The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-01-09
AUTHORS AND THEIR WORKS.
What q Prominent Critic Says Of Our
Literary Productions.

What q Prominent Critic Says Of Our
Literary Productions.
OF the books dealing with great men
Of the race twenty-five years ago one
must read Men Of Mark" by George
Simmons; "The Afro-American Press"
BY I. Garland Penn: ''The Underground
Railroad" by william STILL These books
are, to speak frankly, Of rather doubt
ful value as literary works. but they
tell Of the aspiring and ambitious men
Of the race Of that period. says Charles
Alexander
OF the poets Paul Laurence Dunbar
stands first. His work is that Of
true genius. He created characters and
presented them vividly to his readers.
The, dialect poems Of this writer are
faultless in their portrayal Of planta-
ton Negro life and language, but his
regulation English verse is equally
artistic and admirable. Dunbar will
BE- fully appreciated in about 100
years, If the iconoclastr does not arise
and rob him. Of the credit due him for
his poems.
Alberry whitman and James Mad
ison Bell wrote well their lines, but
what they wrote was not attuned to
tho popular ear, and their books were
not brought ont In such fashion, "a to
reach appreciation: hence some worthy
productions have lost their grip upon
the hearts Of the people Of our gen.
eration.
In the "Souls of Black Folk" by DR..
w. ID. B. Du Bois. the pathetic story
OF just how the sensitive Negro feels
/ 10 told In, a series, Of essays. In his
heart Of hearts the prescription. dis
elimination and injustice suffered by
the average American Negro sting.
but 90 few are able to express the
feeling. DR.. Alexander Cromwell in
africa and America" and DR.. Rufus
L. Perry in "The Cushite." each evinces
ripe scholarship. beauty and power Of
expression, and were 1t not for his
verbosty William Hanibald Thomas
In his '"The American Negro" would
occupy a place with the writer's men,
toned In this paragraph.
Although number Of the bishops
Of the African Methodist Episcopal
church have contributed essays, arti-
cies, books and pamphlets to our lit
erature, very few Of these command
respectful interest because Of the lack
Of that element which imparts to lit
erary composition vital force. Bish-
op Benjamin T. Tanner. the father Of
Henry O. Tanner. the artist; Bishop
I. ]. Coppin and Bishop ]. q. Embry
each contributed books Of interest to
our literature. giving the theological
views Of men Of their station.
John N. Langston wrote we'll. but
hiS "From Virginia Plantation TO the
National Capitol" fell fat almost upon
publication. This book shows q re-
variable mastery Of language. but the
"Sgo' protrudes quite too visibly to
suit the good taste Of his readers.
Judge Miffiin w. Gibbs In his "Shad-
ows and Lights" tells the story Of his
life In fashion to commend him to
our readers. There Is no attempt at
nicely of diction or delicate turning of
phrase. And Henry o. Flipper, 1t
must not be forgotten. tells an unvar-
nished tale Of handicaps and cruelties
suffered as a cadet at West Point In
his book. '"The Colored Cadet at the
West Point Military Academy"
Lawyer Edward A. johnson made
money out Of several very poorly put
together" books known variously as
Light Ahead For the Negro" THE
Negro In the Spanish-American War"
and "a, School History Of the Negro
Race Chaplain T. G. Steward has
performed fine bit Of historical work
In The Colored Regulars" but Major
Charles Young. a graduate Of the West
Point Military academy. has perform
ed an exceptional piece Of literary
work In his book very recently pub
lished. entitled Military Morale Of Ma
lions, and Races" This is a remarka-
BILE work. In 1t the author gives US
psychomilitary study. He writes clear
y and forcefully.
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