Saxe, John Godfrey (1816-1887), a humorist whose command of rhyme was as complete as that of “Ingoldsby.” He was a prolific writer of humorous verse, and also wrote much that is in a serious vein. Mr. Saxe was an ardent politician, holding the position of State Attorney for Cheltenden, co. Vt., and in 1859, and again in 1860, was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor of that state. Many of his poems saw original publication in Harper’s Magazine and the Atlantic Monthly.
Scollard, Clinton (1860), a writer of fanciful and sparkling verse. His books of verse, Pictures in Song, With Reed and Lyre, and Old and New World Lyrics, have been successful.
Seccomb, John (1708-1793). Educated at Harvard, and settled as a minister at Chester, Nova Scotia, where he died. Author of “Father Abbey’s Will,” a humorous piece of verse, published in the Gentleman’s Magazine, May 1732.
Shanly, Charles Dawson (1811-1875), born in Ireland and died in Florida. He is claimed as a Canadian, he having held a government office for fifteen years in Canada before going to New York to engage in journalism. He was editor of Vanity Fair and Mrs. Grundy, New York publications, and contributed to the New York Leader, Atlantic Monthly, and other periodicals. He wrote “A Jolly Bear and his Friends,” “The Monkey of Porto Bello,” “The Truant Chicken,” and “The Walker of the Snow,” a well-known poem. See Lighthall’s Songs of the Great Dominion.
Sharp, Luke. See Robert Barr.
Shaw, Henry Wheeler, 1818-1885 (“Josh Billings”). In compilations of American humour “Josh Billings” has always been popular. His pungent paragraphs are very convenient to fill the chinks between longer articles. A great deal of his humour is in the spelling; but his “sayings” are full of philosophy and wisdom, to which the orthography gives a certain quaintness. His publications are Josh Billings his Sayings, Josh Billings on Ice, Every Boddy’s Friend, and Josh Billings’ Spice Box.
Shelton, Frederick William (1814-1881), author of The Trollopiad, Rector of St. Bardolph’s, Peeps from the Belfry, etc. Mr. Shelton was a clergyman who found authorship more congenial and profitable, and so devoted himself to writing.
Sherman, Frank Dempster (1860), author of Madrigals and Catches and Lyrics for a Lute, volumes of dainty verse.
“Sherwood Bonner.” See MacDowell.
Shillaber, Benjamin P. (1814-1890). No series of newspaper articles in the humorous vein attracted greater attention than that written by Mr. Shillaber under the nom de guerre “Mrs. Partington.” These short articles were full of good-natured humour, and never failed to draw a smile from the reader.