The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-19
A Hoosier Poet.
IL. T. Othneil, ia Exchange.l

James Whitcomb Riley is Hoosiel poet, and is known as writer of Hoosie, dialect verse, as we'll as req fer of tn d, peculiar literature. He was born a, Greenheld Ind, brought up there, and according to his own story, is still tied to the apron strings of that motherly little town. Jast when he was born, know not, but guess at his age being between thirty-six and forty, possibly a little younger, not by any possib lny older, and he is still unmarried. have never seen him, but like the boy who didn', sing, bu' had cousin who played on the flute, 1 have known persons who have seen him.
 He is described as slight and not very tall, with long, thin hands, a pale com plexion, large and brilliant gray eyes, a prominent nose, thil lips and blonde hair. He isn't strictly conventional in manner or anything else, nor has he any averson to a man because he is rich. He IS fluent and interesting talker, and likes queer people. Was taught sign painting as trade, but didn't encourage his parents by special proficiency in the art or great devotion to it. He was think ing about poetry and writing poetry even when hanging in his basket painting lions and uuicorns on hotel signs. He draws with some skill, and is mo slouch of a fiddler"
 Poetry, however, is his special talent, and the muses are brought to book with no uncertain hand when he gets after them. His poetry is always extremely | rhymic, and of,en dramatl,. He depicts humble life touchingly. He has been charged with being initiative rather than creative not consciously so, but in this way: What he takes in is reflected back ln something not similar exactly, but sug- gestive, like the echo of song, embcl- llshed by new refrains and sweeter notes. He belongs to class of dialect poets who are we'll nigh peculiar to America, those who draw their inspiration from the good, strong common soil. They belong to the western United States rath, r than to the eastern. Bret Harte, Will Carltoa and Mir. Riley himself are the best specimens of this type.
 This initiative faculty stands him in good stead on the platform, where he de- picts the queer characters of his poems with extraordinary art. "The Tree Toad" is one of his best:known produc- tions and recitations. and "Old. Fash toned Roses" another. quote two stan. zas from the Roses" ."
 They ain't no style about lem,
 And they're sort O pale and faded; Nit the doorway here without lem
 Would be lonesomer, and shaded With good deal blacker shadder
 Than the mornii glories makes,
 And the sunshine would look sadder
 For their good old-fashioned sakes. like lem. cause they kind O
 Sort O make a feller like lem
 And tell you when fad
 Bunch out where the sun can strike lem, It allus set, me thinkin'
 Of the ones lat used to grow
 And peek in through the chinkin'
 Of the cabin, don't you knowl"
 Most ot MT. Riley's poems have been published in the Indianapolis /onymaI of late years. He makes his home in the Hoosier capital.
 Indiana is wealthy in poets. Maurice Thompson, Benj. s. Parker, Mary H. Krout, Margaret Holmes, Ben D. House and several others have made their mark. MT. Riley can hold his own with any of them. In dialect poetry he is ahead of them all. There is reason to believe that MT. Riley will achieve greater renown in the future than in the past.