Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-03-29
VERMONT'S FAMOUS POET.
An Interesting Biography of John SAKE
One of His Typical Poems.


One of His Typical Poems.
A genuine service to the reading public
Of Vermont has been performed by our
young townsman, Russell W. Taft. in the
preparation Of biography of the late
John Godfrey SAKE, whose poems are Just
ly celebrated the world over. Strangely
enough no ntting biography of this famous
literary man had ever been published
when Mr. Taft undertook the task Of pre-
pairing such a work and the difficulty of
his work was naturally somewhat in
creased by this fact. lie has succeeded,
however. in preparing an interesting as
well as Il creditnble book. and inasmuch
as only 100 copies of the work were pub
lished. there is likely TO be a sharp de-
mand for them on the part of admirers
of SaXcs poems.
SAKE, who was graduate of Middle
bury college. began life for himself as
lawyer. having practised during the seven
years beginning in 1913 at ST. Adams and
Hishgate. He moved to this city i'm 1850
and made his home in the house now &C.
cupied 10y j. c. Bellroso on South Union
street. Even the aluring outlook fur
nished by an election to the office of
states attorney did not serve to make
him contentod in his profession. and hav-
ing already won wide reputation as a
writer he determined TO abandon the law.
In 1851 he purchased the Vermont Senti-
mel, democratic weekly paper. which he
made an extremely readable publicat ton.
He moved from Burlington to Albany in
1860 taking up his residence in Albany,
n. y, where with the exception of a
period spent in Brooklyn he made his
home until 1887 when death came to re-
lieVe the extreme melanchola from
which he had long suffered
rhe value of Mr.. Tafts book has been
increased by the inclusion of a number Of
fhs hos nf
an excellent idea of their character
can be gained from the following gem:
THE BRIEFLEss BARRlsTER.
An attorney was taking a turn,
In shabby habliments drest;
His coat it was shockingly worn
And the rust had invested his vest.
His brooches had suffered a breach,
His linen and worsted was worse;
lie had scarce a whole crown in his hat,
And not half crown in his purse.
And thus as he wandered along,
A cherries and comfortless elf,
lie sought for relief IN song,
Or comparatively talked to himself
unfortunate man that | am.
I've never client but grief:
+ The case is, I'VE no case at all,
And in brief, I've ncer had a brief!
I've waited, and waited in vain,
Expecting an opening to find.
Where an honest young lawyer might gain
Some reward for the toll of his mind.
'Tis rot that I'm wanting in law,
or lack an intelligent face,
/ That others have cases to plead,
While l have to plead for a case.
| "Oh, how can modest young man
Ere hope for the sma lest pr erosion, -
The professions already so fun
| OF lawyers so full of profession"
While thus he was stroling around,
His eyes accidentally fell
on very deep hole in the ground,
And he sighed to himself 1T is Well"
To curb his emotions he sat
on the curb-stoHc the space Of minute,
Then cried, Here's an opening at last
And in less than jiffy was in it,
Next morning twelve citizens came.
/ CTWas the coroner hade them attend),
/ To the end that it might be determined
How the man had determined his end.
The man was a lawyer, | hear"
Said the foreman, who sat on the Corse,
go LAWYER? alas" said another.
Undoubtedly died of remohsc,'
y third said, "Iie knew the deceased
An attorney well Versed in the laws
and RS to the cause of his death,
Twas no doubt for the want of a cause. "
The jury decided at length
After solemnly weighing the matter,
That the lawyer was drowndcd because
He cnnd not keep his bead above water