Evening journal., 1911-08-03
RISES TO FAME
AS NEGRO POET

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
GEORGETOWN, Del, Aug. g.
Stanford h. Davis, the colored poet of
this town, who is living in Atlantic
City, has climbed to fame and promi-
nence among the colored race in the
east quickly. and today is heralded as
the greatest young negro poet in the
United States, having already received
recognition from President Taft.
With dreams that he might some day
be as prominent among the members
of his race and be one of its great pro-
moters for good as Booker T Wash
ington, young Davis, whils living in a
hovel in the negro district known as
the Hill" became conscious Of the
fact that he possessed poetical ability
Finding himself handicapped because
of finances he finally implorsd the aid
of some of the white residents of this
town, and. presenting his view of life
and his ideas as TO what he thought he
could do for his race eventually gained
their confidence and was given assist
ance. Among the first to whom he pre-
sented himself were DR.. and Mrs. V.
S. Collins, who gave him assistance.
The poet says of them: "No two peo-
pie in the whole career Of his life have
had greater influence over him than
Dr. and Mrs. Collins, who helped him
in a very critical time, while seeking
an education. And the kind words from
tina to time while in school by both,
firing his ambition to do something
for his race, will never be forgotten.
Davis says, Il promised faithfully that
1 would do something to benefit my
race and please them" His white
friends succeeded in getting him in
the Dover Academy for Colored Stu
dents where he proved to be the mas
ter of the tasks given him. Leaving
the Dover school he entered Princess
Anne Academy, Md. and it was while
there that he commenced to display his
poetical ability. Prof. Frank Trigg,
who was principal there at that time
told the promising poet that he was
much indebted to Dr. and Mrs. Collins
and gave him daily warnings to be a
good man and steadfast in making
/ good of opportunities which they had
made possible for him. In 1905 while
at the Academy, Prof. Trigg made pub
lie to the teachers and students young
Davis first poem, and this grsatly en-
couraged him. In 1907 the promising
colored poet was graduated and since
that time has made good use of his
talent and has written many poems
Two years after he graduated. 1909
Davis received personal honor from
President Taft for his writings. Dayi:
has the honor of being Princess Anne
Academy's poet, the highest honor
ever conferred on one of the students
Prof. Trigg predicts that Davis viii
be the greatest poet of his race Amer
ica has ever produced, If ambition il
sustained
Professor John d. Brooks, formerl,
superintendent of the Sussex count,
schools, white and colored, greatly
helped Davis and corrected his frs
works. Others who have been instru
mental In making him what he is ar'
DR.. James II. Chapman. whom the pos
says helped him more than any single
white friend at home; Dr. John II
Hammond lawyer Daniel ]. Layton
Jr. Attorney Charles L. Moore, who a
that time was Mayor of this town, ant
Miss Emma Wright. Davis has writer
! two books of poems. The first is calle,
/ the Lyrics Of Consolation" which 4
said TO have a wide distribution at At
+ lantic City through the hands of Mrs
MacAllister of the Dennis Hotel
His last book, which has just bee
issued from the Knickerbocker Press
: of New York entitled "Priceles
2 Jewels" is now on sale. The book /
Z a beautifully bound volume Of on
= hundred and thirty-eight pages, con
tains the photographs of the poet an
] his mother, Mrs. Lena Ellen Davis
J and about ona hundred poems