Dumas, Alexander.-Called Dumas Pere, born 1802, died 1870. "The greatest French romantic novelist, and the most universally read story-teller of the world. As a writer he is remarkable for great creative rather than for artistic genius.

Dumas' father was a gallant general, Alexander Davy de la Pailleterie Dumas, who served Napoleon with distinction, but died in neglect in 1806. This general's father was a rich colonist of Haiti, Marquis Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie; his mother was a Negro woman of Haiti, from whom the general took the name Dumas. The novelist, Alexandre, inherited much from his maternal grandmother, in both appearance and nature; much too, from his marquis grandfather The contrast and combination can be constantly noted in his novels. Dumas, Alexander.-Called Dumas Fils, born 1824, died 1885. One of the most distinguished of modern French dramatists He was "the son of the great Romantic novelist of like name, but of a genius strangely contrasted. In him the father's rich but riotous fancy yielded to close observation and realistic earnestness that made of him an unbending and almost a Puritan moralist.”

Horton, George M.-Noted Negro poet of North Carolina. He was born a slave in Chatham county of that state in 1797. His master permitted him to hire out his time at Chapel Hill, seat of the University of North Carolina. It is said that he learned to read by matching words he knew in the hymnal with those in a spelling book. Persons of distinction became interested in him.

It is said that Dr. Caldwell, the President of the University was one of his patrons. Horton's earliest compositions had to be written down for him by other people. He was for years janitor at the University and received small commissions from various students for writing verses for them. Some of Horton's friends undertook to help him publish a volume of his poems so that from its sale he might purchase his freedom. A booklet of his poems "The Hope of Freedom," was published in 1829. The small returns from the sale of this book, however, were not sufficient to pay the exorbitant price which this master demanded for him. In his later years Horton lived for some time in Philadelphia and died according to accounts either in 1880 or 1883.

Wheatly, Phillis.-Born in Africa, died December 5, 1784. One of the first women, white or black, to attain literary distinction in this country.

She was brought when a child to America in 1761, and sold to John Wheatley, of Boston. He had her educated. While yet a child she began to write verses. In 1773, with the endorsement of several distinguished men, her verses were published in London, under the title "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, by Phillis Wheatley, Negro Servant to Mr. John Wheatley, of Boston, in New England.' She addressed a poem to General Washington, which seemed to have pleased him, for in a letter to Joseph Reed, dated February 10, 1776, he made reference to this poem.

Hammond, Jupiter.-He appears to have been the first Negro poet in the English American colonies. As a poet he antedates Phillis Wheatly by about ten years. He was a slave near Hartford, Conn. He went finally to live on Long Island. His first extant poem, "An Evening Thought," bears the date of 1760. Following the title of the poem this information is given: Composed by Jupiter Hammond, a Negro belonging to Mr. Lloyd of Queen's Village on Long Island, the 25th of December, 1760. He was also a preacher. Several of his sermons are still in existence. For sketch of his life and extracts from his poetry and prose writings, see "Jupiter Hammond," by Oscar Wegelin, Heartman's Historical Series, No. 13, 1916.

Dunbar, Paul Laurence.-Noted poet and writer. Born June 27, 1872, at Dayton, Ohio; died February 9, 1906.

Graduated from the Dayton High School, 1891. While in school he showed evidence of poetic ability. In 1893, his first volume of poetry, "Oak and Ivy,' was published. 1895-1896, "Majors and Minors.' By this time he had become well known as a writer and reader of verse. For a complete list of his works see in section below, Bibliographies, under "Books by Negro Authors.” Braithwaite, William Stanley.-Born, Boston, December, 1868. Noted lyrical poet. At twelve years of age his father having died, he had to leave school to assist his mother provide for the family. Since that time he has not attended school.

