On November 4, 1901, Paul Laurence Dunbar attended a bachelor party in Baltimore in honor of his friend Noah Thompson, a newspaper writer. Paul's wife Alice had planned to go to the wedding, but stayed home in Washington, D. C., after finding out that her sister Leila had been abandoned by her husband. Alice shared the sad news with Paul's mother Matilda, who was in Dayton visiting a sick relative.
It is all too true about my sister's husband leaving her. He has gone, absquatulated, and taken all the money he could get his hands on. Also, he mortgaged Leila's house for two thousand dollars and I suppose she will be turned out when the mortgage falls due, as I know she can't raise the money to pay it. She is expecting her baby this week or next, and it seems awful for a lone woman to have four babies to raise, the eldest four years old. I have been very much upset, as I don't know how she and mama will get on. Noah Thompson marries in Baltimore Wednesday. I had intended going and having a new dress for it, but after I heard of Leila's trouble, I didn't feel that I wanted to be running around to weddings, buying new dresses and all that, so I gave up the idea of going. Paul is going over with a number of other young men here. They are going to have a big stag in Baltimore Monday night, and I suppose they will have a great time, but I am going to stay right here.
Alice Moore Dunbar to Matilda Dunbar, November 1, 1901. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
Paul went to the bachelor party even though he wasn't feeling well. His friend's wedding was a mentioned favorably in a Washington newspaper.
As you may have suspected, I am not well myself and I go out very little. I went, however, to the bachelor dinner given Noah Thompson and to his wedding. Both were very pretty affairs.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Matilda Dunbar, November 10, 1901. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
The marriage of Mr. Noah D. Thompson, of Chicago, and Miss Lille B. Murphy, was performed at Madison Street Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening. Colored society was out in full force to cheer the bride, who is conceded to be one of the most lovable young society ladies.
"The March of Lohengrin." The Colored American (Washington, D. C.). November 9, 1901. Page 5.
Lillie Thompson died during the birth of her first child, and Noah married twice more in later years. At the time of his death in 1933, he lived in the Paul Laurence Dunbar Garden Apartments in Harlem.