The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-10

His poem best known was when
Malindy Sings which was written to
his mother, whose name in MaliSda.
Mr.. Dunbar is survived by hismother,
his wife and two half brothers who re-
side in Chicago. He will be buried in
woodland cemetery, this city, the first of
next week, many persons of note being
expected to attend.
Proud of His Race.
The poet prided himself on his unmix-
ed African blood, and preferred the term
.'negNo as applied to his race. The de-
seeHdant Of several generations of slave
ancestry. he was born in Dayton, Ohio,
IN 1872, his parents Oshua and Ma
linda Dunbar-being natives Of Ken
lucky, and his grandparents of the east
eru shore Of Maryland. His father, who
followed the self-acquired trade Of plas-
terer, died when Paul was twelve years
old
This story of his life as told by him
self Is as follows:
My mother who has no education
except what she picked up herself, is
very unusual woman. She taught me to
read when / was four years Old, and
my parents being both fond of books,
used to read aloud to us in the evening
as we sat around the fire. To this I
owe a great deal, but, generally spe ak
ing, the early Influences surrounding me
were not conducive to growth, and airy
development in myself came from fight
ing against them.
Through the evening readings I was
introduced to Robinson Crusoe,' Uncle
Toms Cabin and many other things.
The former I have never read for my
self, but I did run over the latter end
was disappointed in it. The author saw
things through the lens of her own in
tense feeling, and they were nlagnified.
I was educated in the public schools Of
Dayton graduating at the high scne !,
and afterWard having two years study.
INV first arr U0nf rhWDqfnn
made when / was six years Oh came
across verse from W 0rdsWorth. and a
gentleman living in Dayton happening
to have that name, I thought it was
written by him. This impressed it upon
my mind, and as I crossed the railroad
track in going home from SehcOI, / e
member trying to put words together
having juggling sound. After thar I
rhymed continually, my mother Writi1s
down my productions and preserving
them in nastehoard box s. Ny father
used to tell her that / was rot an or-
binary boy, and one OF my regrets; is
that he did not live to realize any of
his hopes in regard TO ne.
What 1 may call my first poetical
achievement grew out &C an Easter
celebration at the Sund1y schco1 tc
which I went, when I composed the
verses had been asked to recite. I was
then thirteen years old, ard ut this time
MI Samuel Wilson, a teacher at the in
termediate school which I attended did
much to shape and influence me He
was himself writer of verse. and re-
fined, Travelled and wonderfully well
read, he criticised my work and 6uCo our
aged me both to compose and reeite.
Only Nero Boy in His Class.
After I entered the high school the
fact Of my being the only negro in my
class was a great spur to my ambi-
ton.
''The boys were very kind to me.
however and during the second year /
was admitted to their literary society.
of which ] afterwards became presi-
dent. At this time I contributed fire.
quentiy to the high school paper, later
being the editor
The first literary work for which /
was paid was a prose composition.
brought out by a syndicate, my patrons
taken in the order in which they came
being the Chicago Record, Detroit
Free Press, Boston Green Bag and
New York Independent
After leaving school I secured q
place as elevator boy in a large bust
ness house in Dayton and, anxious to
fit myself for something permanent
kept a set of law books in a deep win
dow seat near, pouring over them in
the intervals between trips.
II had collected a number Of nv
poems under the title Oak and wv
and now tried to arrange with q Day
ton firm to bring them out An adj
vance payment of 800 was required
agreed to wait for his compensation
until the poems were sold. When they
appeared I became my own agent. Of
ferinR them to those whom / carried
up and down In a few weeks the en-
tire edition of 1000 volumes was dis
posed of. one of these happening to fall
into the hands of DR.. II. a. Tobey OF