"At fifteen," he says, "like a revelation, there broke out in me a great passion for poetry, and intense love for literature, and a yearning for the ideal life which fosters the creation of things that come out of dreams and visions and symbols. I dedicated my future to literature, though the altar upon which I was to lay my sacrificial life seemed beyond all likelihood of opportunity and strength and equipment to reach. I set about it, however, with fortitude, hope and patience.' His works include "Lyrics of Life and Love," "The Book of Elizabethan Verse," 1906, "The House of Falling Leaves," 1908; "The Book of Georgian Verse," 1908; "The Book of Restoration Verse," 1909; "The Book of Victorian Verse," 1910. At the end of each year Mr. Braithwaite writes a review of the poetry that appears in the standard magazines. His estimate of the value of this poetry is accepted as a criterion of its worth. He has published for each year since 1913, "The Anthology of Magazine Verse." In 1916 he became editor of "The New Poetry Review" of Cambridge. He is the general editor of "The Contemporary American Poets Series." The 1918 Spingarn Medal award was given to him. Johnson, James W.-New York, Field Secretary for National Association for The Advancement of Colored People, Editorial writer. He is gifted as a poet. He has contributed verse to the leading magazines and daily papers. His poem, "Fifty Years," in Commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Emancipation, published in the New York Times, January 1, 1913, was widely commented upon. For eight years Mr. Johnson was in the United States Consular service. He held for a considerable part of this time the important post of consul at Corinto, Nicaragua. His poem, the "Young Warrior, set to music by H. T. Burleigh, almost became the national hymnal of Italy during the World War. Mir. Johnson has published a collection of his verses under the title, "Fifty Years and Other Poems."

Johnson, Fenton.-Born, Chicago, 1888. He is attracting attention as a poet. His recent volume of poetry, "A Little Dreaming," has received favorable mention in this country and in Europe.

Among other poets for whom there is not opportunity to give space should be mentioned the following:-Alfred Anderson, James Edwin Campbell, James D. Corrothers, (deceased); Daniel Webster Davis, (deceased); William H. A. Moore, George Marion McClellan, John Wesley Holloway, Leslie Pinckney Hill, Edward Smyth Jones, Ray G. Dandridge, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Claude McKay, Joseph S. Cotter, Jr., (deceased); Roscoe C. Jamison, Jessie Fauset, Anne Spencer, Alex Rogers, Waverly Turner Carmichael, Alice Dunbar Nelson, Charles Bertram Johnson, Otto Leland Bohanan, Theodore Henry Shackleford, Lucian B. Watkins, (deceased); Joshua Henry Jones, Jr.

ACTORS.

Aldridge, Ira.-Born about 1810 at Bel Air, Maryland. Died at Lodz, Poland, in 1867. He is the most famous of Negro actors. He has had few equals in the part of Othello, the Moor.

Aldridge's grandfather, who was a ruling prince in the Senegal Country in Africa, was with all his family except one son, murdered in an uprising. This

son came to America and was educated for the ministry. In time he married. The son Ira was also intended for the ministry. He was sent to Schenectady College in New York. Thence he was sent to Glasgow University, Scotland, where he carried off many prizes, including the medal for composition. He, however, abandoned theology for the stage. After many disappointments he made his debut at the Royal Theatre, London, in 1873, as Othello, the Moor. He also appeared at the Coburg, Sadler's Wells, Olympia, and Covent Garden Theaters in London, playing Othello, Gambia (in "The Slave"), and other characters with great success. After this he made a provincial tour, playing in most of the principal towns from one end of the kingdom to the other, his reception in every instance being of the most flattering kind. At Belfast, Edmund Kean showed his admiration by playing Iago to Aldridge's Othello. At Manchester, the famous singer, Madame Malibran, wrote him that never in her whole professional career had she witnessed such an interesting and powerful performance. Lady Beecher (famous as Miss 'Niel' the actress) wrote: "During my professional as well as private life I never have seen so correct a portraiture of Othello." The King of Prussia presented him the Prussian "Gold Medal of the first class for Art and Science," which had been previously awarded only to the great philosopher Humboldt, the composer Spontini and the musician Liszt. The Emperor of Austria conferred on him the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold. The City of Berne gave him a magnificent Maltese Cross with Medal of Merit. He also received the "Royal Saxe-Ernest House Order" which confers a title higher than that of "Sir" so much coveted in England. Aldridge had a reception even more flattering in Russia. He was made a member of the Imperial Academy of Arts and Sciences in St. Petersburg, and of many other honorable and learned societies. In most cases the membership was conveyed by means of handsome medals, accompanied in many cases by autograph letters. His widow and his two gifted daughters, Amanda Ira (Montague Ring,) and Luranah, reside in London. See sketches above under composers and singers. Cole, Robert Allen, "Bob Cole."-Noted comedian and playright. Born in Athens, Georgia, July 1, 1868. Died New York City, August 2, 1911. One of the most versatile and gifted colored actors that America has produced. A member of the famous Cole and Johnson Team and Company.

