other than kindly allusion, we copy the fol
lowing account of his health, given 10y a re-
porter of the indianapolis Journal, who has
made recent visit 10 the poets home in
Brooklyn:
In a choice neighborhood, in spacious
and ornamental court known as First place,
| found his residence. a handsome brown
stone house MOI" the servant who
answered the door-bel said Mr. SAKE
could see nobody, but | could see Mrs.
Sake" Presently that lady appeared with
IN amiable face and sweet voice and hair
scarcely begun to turn 10 silver. | intro
duced myself. Mr.. SaNc-didn't you
know :" she said, has not been able TO see
his friends for some time now, and has not
done any work for three years. But really
don't like to talk To you" she continued
frankly, because some newspaper men have
been here and have carried away terrible
reporis-that Mr.. SAKE was paralyzed and
that he had softening of the brain and other
disagreeable and totally unfounded rumors
that have seemed to grow worse and worse
with repetition.
| assured her of my good intentions and
reminded her that had called as former
acquaintance of Mr. SAKE.
when did Mr. SAKE write his last
poems:' asked.
Three years ago last winter. He then
sent six or EIGHT to the magazines and
large number for MIR. Bonner of the Led,qer
But gradually he yicdeito the nervous pros
tration occasioned 10y railroad accident the
previous winter
That was in Virginia believe" | said.
Il remember it.
Yes" said Miss SAKE the poets second
daughter, who had Just GOMEZ in and 10 whom
| had been presented, 1t was on the Pan
handle road some fifteen OF twenty miles
from rittsburg. in the night
You see, explained Mrs. SAKE, ''the
train was flung from the track, and the sleep
cr in which Mr., SAKE was lying rolled over
and over He said he was conscious of the
oyeriurnng. and his thought was i wonder
il this car will ever stop rolling Then he
was struck and became unconscious. \ eat
tie drover from Texas was On the car, and
when all had scrambled from the wrec!. and
got their things ON and were standing on the
roadbed above seeing it burn this cattle
droyer went back 10 try 10 recover his
oyercoat. The llames lighted up the dark
ness somewhat, and as he looked in he saw
a mans foot and shouted 10 him. Mr.. SAKE
had Just recovered consciousness and he was
lying on his back looking up through the
windows directly over him observing the
stars. He answered the voice. and present
Il, ,he ,ll,nbris was removed from him and he
scrambled out Ills back Was hur,. lie had
ON his llanncls only, and with these and an
overcoat which he picked up in the wreck |
he rode twelve miles that cold winter night. |
And there was Il very odd ,hlIg about !
il, . she added, with smile when they |
reached their destination i was found that |
Mr. SAKE had the overcoat which his rercuer |
had lost and his rcscucr had his 2
And the trouble with Mr.. SaNe now |
:" | asked.
lis merely nervous prostration,' said She |
He Is only siNty-three, and physicians say |
there is no'reasoil Why be should nal wholly /.
recover. Physically he seems pretty well. /
He eats well, and shows the possession of a |
hardy constitution. He does not write, but /
he exercises his critical faculty and knows as |
well how thing ought to be said AS he ever I
did. He distrusts himself, however, and !