On October 11, 1899, a letter to the editor was published in a New York City newspaper in which the writer wagered $500 he could produce poems that were better than those of Paul Laurence Dunbar.
To the Editor of the Sun: I will bet $500 with any admirer of either Rudyard Kipling, Paul Dunbar or Edwin Markham that I will show one, five, ten or twenty poems, written by an unrecognized New York young man, better than any one, five, ten or twenty poems written by either of the above named gentlemen. The money I will place in your hands and the judges will be left for the other side to select, provided they are chosen from among the college Presidents of this country and England.
P. J. Duffy
159 West Sixty-sixth Street, New York"Mr. Duffy Bets on a Dark Horse Poet." The Sun (New York, New York). October 11, 1899. Page 6.
Following the appearance of his challenge, P. J. Duffy was ridiculed in the press.
Duffy is the man for us. Hurrah for Duffy! We like to see a man willing to back up his sand with his wealth, and we are inclined to believe that Duffy will win the money if the contest comes off. It is about time for the poets of this country, including the 34,000 bards in Cook County alone, to assert themselves and put a stop to this indiscriminate puffery of a few men who are thus enabled to palm off any sort of twaddle at the most absurd prices. But depend on it, Duffy's challenge will go unheeded, for the modern successful poet is like the modern prize fighter: he is "out for the stuff" and takes no chances that are likely to diminish his reputation.
Unidentified newspaper clipping [Chicago, Illinois]. October 13, 1899. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 4).
We glory in Mr. Duffy's sporting blood. The conception of a poetic match, with a dark horse in the list, is an alluring one, and if properly worked up might beat yacht races or prize fights in causing a wild rush to the poolrooms to speculate on the outcome. There is sufficient variety of tastes to ensure that if Duffy's dark-horse poet can produce poetry equal to Kipling's, Markham's or Paul Dunbar's he can get a hearing that will net him considerably more than $500. There is enough bad poetry published now to ensure publication to verse of that standard.
"A Poetic Gamble." The Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). October 13, 1899.
One Duffy, in Manhattan, in a letter to the Sun, opens up a new and original vein in the sporting line. There is an appalling rumor that Duffy is himself the unknown!
Bangor Daily Whig and Courier (Bangor, Maine). October 14, 1899.
Here is the chance for the unknown writer, the chance that has been awaited, for so many years. Get a backer. A modest sum like the five hundred dollars of Mr. Duffy will do. The advertising that will result from literary wagers will be worth many times the amount put up. Perhaps a poetry betting bureau might be organized on a large scale. It is a wonder that some of the yellow ones have not thought of it, ere this.
"Literary Bets." The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut). October 21, 1899.