Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-06
JOHN GODFREY SAKE.
IN EMAChTED FORM, TOTTERING
STEPS AND SHRUNkEN CHEEK.

The Old Poet a Mere Shadow of His
Former Seif-He Seldom Goes Beyond
the Confnes OF rs Roons-Reads but
Little.
Ii large and iu1iriously furnished apart
n1ant in four-story brown stone house on
State street, in the city OF Albany, and
almost within stones throw of the great
capitol, sits or walks or reclines throughout
the day man of 20 years Of age. With hair
that is silvery white, full beard that Is
gray white. a form that is bent and enact
ated, step that IS slow and tottering, end O
cheek that is pallid ard shrunken-his blue
eyes, yet full and lustrous, alone indicate tho
strength and pride Of other days This man
is John Godfrey SAKE, the poet
The Old poet is now Euch changed IN form
and feature, being merely q shadow Of his
former self During the first three years Of
his residence in Albany be spent some hour
each pleasant day in strolling about the beau
tiful park near by, or TRANQUILITY sitting there
in @ shady arbor, watching the children at
their play. But during the past two years no
public eye has seen him, for Ii that long in
tervel he has OF his own choice been carefully
secluded in bis room He neither rides nof
=
spends his melancholy days consists OF
suite Of three rooms, located in the rear end
of the house, on the third floor. and overlook
ing the noble Hudson to the south.
WATCHING TIE RIVER GRAFT
Here BY the window he whiles away much
Of his time in watching the busy river craft
and il contemplating the picturesque land
scape OF street attire he no longer has q
need; in dressing gown and slippers he PAGES
the floor with slow and trembling steps, SCI
dom OF never going beyond the confines Of
his own rooms. He prefers to have perfect
quiet about him, and cftentines dislike5 to
be disturbed cTen By member Of lis oT1I
family.
1t is long time since he last ecrsented TO
receive q stranger, or even a friend, or in ac-
quaintance Of former days.
x cannot bear" he said, with pathoe, TO
be forcibiy reminded Of what once waS-of
the days of my hope ard strength, when the
world had charms that now are dead TO me;
before sickness had deprived me Of my health
and death had robbed ne OF M loved ones
In 1881, on his first coming to Albany, tho
eminent physicians MON his family con-
suited in his behalf preljc.ed that he would
not survive two years longer.
He goes to bed between the hours Of Q and
10 o'clock in the evening, and rises ct about
$50 in the morning. He complains much Of
insomnia, and during the day is often very
restless, suffering from neuralgia in the head.
When not sitting in an easy chair or moving
leisurely about his room, be reciines upon q
couch He eats often but very sparingly,
and partal.es Of the plainest Of food, indiges-
ton being one Of his principal bodily ills. Of
his valet, q mddle-aged colored man who by
reason Of prior service with eminent people at
Washington and other places is more than
ordinarily Intelligent and entertaining), the
poet is very fond, Chatting with him now and
again with q more than usual degree Of in
terest and animation.
READS COMPARATIVELY LITTLE.
Until quite recently he devoted a gooij
share Of his lime to q perusal CT tho standard
poets and the leading magazines, those Of
tho latter to whose pages ho was once O val
ued contributor being still sent him regularly
and unsolicited by the publishers thereof. in
kindly remembrance of past services. For
some years he has not read the daily papers,
and evinces little or no interest in current
events.
1T pains me-" he said, ito meet with Che
details Of so much crime and so many casual
ties" ~------ -------
Indeed, be reads comparatively little of any
kind .Iow-occasionally page or two, may
be, of enc OF lis fav0rite prose authors, that
mainly consist Of Hawthorne, Dickens and
Thackeray, judiciously selecting therefrom
matter Of cheerful tone and subject. When
undisturbed he is much given to musing; but
at times viii converse willingly and auently,
displaying thereby power Of memory that,
in view Of his feeble physical condition, is
quite unlocked for, recently surprising his
sou not little By reciting verbatim one Of
Charles Lalnb,s longest essays
His thoughts often revert TO his irreparable
loss Of wife and children, speaking of each
teEderly AMI regretfully, and manifesting a
keen interest in the proper care Of their
gravcs-ever dwelling On the domestic afllic-
tons which have broken his heart, and cnvcl-
opcd his once brilliant intellect in n br0oiing
and incurablc elanchclv.-Drooklyn Maya
zine.