John Baker

“ John's College. Cole (MSS. xlix. 93) describes his funeral as 'very solemn, with procession round the first court in surplices and candles.'
Baker was a grandson of Colonel Baker of Crooke, a staunch royalist, who distinguished himself in the civil war by his gallant defence of Newcastle against the Scots in 1639. A nephew of the antiquarian, George Baker, entered as a fellow commoner at St. John's only the day before his uncle's seizure. Few scholars have enjoyed a better reputation than Baker even among those who differed from them in opinion ”

“ Mr Wotton told me Mr Baker of St John’s College, Cambridge, had writ the history and antiquities of that college; and that he is in every way qualified (being a very industrious and judicious man) to write the hist. and antiq. of that university.”
Thomas Baker, b. 1656, d. 1740, was a Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge, but on the accession of George I. he would not take the oath of allegiance and lost his Fellowship. The College, however, treated him with consideration and he was allowed to remain as a commoner-master until his death. ”

“ The money earned by working overtime was spent in books. Before he was twenty-one years old his exertions produced severe illness. On the death of Kippax, Baker succeeded to his business, afterwards removing to Ingram Court, where he was in partnership with John William Galabin. In 1770 he published 'Peregrinations of the Mind,' a series of twenty-three essays, after the style of the 'Rambler,' and upon such subjects as the stage, love, happiness, war, patriotism, cruelty, the unreasonable compliments paid to the ancients for their works, &c. ”

“ If Baker had relied upon his own unquestionable merits he would have been reasonably sure of succeeding in a community so well acquainted with him as Sangamon County. But to make assurance doubly sure his friends resorted to tactics which Lincoln, the most magnanimous and placable of men, thought rather unfair. Baker and his wife belonged to that numerous and powerful sect which has several times played an important part in Western politics—the Disciples. ”

“ Baker made reply at last.
"Good afternoon. We also are happy, and most honored. How should we address you?"
"My name is Kazu Takahashi, but I am told that I am also Buddha. This I would like to discuss with you, if you have time."
"We have time for nothing else," said Baker.
Buddha's eyebrows raised slightly. "So I was right. They are going to kill you."
Baker glanced at us meaningfully. This giant was no fool. Suddenly there came over me a little thrill of hope. Maybe—but he was speaking again.
"I have not before had opportunity to talk to men from west. Only from China, Japan, Soviet State. ”

“ It’s a shame you can’t have a prance in the city.
John. Yes; you’re a pretty chap to set a lad’s head a whizzing—you are, Jarius Jordan. You’ve been everything by turn, and nothing long.
Jarius. Jes’ so, John, jes so. But I calkilate that with every turn I’ve give myself a h’ist in the world, anyhow. I’ve peddled tin ware, wooden ware, hardware, everywhere. I’ve swapped horses, traded in cattle, druv hogs, and raised poultry. I’ve invented cotton gins, reapers, and mowers, cider presses and match safes, travelled with pictures, poetry books, stationery, and Bibles. ”

“ Item, received of John Johnson for a piece of ground heretofore enclosed by Jeffrey Kelsey and used for a Bowling Alley, 10s.
The entries of 1625-6 remain the same, but in 1626-7 “Mrs. Marie Baker, Widdowe,” pays for the ground
neare the Windmylne at the Causewayhead builded uppon in the lyfetime of Robert Baker, her late husband, deceased, and usually now called Pick a dillie, 30s. ”

“ Harry. Shut up! If you speak again you’re a dead man. Come out here! (Butts obeys.) Now take a seat, and make yourself comfortable.
Butts. (Sitting L.) Comfortable?
Harry. The tables are turned, hey, Butts?
Butts. Oh, you villain, you villain! But you can’t escape me; I’m an officer of the law; never known to take a bribe. I believe in justice, and justice will surely overtake you, John Robinson.
Harry. I sincerely hope I shall some day have justice.
Butts. The hemp has grown, the rope twisted, that will twist your little neck, John Robinson.
Harry. So you are Butts the thief-taker, are you? ”

