The Twin City star., 1915-01-09
MAKES HIS MARK
IN LITERATURE

OGIlUldtI All0lillll6lllS VI Uh
James 0. COTrOtherS
AUTHOR AND LEADING POET
Contemporary and Friend Of the Late
Paul Laursnce Dunbar Receives Gen.
uins Recognition From Men Of Let
tsrs-Bslisvss In Possibilities Of HE
Race and 10 Optimistic.
Philadelphia. Perhaps since the
death Of Dunbar no other Afro-Amer-
lean writer has been more successful
In placing his literary productions In
high class white magazines and daily
papers, as well as In our leading race
publications, than the Rev. James d.
Corrothers, d. D.. of this city. DR..
C0rrothers Is the only col0red minister
In the entire history of the race who
has had his productions accepted by
the Century Magazine. to which he has
contributed for sixteen years. His
poems have appeared in the same mum
bers and on the same page with those
Of the late Paul Laurence Dunbar.
In November. 1912. DR.. Corrothers
was chosen by the Century's editor as
the races representative In poetry in
Q special number Of the magazine In
which DR.. Booker T. Washington rep
resented the race in prose, Henry o.
Tanner In painting and VIII Marion
Cook In music. Three Of his poems
appeared In that Issue Of the Century.
editorial comment being made upon
the work Of these four members of the
race. In various lines.
In the American Magazine for March,
1914 appeared an illustrated short
story By DR.. Corrothers entitled AT
the End Of the Controversy"
His recent sketch Of DR.. @. Albert
Tindley, the popular hymn writer, and
N. ID. pastor of Philadelphia. sold 1000
extra copies OF the Associated Sunday
Magazines. in which the sketch appear
ed. But little Of DR.. Corrothers' work
Is in dialect. A poem of his entitled
'sThe Dream and the Song" which ap-
peared in the Century last January.
was extensively copied by both white
and col0red papers. The Philadelphia
Press referred to this poem as "a class
&C." and published column sketch of
the author with his photograph.
Before entering the magazine field
DR.. Corrothers was newspaper man.
having 'done space on several daily
papers in Chicago.
He has also done occasional work
Tor daily papers In New York. Phila-
delphia and st. Louis. He Is the au-
thor Of two books and has contributed
frequently to race publications. He Ia
the only Negro who has ever had a
whole page article appear in metro
politan daily and has had his poems
and stories illustrated by such famous
white artists as r. F. Outcault. the
creator Of "Buster Brown" and Frank
Schoonover. His story, "A Man They
Didn't Know" published in two num-
bers Of the Crisis last winter, was
widely discussed by race leaders. He
has now in press new volume to
which an introduction has been writ
ten by Ray Stannard Baker, associate
editor Of the American Magazine. and
author Of the noted book. Following
the Color Line"
Though not at present engaged In
an active pastorate. DR.. Corrothers is
an ordained Baptist minister and the
grandson of Baptist minister. He
was born In Michigan forty-five years
ago and was educated in Northwest
ern university and in Bennett college.
He was a personal friend Of Dunbar
and Of the late Miss Frances e. VII
lard; is an athlete and has always
been total abstainer.. He has orga.
nized and built one church and has re-
built two others.
He believes in race development and
In ministry of service rather than
In one Of mere emotion. He has never
allowed his literary work to interfere
with MS work as minister and pas
tor.
He 10 blessed With a wife and two
sons. Mrs. Corrothers ranks with the
leading pianists Of the race and is
quite successful as music teacher. In
view Of the great demand at the pres
ent time for men of DR.. Corrothers'
type In the active ministry. 1t would
not be surprising to hear Of his being
called to fill the pulpit Of some Baptist
church before very long Dr. Corroth-
ers' home. at 900 North Thirty-nine
street. is the mecca for literary and
musical personages. BY close attention
to duty and by his pleasing manners
he has won many friends. who admire
him for his ability and manly bearing.