On October 25, 1901, Paul Laurence Dunbar in Washington, D. C., wrote an annoyed letter to his literary agent Paul Reynolds in New York City. Paul routinely sent his work to Reynolds to sell to magazines and book publishers, but sometimes he bypassed Reynolds and sold pieces directly to editors. This practice caused Reynolds to question whether Paul was sending him only second-rate material.
You are wrong in thinking that I send my best work elsewhere and the second best to you. This is not true. The agreements with both Mr. Morris of Lippincott's and Mr. Lorimer of the Saturday Evening Post were made as far back as 1898; both are my personal friends and I should feel myself rather niggardly if I should withhold from them first sight of the things that are in their line merely because I could get better prices elsewhere. To Mr. Morris, I have been sending but one line of work lately, the serial of Ohio stories which was begun three years ago. Mr. Lorimer gave me a chance on the Saturday Evening Post and dealt with me personally. Is it quite fair for me to take the things that he has suggested and offer them elsewhere or through someone else? I do not send you my second best. I send you the best I have, for as you yourself know since my health is broken I am doing very little. I should be glad if you were handling all of my work because you get better prices for it than I can, but I feel a sense of honor and obligation towards these men which is a little beyond price.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Paul R. Reynolds, October 25, 1901. Paul Laurence Dunbar collection, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Microfilm edition, Roll 3).
Paul's letter referred to editors Harrison Smith Morris of Lippincott's Magazine (which published two of Paul's novels and seven short stories from 1898 to 1901) and George Horace Lorimer of The Saturday Evening Post (which published eleven short stories from 1899 to 1901). As their correspondence continued, the misunderstanding between Paul and his agent was resolved. Paul soon expressed his thanks for Reynolds' assistance and good judgment.
I have your letter of the 26th and I must say that I was a little hurt by your letter, but more than that I was anxious to assure you that I was playing square, and I felt that when you knew the circumstances you would say that I was in the right. I think we both understand it perfectly now, and there can be no difference between us.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Paul R. Reynolds, October 29, 1901. Paul Laurence Dunbar collection, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Microfilm edition, Roll 3).
I wrote you that I thought it would be a disappointment not to get a hundred dollars for the story, but I expect you in every case to use your own judgment, as I have found it uniformly good. I thought "The Promoter" was one of the best things that I had yet done, but you yourself know that the author is notoriously unable to judge his own work and that he must have a hard-headed businessman to do it for him. So go right ahead with what you think best and I shall be satisfied as usual.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Paul R. Reynolds, December 19, 1901. Paul Laurence Dunbar collection, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Microfilm edition, Roll 3).