“ Baker, severely, as he assisted his fallen partner to rise.
"My chair has come apart," laughed Jarley, getting red in the face.
"That's the great trouble with that kind of chair," said Mr. Baker. "You don't seem to mind the mishap very much."
"Oh no," said Jarley, gritting his teeth in his determination not to follow his mad impulse to jump on Mr. Baker's shoulders and clamor for a picky-back ride. "No; I don't mind little things like that much."
Here he stood on his right leg, as he had done before breakfast, and began to hop.
"Hurt your foot?" queried Mr. Baker. ”

“ I'm Baker, these are Chamberlin, Martin, Cady."
"I'm Faulkner," replied the leader of the Americans automatically, and then he abruptly sat down and was violently sick. We waited patiently until he could speak again.
"My God, I didn't believe it when we heard." He was talking to no-one in particular. "One minute we're flying at 450 miles per hour, the next we're picked out of the air like a—like a—"
He gave up. Kazu came into the [44] firelight and squatted down, quite slowly. Baker introduced him. ”

“ Then he leaned closer.
"Phobat Rau has spoken to you of my birth and life here?"
Baker nodded, and then, realizing that Kazu could not see such a microscopic movement, he replied orally.
"He has told us your story in detail. It is a marvel which we can yet scarcely believe. But the greatest marvel of all is that you speak our language, and comprehend so quickly."
Kazu thought of this for a moment.
"Yes, my teachers have done well, I think. I have studied the writings of many great men, but there is yet much that I do not understand. ”

“ I grabbed the handrail for support, and then became aware of a vast blurry shape looming above and of a hand as large as a building that reached down toward the guards, now halfway back to the projection room. In a sort of hypnotic horror I watched the thumb and forefinger snap them and a thirty foot section of railing off into space. Then, very gently the hand plucked the roof from the projection room, exposing Baker and the priest. Yellow-robe dropped his gun and ran towards a corner, but Baker neatly tripped him and then stepped back for Kazu to finish the job. ”

“ Colonel Baker heard156 him murmur something and leaning over the bedside could make out that he was speaking to himself in his native tongue of the oceans and mountains and natural scenery of Hawaii.
He died at San Francisco, Cal., while on a visit to the United States.
Kant (Immanuel, one of the greatest of German metaphysicians, founder of the Critical or Transcendental school of philosophy) , 1724-1804. "Est ist gut," said as he declined a refreshing draught, offered him by one who thought he was suffering from thirst.
Keats (John) , 1796-1821. "I feel the flowers growing over me." ”

“ Conservation with the Soldier-Ghost of the Cave-Love, Jealousy, Tyranny and Suicide as told by the Soldier-Spook.
"As a sequel to the former communication in the Eureka Sentinel, John T. Baker, writing from Ruby Valley, Elko county under date of July I", tells the following extraordinary story. Whether John T. has gone daft or has imbibed too freely of Tom Short's " "Cruiskeen," we are unable to say, but one or the other ails him: Editor Sentinel: As intimated in my former letter, I now proceed to give you the result of my second visit to this somewhat notorious and very remarkable cave. ”

“ In Britain we have to stop at about 44°, and in Switzerland they stop at 40°; but in Norway wheat goes up to the 64th, oats to the 65th, rye to the 67th, and barley to the 70th parallels of latitude, where the annual temperature is 32°, or a little less. They can grow grain in places at least 12° lower in mean temperature than we can in England, and to get in Europe a mean of 55° we should have to go to Madrid or Milan. But take the polar limits of plants liable to be killed off by frost, and the balance then is altogether in our favour. ”

“ He had a mutiny to quell ere many days; and it is at this point we come to see what sort of man is our explorer. He is a muscular Christian of the stoutest type. Heavy fell his hand on skulls of sinning niggers--it was the readiest implement, and down went the offender under the blow so signally that his fellows saw and trembled. Mr. Baker was a great "packer." His asses and camels carried a vast amount of stuff, but so arranged and fitted that no breakdown occurred in the most trying situations for man and beast. ”

