The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-13
A WHOLESALE POET.
The Astonishing Experience OF James
WhiIcomb Riley.
New York Tribune,

WhtLcomb R1tey.
New York Tribune.
While the Nye-Riley combination
was on the road last winter little in
cident happened at Kalamazoo, Mich,
which hes never been given to the pub
lie. Their entertainment was over for
the night, and large and pleased au-
dience had dispersed, Nye had been
taken in hand by the town lecture COM
mittee and towed off up to Uncle Asa
Butterfeld's house to hear Uncle Asa
tell his famous story about his red cow
and Dunk Browns hired man, the oc-
currence having actually taken place in
1889. Uncle Asa was local humorist
of great renown he had been unable to
attend the lecture on account of rheu-
matism, but had promised to sit up
till the committee brought Nye around.
The red cow story was his masterpiece,
and he Yves anxious that Nye should
hear it as he thought that very likely
he might want to introduce it into his
lecture. Riley had escaped by feigning
sickness as soon as the visit was pro
posed, and before Nye could employ
the same excuse, and was sitting in the
hotel Office at about II o'clock congrat-
ulating himself and chuckling quietly.
He was thinking Of various facetious
remarks which he would make to Nye,
should he survive the operation he was
undergoing, about Uncle Asa, the red
cow, the hired man, and so forth, when
a man hurriedly entered who attracted
his attention at once. The man was
tall and angular with long gray hair
and hollow eyes, and he had a trick of
thrusting his head forward and point
ing with a lcng bony finger. He glanced
around at the group of hotel guests sit
ting about and walked directly to Ri
ley.
"You are Riley, James Whitcomb
Riley" he said, as he pointed long
finger at him. -......
The poet blushed slightly and mod
estly admitted the fact. t"Yes, yes"
went on the man II know you, though
I never saw you before. We never met,
but we've had a good deal of business
with each other"
"Well, perhaps" replied Riley, ''but
J. don't exactly understand what you
refer to-"
''Ha! I'll tell you. My name is
Thomas H. stockwell,' - and he looked
at Riley triumphantly.
Orwell, I can't just place you I'm
afraid,n answered Riley. --..s-- s
"You can't? Why, Pm the man
that has written all your poetry for
you"
The poet looked at the hollow eyed
visitor speechIess.
eyes, Sir, gentlemen" went on the
intruder, swinging his long, bony hand
so as to include the little group, II am
the man who has written all of James
Whitcomb Riley's poems for him.
When he has wanted new one he has
always written to me and I have sent
it to him and got my pay for it, and
that has been all there is about it. But
I'm sick and tired of it. Hereafter, sir,
the world shall know Thomas 81.
Stockwell as he is the fame of James
Whitcomb Riley will hereafter rest on
the brow of Thomas Hostetter Stock
well. The time has come for me to de-
clare myself and claim my own ?"
The unknown poet who had blushed
unseen all those years drew himself up
proudly and laid his hand on his heart.
Riley had been gradually getting over
his astonishment and now found his
voice.
"Perhaps, Mr.. StockwelI," he said,
''you may have some of your poems
with you such as yon have been fur
nishing me, and can favor US with
short reading"
Certainly" replied the long haired
individual promptly, as he pulled a
handful of crumpled manuscript out of
bis breast pocket; certainly, nothing
would give me greater pleasure. I
have here among others one entitled
The Old Barnyard,' with witch I in
tended filling your next order. I will
read one verse:
When you 60 out in our barnyard a.
kind % wandring round
Amongst the hens and sheep, and the
hogs a-rootin' in the ground,
And git tigg'rin' on the colts and how
much they'll prob'bly bring
When they're broke to drive in harness
later in the spring,
Aige off from the sheep with horns
less you want to see some stars
Cause he's predjerdiced and liable to
butt you through the bars,
But what you want to rally void amt
airy pig er sheep er hoss,