I was born in Washington, D. C., the first of May, 1901. I received primary and secondary education in the Public Schools of that city, and on a farm near Laurel, Md.; entered Williams College in 1918, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1921, graduated in 1922; and received my Master of Arts Degree at Harvard in 1923. Since that time I have been seeking a more liberal education teaching school. I have been inflicted on unsuspecting, helpless students; teaching diverse things at Manassas Summer School in Virginia, Rhetoric and Literature at Virginia Seminary and College, Lynchburg, Va., and Literature at Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo. From early years I have _lisped in numbers_ but the numbers seem improper fractions. I have always been interested in people, particularly and generally, and in books. The list runs from Homer to Housman. Except for an essay on Roland Hayes submitted to an _Opportunity_ contest, and occasional poems and reviews, I have published nothing of the voluminous works cluttering my desk. ODYSSEY OF BIG BOY Lemme be wid Casey Jones, Lemme be wid Stagolee, Lemme be wid such like men When Death takes hol’ on me, When Death takes hol’ on me.... Done skinned as a boy in Kentucky hills, Druv steel dere as a man, Done stripped tobacco in Virginia fiels’ Alongst de River Dan, Alongst de River Dan; Done mined de coal in West Virginia Liked dat job jes’ fine Till a load o’ slate curved roun’ my head Won’t work in no mo’ mine, Won’t work in no mo’ mine; Done shocked de corn in Marylan, In Georgia done cut cane, Done planted rice in South Caline, But won’t do dat again Do dat no mo’ again. Been roustabout in Memphis, Dockhand in Baltimore, Done smashed up freight on Norfolk wharves A fust class stevedore, A fust class stevedore.... Done slung hash yonder in de North On de ole Fall River Line Done busted suds in li’l New Yawk Which ain’t no work o’ mine-- Lawd, ain’t no work o’ mine; Done worked and loafed on such like jobs Seen what dey is to see Done had my time with a pint on my hip An’ a sweet gal on my knee Sweet mommer on my knee: Had stovepipe blonde in Macon Yaller gal in Marylan In Richmond had a choklit brown Called me huh monkey man-- Huh big fool monkey man. Had two fair browns in Arkansaw And three in Tennessee Had Creole gal in New Orleans Sho Gawd did two time me-- Lawd two time, fo’ time me-- But best gal what I evah had Done put it over dem A gal in Southwest Washington At Four’n half and M-- Four’n half and M.... Done took my livin’ as it came Done grabbed my joy, done risked my life Train done caught me on de trestle Man done caught me wid his wife His doggone purty wife ... I done had my women, I done had my fun Cain’t do much complainin’ When my jag is done, Lawd, Lawd, my jag is done.