Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-02-16

sH
Paul Laurence Dunbar, the famous
negro poet, is dead. In Dayton, Ohio,
the other day, with his aged mother
at his bedside, the author of "Malin-
dy" and a hundred other choice liter
airy bits breathed his last. For three
years Mr.. Dunbar had been seriously
ill, and for the last twelve months
critically afflicted. Always of delicate
physique he fell prey to- tuberculosis
Though he was aware that he could
not survive, the young man, whose
name had become almost household
word on two continents, refused to
neglect his work. He wrote his last
poem but a few months ago. 1t was
for his Christmas book, "Howdy,
Honey, Howdy?" and when that was
finished his strength had so far failed
that he could hardly lift pen.
Mr.. Dunbar visited his mother in
Chicago year ago. He was then on
the decline, but was anxious to see
the inspiration of his "Maundy"-his
mothers name being Malinda-and
risked the trip. The sharp lake winds
were too much for the enfeebled
lungs, and he fell critically i'll. When
a bit stronger he expressed a wish to
return to Dayton, his birthplace, and
he was carried into his old home,
weak and emaciated, several months
ago. He never emerged again.
The passing of Dunbar is sure to be
heard with sincere regret wherever
the English language is spoken. Be-
ginning at the age of Z, this remark
able individual turned out poems and
prose works of exquisite beauty. For
years, however, he met with no recog-
milton Always modest and retiring,
he encountered so many discourage
ments that when success did come he
greeted it with well-nigh prayerful
gratitude.
...r. Dunbar died in the flower OF his
manhood. He gained renown second
only to james Whitcomb Riley and
Eugene Field, and many critics fav-
ored him above both He had count
less admirers in Chicago, and, in fact,
called this city his second home Re-
ports from Dayton stated that funeral
arrangements had not been complet-
ed, but that the obsequies probably
| would take place early next week,
with burial in Woodland cemetery,
that city.
Mr.. Dunbar's rise in the literary
world was rapid. From a place as
elevator boy in Dayton office build
ing at 81 week to the pinnacle of
negro lyric fame is a far stride, but
| this young genius took it with none
to gainsay him the laurels. Born in
Dayton, June q, 1872, the youngster
was surrounded by poverty through
his early childhood. His parents were
| Joshua and Matilda Burton Dunbar,
| and. both had been slaves in the south
| in ante-bellum days. The father was
bornon a plantation in Kentucky, but
apparently was man above the ordi-
nary, for he sought to escape from
! serfdom and succeeded by means OF
the famous underground railway"
He fled to Canada, where he learned
to read and write, and also the prim-
airy elements of arithmetic.
Paul was educated in a cursory
manner-as he was compelled to re-
main at home much Of the time-in
the Dayton public schools. He was
so bright, however, that he had no
difficulty in keeping up in his classes,
and at the age of 10 he was gradu-
ated from the high school. In the
meantime he had been running the
elevator, writing verses on the fly
leaves Of school books and on pieces
of wrapping paper picked up on the
floor of his car. His father died when
he was IL years old, and upon the lad
deyolved most of the burden of sup
porting his widowed mother.
Mr.. Howell's comment had been SO
SINCERE that Dunbar soon was in daily
receipt of scores of letters from all
parts Of the country. James Lane Al
len added his word of praise, and the
editions of the poets works were soon
exhausted. He brought out new
edition called Lyrics Of Lowly Life"
in 1896, which gained general sale.
Two years later he brought out a col
lection of short stories, Folks From
Dixie" and the same year saw the
publication Of novel, 'The I'm
called" In the following year, 1899,
appeared Poems Of Cabin and Field
Mr. Dunbar was much in Chicago.
He was at the worlds fair and fol.
lowed the late Frederick Douglas as
the representative Of Hayti in charge
of, the building and exhibits Of that
country at the exposition. Much Of
his earliest work was done for the
Chicago Record, the Chicago Daily
News, Harper's Magazine and the
New York Independent.
In 1897 Mr.. Dunbar made tour Of
Great Britain under the management