“ On succeeding his father at Hardwicke Court in 1841, he took an active part in the administration of other local public institutions, was one of the founders of the soqial science congresses, started what is known as the Berkshire system for the suppression of vagrancy, was president of the chamber of commerce, and captain of the Gloucestershire squadron of the yeomanry cavalry. As a member of the old high church party, Baker contributed liberally to the restoration of Hardwicke, Uley, and other churches. He was deputy-lieutenant of Gloucestershire, and high sheriff in 1847-8. ”

“ He was a man of fifty, compactly and strongly built. A squarely cut goatee, slightly streaked with gray, fell straight from his thin-lipped but handsome mouth; his eyes were dark, humorous, yet searching. But the distinctive quality that struck Mrs. Baker was the blending of urban ease with frontier frankness. He was evidently a man who had seen cities and knew countries as well. And while he was dressed with the comfortable simplicity of a Californian mounted traveler, her inexperienced but feminine eye detected the keynote of his respectability in the carefully tied bow of his cravat. ”

“ For carriers, as well as for permission to pass through his country, Baker was completely dependent on the will of this grasping potentate, whose extortion reached its climax in a demand for the explorer's wife. Leaving the Nile towards the end of February with an escort of three hundred of Kamrasi's men, whom he was soon glad enough to be rid of, Baker pursued his way along the right bank of the Kaja river with only twelve male followers. ”

“ Baker,” said Vane, “what do you say to all this?”
Baker smiled with admirable composure, and replied with crafty moderation, “He is a gentleman, and believes every word he says; but it is all his delusions. Why, to begin, sir, his father has nothing to do with putting him in here; nothing on earth. (Alfred started; then smiled incredulous.) And, in the next place, there are no instruments of restraint here, but two pair of handcuffs and two strait jackets, and these never hardly used; we trust to the padded rooms, you know. ”

“ They will march, not Like some poor exile, bending with his woe, To stop too fearful, and too faint to go; But they will go with free steps; they will bear with them all the arts of civilization, and they will found a Western Empire. Sir, it is possible they may not receive protection, but, at least, they should be shielded from reproach." In June, 1852, Baker arrived in San Francisco, California, and became a citizen of the Golden State. Here he became known as an able criminal lawyer and skillful debater in public life. He was the Republican candidate for Congress 6 William D. Fenton. ”

“ A revised edition, under the title of 'Biographia Dramatica,' appeared in 1782, edited by Isaac Reed. In the second edition Baker's name is given among the list of dramatic authors, and we are told that 'being adopted by an uncle who was a silk throwster in Spital Fields, he succeeded him in his business; but wanting the prudence and attention which are necessary to secure success in trade he soon failed.' Stephen Jones, the editor of the third edition (1812) , says that he died in obscurity at Edinburgh about 1770. ”

“ A basis of notes made by his more industrious father and grandfather is to be detected throughout, and to this he has added only imperfect observations and superficial reading. Thus in his account of lead colic he shows no acquaintance with the recent and admirable discoveries of Sir George Baker [q. v.] ”

“ This dusky potentate had promised Baker every assistance that he could give, but having decided to make an attack on two neighbouring tribes he asked the Englishman to accompany his force and fight for him. This Baker refused to do, and, in revenge, the king sent secret orders to Baker's followers to desert him, and leave him and his wife to starve. In a desolate spot, unable to obtain provisions, Mr. and Mrs. Baker existed for two months, growing weaker daily from fever and want of proper food. ”

“ Baker began to talk again. He was interested in the young companion by his side, this boy so filled with determination, so energetic and forceful and yet so abounding in loyalty and affection, as his grief over Jerry's death and his fondness for his horse testified; this boy who read books and yet had such a whole-souled contempt of affected learning as evidenced by his ill-concealed disdain of the Eastern "dude." "You've never been East," began the ranchman, "or to school?"
"No. I was born in Bismarck, North Dakota," was the answer. ”

“ The affair at Ball's Bluff was a disastrous defeat of great moral effect at the time. The death of Baker, under the circumstances, tended to magnify the national loss, and added lustre to his memory. He may have been rash and impetuous; his personal bravery was not questioned, but universally con- ceded; the fiery genius of the orator, the enthusiasm and earnestness with which he pressed a solution of every great question, may have led him into risks which a more phleg- matic man would have avoided. As a soldier Baker was brave beyond discretion. ”