The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-03-15
WRITER'S IN GOVERNMENT POSTS
chaueer and Dryden Customs Officers
Lucky Poets and Novelists.

When Robert Burns was driven by the
expenses due TO an increased family to
apply for Government post be thought
himself fortunate in obtaining the billet
OF exciseman. Not that he was blind TO
the disadvantages Of the position.
] THE worst circumstance" he wrote,
IS that the excise division which / have
got is so extensiye-no less than ten par.
shes to ride Overland that II abounds,
besides, with so much business that can
scarcely steal a spare moment" In re-
turn for the strenuous and almost un-
ceasing toll involved in his official duties
the reward was fifty pounds year.
From the very dawn OF English lit
eraturc the State has not been ayerse to
show itself the patron Of literary merit,
and this apart from the laureatship.
honorable but meanly paid Chaucer held
many Offices about the court and under
Government, and was more actively en-
gagged in public affairs than any poet Of
celebrity since his time. 1t is true that
he started in sufficiently lowly fashion.
Appointed comptroller Of the custom OF
wool. skin and leather in the port of
Lodon. he was obliged to keep the books
and fill in commercial documents with
his own hand. William Morris, in "The
Earthly Paradise tells Of
The clear Thames, bordered by its
gardens green, While near the thronged
wharf Godfrey Chaucer's pen
Moves over hills of lading.
Better times were in store for the
father Of English literature. In due
course he was promoted 10 be comptroller
Of petty customs and more than once
took a distinguished share in embassies
and other diplomatic missions.
Chaueer's first great literary successor,
Edmund Spenser, attained to an eminent
position in the Court Of Chanecry Milton
rose still higher, when he secured his
appointment to the post OF foreign or
Latin secretary to the Council of State
under the commonwealth. Even the loss
Of his eyesight did not involve the loss
Of this position, for with him was assoc
lated as colleague another well known
poet, Andrew Marvel
AT the restoration Of Charles III. Aiilton
remained true to his commonwealth
ideals. Not so John Dryden. Only two
years after his verses in praise of Crom. |
well Dryden welcomed Charles III. with |
the poem Astrae Redux," and in due |
course, in recognition of his Royalist |
writings, was granted the post Of comp
trollership of customs, an Emost ident- /
ical Office to that enjoyed by Chaucer.
Asked to celebrate the Battle Of Blen-
helm Joseph Addison was made com.
missioner Of Appeals in the Excise and
aft@ward, as reward for his resultant |
poem, "The Campaign" obtained the
post OF Under Secretary Of State He
became successfully Secretary to the
Lords Justices. who administered the I
Government until The arrival Of George
l., commissioner for trade and the col
onies and finally Secretary of State.
Defoe, the author of Robinson CRU
soe"; Sir Richard Steele, as an essay
list second to none, and Fielding, whose
tom Jones" still ranks among the best
novels in our language were all re-
cipients of Government posts, which
In some cases proved to be of very
nature.
James Thompson famous as the an.
thor Of 1.-THE Seasons and of the song
Rule Britannia" was made Governor of
the Leeward Islands. The sequel il cur
ious. He sent out deputy to do the
work and after paying him cleared three
hundred pounds a year from his COVER
orship. As he was also in receipt of
pension he was able to spend the last
years of his life in ease, in happy CON
trast to poor Robert Burns, weighed
down by sickness. debt and dissipa tion,
lying with curse upon his lips.---From
Tit Bits.