The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-10-05
Observations
Of the Genius
who is
Slowly Dying
Paul Dunbar
COIOred Poet

was then Is years old, and at this
time Mr.. Samuel Wilson, a teacher at
the intermediate school which | at
tended, did much to shape and influ-
ence me. He was himself writer OF
verse, and refined, Travelled and won
derfully read, he criticised my work
and encouraged me both to compose
and recite.
After l entered the high school the
fact of my being the only negro in
my class was great spur to my am,
bition. The boys were very kind to
me, however, and during the second
year | was admitted to their literary
society, of which l afterwards became
president. At this time I contributed
frequently to the High School Times,
later being the editor.
"The first literary work for which
/ was paid was prose composition
brought out by the Kellogg syndicate,
my patrons taken in the order in
which they came being the Chicago
Record, Detroit Free Press, Boston
Green Bag and New York Independ-
ent.
CATER leaving school I secured a
place as elevator boy in large bust
ness house in Dayton, and, anxious
to fit myself for something perma-
nent, kept set of law books in a
deep window seat near, porting over
them in the intervals between trips. |
had collected a number of my poems
under the title Oak and Ivy and
now tried to arrange with a Dayton
publishing house to bring them out
An advance payment of 800 was re-
quired; but, upon consideration, the
firm agreed to wait for their compen-
sation until the poems were sold.
When they appeared [ became my
own agent, offering them to those
whom / carried up and down. In a
few weeks the entire edition of 1000
volumes was disposed of. One of
these happening to fall into the hands
of DR.. H. M. Tobey of Toledo, super
intendent of the state asylum for
the insane, he inclosed his check for
a dozen copies, which was followed
by an order for two dozen more.
These were judiciously distributed;
when asking to see the author him
self, | went to Toledo and met the
man whom I consider my greatest
benefactOr.
Encouraged by the success Of my
first venture, | brought out another
collection of verse. Majors and Mi
nors,' and these eliciting a favorable
review in Harper's Weekly from
William Dean Howell s, new readers
were added to my list. The Century
was the goal Of my ambition, but it
took nine years of effort to reach it. /
began sending my contributions to
the editor when | was fourteen years
old, and when [ was twenty-three he
accepted three poems at once. This
exceeded my highest hopes, and was
so proud and happy.
''During the Worlds Fair I went
to Chicago remaining several years;
when, having decided to devote N.Y.
self to literature, I removed to New
York, where I wrote a series Of slum
stories, contributing to the Journal.
Sun and Tribune, and doing a little
work for the World.
cat this time my Lyrics Of Lowly
Life appeared. William Dean How
ellis writing the introduction to it.
Folks From Dixie followed, when,
embracing a long-desired opportunity
[ went abroad, spending six months
in London. There I ives entertained
by the literary clubs Of the city, and
my books were brought out by sub
stantial British edition.