The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 3, October, 1851

A lively essay opens by positioning John G. Saxe within the lineage of English and American satirists, contrasting the biting wit of Horace’s school with the more personal, often spite‑driven verses that have dominated the New World. The author sketches the state of American satire in the mid‑nineteenth century, noting its preoccupation with social “progress” and the fashionable buzzwords that promise an easier labor, while gently exposing the absurdities behind those lofty slogans.

The piece then turns to Saxe’s own story: a Vermont farm boy who pursued a liberal education, entered the legal profession, and rose to prominence as a Democratic leader and district attorney. Alongside his public duties, he cultivated a reputation as a magazine contributor and poet, best known for his satirical poem “Progress.” Through crisp rhythm and playful wit, Saxe lampoons contemporary follies, from self‑help philosophies to the pretensions of “attractive labor,” offering readers a sharp yet entertaining glimpse of the era’s cultural climate.