The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-01-28
"A HOosier.Poet.

James Whitcomb Riley is a Hoosier
| poet, and is known as writer of Hoo
sier poet, and is known as writer of
Hoosier dialect verse, as well as a read
er of that peculiar literature. He was
born at Greenfield. Ind. brought ur
there, and. according to his own story.
is still tied to the apron strings of that
motherly little town. just when he was
born. know not, but guess al his age
beng between thirty-six and forty, pos
sibl5 little younger. not by any possi-
bility Older, and he Is still unmarried.
L have never seen him, but like the boy
who didn't sing, but had cousin who
played on the flute, have known per-
sons who have seen him.
DE is described rs slight. and not
very tal, with long, thin hands, pale
complexion, large and brilliant gray
eyes, prominent nose, thin lips and
blonde hair. He isn't strictly conven-
tional in manner or anything else, nor
has he any aversion to man because
he is rich. He.is fluent and interest
ing talker, and likes queer people Was
taught sign painting as traaa. hut
didn't encourage his parents by special
proficiency in the art Or great devotion
to it. He was thinking about poetry
and writing poetry even when hanging
in his basket painting lions and uni
corns on hotel signs. He draws with
some skill, and is mo slouch of fid-
der
Poetry, however, in his special talent,
and the masses are brought to book
with no uncertain hand when he gets
after them. His poetry is always eX-
tremely rhymic, and often dramatic. 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 re-
flected back in something not similar
exactly, but suggestive. like the echo of
a song, embellished by new refrains
and sweeter notes.
He belongs to class of dialect poets
who are well-nigh peculiar to America,
those who draw their inspiration from
the good. strong common SOIL. They
belong to the western United States
rather than to the eastern. Bret Harte.
Will Carlton and Mr.. Riley himself are
the best specimens of this type.
This initiative faculty stands him in
good stead on the platform, where he
depicts the queer characters of his poems
with extraordinary art 1.-The Tree
Toad is one of his best-known produc-
tons and recitations, and "Old-Fash-
ioned Roses" another. | quote two
stanzas from the Roses
They amt no style about EN-,
And they re sort o pale and faded;
Ylt the doorway here without 'em
Would be lOnesomer, and shaded
With good deal blacker sh adder
Than the morning glOries makes,
And the sunshine would look saddcr
For their good old-fashione1 sales
q like 'em, cause they kind o.
Sort o make feller like c:n
And i tell you when l find
Bunch out where the sun can strike EN- =
1t allus sets me thinkin'
OF the ones at used to grow
And peek in through the chinkin
OF the cabin, don't you know?''
Most of Mr.. Riley's poems have been
published in the indianapolis Journal
of late years. He makes his home in
the Hoosier capital
Indiana is wealthy in poets. Maurice
Thompson, BENZ S. Parker Mary Fl.
Krout, Margaret Holmes, Ben d. House
and several others have made their
mark. Mr.. Riley can hold his own
with any OF them. In dialect poetry he
is ahead of them all. There is reason
to believe that Mr., Riley will achieve
greater renown in the future than in the
past-L. Z. OhneU