He was a pioneer in the effort to have the Negro show an entity in itself with a plot and atmosphere of its own. Among the plays which he wrote are "A Trip to Coontown," "A Shoo Fly Regiment," and "The Red Moon." Among the songs which he composed are "Louisiana Lize," "I Must Have Been A Dreaming," "No One Can Fill Her Place," "Katydid," "The Cricket and The Frog," and "The Maiden With Dreamy Eyes.' He and his partner, J. Rosamond Johnson together wrote "Under The Bamboo Tree,” “Big Indian Chief,” “Bleeding Moon," and "Oh, Didn't He Ramble."

Williams, (Bert) Egbert Austin.-Born, New Providence, Nassau, British Bahama Islands, 1876. Died, New York City, March 4, 1922. Most noted comedian of the present day American stage. The Billboard of March 11, 1922, the chief organ of the theatrical and the show profession, carried the following obituary concerning him.

Egbert Austin Williams, known to the theatrical profession and the public as Bert Williams, and regarded by many as the greatest comedian on the American stage, died at his home in New York City, March 4th, a victim of pneumonia. He collapsed on the stage in Detroit, Monday, February 27th while appearing in "Under the Bamboo Tree," and was taken to New York on Thursday, when, it was found he was suffering from pneumonia. Blood transfusion was ordered but Williams failed to react.

"Bert Williams was born in New Providence, British Bahamas, in, 1876, and was taken to New York by his father, a papier mache maker at the age of two years. Soon afterward the family moved to Riverside, Cal., where young Williams grew up and graduated from the local high school. He studied civil engineering in San Francisco. His first

theatrical experience was with a mountebank minstrel company that played the mining and lumber camps in that section In 1895 he joined George Walker in a partnership which lasted until the latter's death in 1909. They made the name of Williams and Walker famous throughout the English-speaking world. Their first appearance in New York was in 1896 and 1897, at Tony Pastor's and Koster and Bial's. Later they headed their own company."

Among the productions made famous by this team were: "The Policy Players,” "Bandanna Land," and "Abyssinia." The latter attraction ran ten weeks on Broadway, in those days a record for a colored attraction. In 1902 the company was taken to England, where it duplicated its American success. On June 23 of that year a command appearance was made at Buckingham Palace.” When illness compelled the retirement of George Walker, Williams took out "Mr. Lode of Coal" with indifferent success. This was his last appearance with colored support. After its close he played for a time in vaudeville, and then joined the Ziegfeld "Follies," remaining as the feature attraction for seven years. During 1918-19 he was with "Broadway Brevities," and "The Pink Slip," which, after some unfavorable criticism, closed on the road. The piece was rewritten and named, "Under the Bamboo Tree," opening in Cincinnati and enjoyed a successful run in Chicago later. It was due in New York in three weeks, and it was Williams' great ambition to reach Broadway with this show. While playing in Edinburgh, Scotland, Williams and other members of his company were made members of the Waverly Lodge of Masons. Williams also was a member of the Actors' Equity Association, and held the rank of Captain in the Eighth Regiment, National Guard of Illinois. He was married in 1900, and is survived by his widow, two nieces and his mother.

Gilpin, Charles S.-Actor. He achieved notable distinction in the drama, and was the most talked of actor on the stage in America in 1921. He was born in Richmond, Virginia in the early seventies. His first occupation was as "printer's devil," on the Richmond Planet. His own statement is that he drifted into acting, (fourth rate comedianwork), because he earned so little money in the printing trade. In time he had a desire to do serious dramatic work, and was one of the organizers in 1906 of the Pekin Players in Chicago. His efforts with reference to the serious drama were later continued in New York City. He says, "In 1916 I began producing last year's Broadway shows at the Lafayette Theater in 132nd Street. When Drinkwater's Abraham Lincoln was being staged, difficulty was experienced in securing an actor to play William Custis, the Negro character in the play. This unimportant role was given to Gilpin, and attracted attention to his ability.

