Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1892 — A Unique Literary Figure. [ARTICLE]

A Unique Literary Figure.

There will soon be published in Philadelphia a modest volume of poetry of 250 pages, under the title Secret in the Marshes and Other Poems,” whioh has for its author perhaps one of the most unique figures in the literary world. He is Daniel L. Dawson, familiarly known to all his friends as “Dan Dawson, the pugilist-poet.” Mr. Dasrson is unique in all which that term implies. In his exterior personality he is as untidy a man as one could meet, both as regards his person and his dress. His speech and manner are as blustering as the wildest March day. He is tenacious to irritation by disposition. His commercial following lies in the direotion of an iron foundry. His hobby is boxing, and he is considered one of the cleverest boxers outside of the profession. His friendships are among the men of the stage and of the “ring.” To Mr. Dawson’s credit it should be said, however, that his interest in pugilistic matters is entirely from a scientific standpoint. He is an athlete by nature and in physique. Yet underneath this rough and uncouth exterior lies one of the finest and tenderest poetic natures ever given to a man—a nature that responds to the clearest and truest melody in verse. This is the singular incongruity in the man. Some of his poems are models of careful workmanship and melodious rhythm. His melodies are always true and reliable, and he rarely emits an uncertain sound in his verse. That he is a poet of more than average ability his work at once demonstrates. Some of the lines in his verses are among the most beautiful in modem poetry. But for one to fully appreciate his strength as a literary workman I think it is paramount that he should know the writer before he knows the man. It would be difficult, perhaps,’ to find a more singular or complex individuality in modem literature. Mr. Dawson is a bachelor, about thirty-three years of age, resides in Philadelphia, and, despite his eccentricities, is respected by many and interesting to all. His nature is a loyal one, and his warm-* est friends are those who know him best. —[Chicago Heraid.

To get a broken cork out of a bottle tie a long loop in a bit of twine and put it into the bottle. Hold the bottle so as to bring the broken cork up near to the lower part of the neck, catch it in the loop so as to hold ft stationary, and then either pull it up with the twine or use a corkscrew.