Evening star., 1937-12-29
Don Marquis, Famed Satirist,
Dies at So after Long Illness
Vas Creator of "Old
Soak and "Archy
the COckrOuch." "
BY the Associated Press.

bS the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Dec. 2e.-Don Mar
quis, pioneer newspaper columnist,
whose satire won him wide fame In
the literary and theatrical worlds,
died at his home early today after a
long illness. He was So.
Mr.. Marquis, described by his close
friend, Christopher Morley, as the
most philosophical humorist In this
country had been i'll since 1886
when he suffered the first of a series
Of strokes which sapped his strength
and finances.
With him at the end were his two
sisters, the Misses Bernice and Neva
Marquis. who had attended him Al
most constantly in his suburban home
ut Forest Hills, Long Island.
Spent "Wonderful" Christmas.
Despite the paralysis which sripped
him, Mr.. Marquis was said by his sis
ter Bernice to have spent n Won-
derful day" on Christmas.
He enjoyed his dinner and his
greeting cards and his telegrams so
much" she said. He seemed to be
buoyed up by the spirit Of Christmas"
The following day Sunday, he was
able to receive a few friends, includ-
ing Mr.. Morley, but last night he
turned worse, rallying only once be-
fore falling into his last sleep.
Celebrated as the creator OF The
Old Soak" Bibulous character which
first came to life in the Sun Dial"
column OF the New York Sun and
later amused thousands OF theater
soers, Mr.. Marquis became one Of the
most picturesque personalities that
every pounded typewriter.
Praised BY Morley.
He is unquestionably the clever
est Of our ephemeral philosophers"
Mr.. Morley once said. He stands out
rs one Of the most penetrating satir-
lists and resonant scofYers at folderol
that this continent nourishes He Is
far more than Z columnist-he is a
poet-a kind of Meredithian Pro-
metheus chained to the roar and clank
Of Hoe press"
Equally as well known as The Old
Soak were the other Marquis char
acters, Archy, the philosophical cock
roach, and Mehitabel, the amorous
alley cat.
Creator Of the beloved "Old Soak"
"Archy the Coachroach," "Mehitabel,
the Alley Cat" and q host OF other
characters whose antics stirred Ma
tion-wide laughter, Don Marquis be-
longed to the pioneer era Of newspa per
columnists made famous by Franklin
P. Adams F. P. A.. o. O. Mcintyre,
Walt Mason and Bert Lesion Taylor
Of the Chicago Tribune's "Line.o'-
Type or TWO"
Baptized Robert Perry Marquis, he
was born on July 20, 1873, at Walnut,
Bureau County, ILL.,. and after leaving
the district school he worked as a sec
ton hand on the G. B. G @. Railroad
the hardest work." he said, Il ever
did IN my life"-aS chicken plucker
in a poultry slaughter house, sewing
machine salesman drug store clerk
and clothing store salesman.
Then, at l6, he began to contribute
bits Of gusty verse to the Walnut Mail
and Express. which lampooned politi-
cal officeholders and stirred the COM
mun1ty to hearty laughter. It was a
Democratic paper, and at the urgent
request of the entire Republican COM
munity. the rollickingly disturbing
young man named Marquis was
tempted to leave town, for . Job In the
Census Bureau At Warrington.
Never Returned Home.
Mr., Marquis jumped 1T 1t. He shook
the dust Of Walnut from his fame
bound heels and never went back.
In Washington, 4 born newspaper.
man. he soon drifted into q Job - 4
reporter for the Washington Timss-