When the Provincetown Players staged, "Emperor Jones," Gilpin was secured to take the leading part. The play was to go on for two weeks and is still running. Concerning Mr. Gilpin's ability as an actor, the critic in the New York Times said, "Of course Charles S. Gilpin continues to give his amazing unforgettable performance. It is superb acting and the success of the O'Neil play is dependent upon it." Gilpin was selected by the Drama League of New York City as one of the persons who had contributed the most during the year to the art of the theater. The other nine persons selected for this honor were: Dudley Digges, director of "Heartbreak House;" Gilda Varesi, for her work in "Enter Madame;" Lionel Atwill, for his acting in “Deburau;" Lee Simonson, Scenic artist for "Heartbreak House;" Margaret Severn, for her use of masks in the "Greenwich Village Follies;" Jacob Ben-Ami, for his work in "Samson and Delilah;" David Belasco, as manager and director; and Fred Stone, for being the leading American comedian.

Johnson, Noble M.-Most noted moving picture actor of the race. He has had years of expereince before the camera, and has been employed by the largest moving picture company in the world.

He gained much publicity as the star in the "Trooper of Troop K," a three part photo play, commemorating the bravery of the Tenth Calvary Battalion at Carrizal. Johnson was featured in the great Universal serial, the "Bulls Eye," as "Sweenie Bodin" a renegade cow puncher. He had already starred in such well known photo dramas as "Intolerance," "The Western Governor's Humanity," and "The Death Warrant.'

Dramatic Art Readers.-A number of Negroes have achieved considerable distinction in the field of dramatic art as readers. Among the more famous and prominent of these are: Miss Hallie Q. Brown, Wilberforce, Ohio; Mrs. Henrietta Vinton Davis, Washington; Mrs. Francis E. Motin, St. Louis; Richard B. Harrison, Chicago; Charles Winter Wood, Tuskegee, Alabama; and Miss Ruby C. Pelleford, Sabina, Ohio.

SPORTS.
Pugilism.

It is said that Negroes were the pioneers in American pugilism and the first Champion in America was a Negro slave, Tom Molineaux, of Richmond, Virginia, who in the first part of the eighteenth century won his freedom by winning a $100,000 stake for his master, Algeron Molineaux who had wagered this amount that he could produce a black man that could whip any other slave that could be produced.

Tom Molineaux, after defeating all comers in America went to England 1810, where he was defeated by Tom Cribb, the British Champion on December 8, 1810. The most noted of the Negro pugilists are Peter Jackson contemporary of (John L. Sullivan and James Corbett,) George Dixon, Joe Gans, Joe Walcott, Dixie Kidd, Joe Jeannette, Sam Langford, Sam McVea, Harry Wills and Jack Johnson.

Pugilistic Champions.

Heavy weights, (158 lbs.) Jack Johnson, 1908-1915.

Welter weights (145 lbs.) Joe Walcott, 1901-1904; Dixie Kid, 1904-1908.
Light weights (133 lbs.) Joe Gans, 1902-1908.

Feather weights (122 lbs.) George Dixon, 1892-1897 and 1898-1900.
Bantam weights (116 lbs.) George Dixon, 1890-1892.

Baseball.

Some of the best professional baseball teams are composed of Negroes such as the American Giants of Chicago, The Lincoln Giants of New York City, etc It is generally conceded that there are many Negro players who are equals of the big League players and it is only their color which keeps them out of the big Leagues.

When the first National Association of baseball players was organized in Philadelphia, December 11, 1867, it was recommended that colored clubs be excluded from representation in the Association. The precedent then established has since been followed and was construed to include individuals as well as Clubs. Some Negroes, however, in spite of these restrictions became members of professional teams. Moses F. Walker, a Negro was catcher for Toledo of the Northwestern League in 1883 and remained with Toledo, when in 1884 it became a member of the American Association, a major League Organization. Frank Grant, a Negro was a second base man, in 1886, on the Meriden (Connecticut) team of the Eastern League which dropped out before the close of the season. Grant finished that season with a Buffalo team, also of the Eastern League. He played four years with this team and is said to have been regarded as the equal of any second base man in the country. In 1890 he was with the Harrisburg team of the Pennsylvania State League. He then dropped out and was the last Negro in organized baseball,