Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-07
James yyhiicomb Riley.


As the gentleman named above was undoubtedly
the feature OF the late meeting OF authors held in
this city IN the interest OF International copyright
the subjoned sketch, furnished TO the Book Buyer
py Mr. D. l. Paine, OF the Indianapolis Ne,cs, Will
possess interest for readers OF The STAR:
Mr.. Riley was born and spent the years Of his
boyhood at Greenfield Ind. His father was
an attorney OF some prominence and a genius In
mechanics, having the ability to initiate In con-
struction almost anything that can be made with
hands trait which his son inheritS as a mental,
though not manual characteristic. He was his
fathers constant companion, whether in court or
otherwise engaged. When the business OF litiga-
ton was on, the boy was left to his own devices.
Perched IN some obscure niche or window, he imi-
tated every movement OF the court lawyers and
witnesses, and there his studies OF dialect and
human nature OF the HooSier variety were made TO
be reproduced On the platform and In Print in
AS he grew older he took part in boy-theatricals.
ard alw Us as the star" His preference was for
portrait-painting as vocation, but sign-painting
offered more quickly remunarative field and 10
this he turned his attention for while. He even
descended TO lettering on fences, and the high
ways OF Hancock anu adjoining counties were pic
tureSque With the results or his genius. This be-
came monotonous, and he again turned his atten-
ton 10 the stage. he JOIN d strolling company
and became its genius. Finding his lines faulty
or unsuitable, he rewrOte them and sometimes re-
cast the entire play-abridglng, Frightening, or
throwing into prominence unique Characters as his
ideas or consistency demanded. AT one time he
attached himself 10 a combination in which the
payment Oh QSpeQUeU on the amount or
patent medicines sold between acts. The stage
was a large wagon drawn by horses gayly capari-
soned. on this was mounted large black oard
on which sketches In black and white were dis
played. Riley was artist, orator and musician In
turn drawing Illustrations and caricatures OF per.
sons In the motley audience, landing the virtues CT
his wares, improvising additional verses to soag
or playing Accomplishments on violin or guitar
and joining In the chorus. II was happy, vaga-
bond life, rebound from the repression OF mis-
earlier years II made him familiar with his kind,
and enrich This dialect vocabulary and his studies
OF human nature.
He rarely attended school with any degree Of
regularity, but he learned much from his father
and seemed TO absorb knowledge without effort
From early boyhOOd his thoughts fell into line in
rhythm. Even his first crude rhyming was not
deficient In this respect His poems are thought
out as he travels or walks the street, and when
their time has fully come he gives them birth re-
gardieSS OF surroundingS-at an ONCE desk In the
hum OF business, IN the waiting-room OF a Railway
station, on the corner OF busy editors table, or
seated on a low stool with mis- manuscript on his
knees-it Is all one 10 him. AT other times he Is
very sensitive to surroundings His reading has
taken a wide range, but has been somewhat dis
cursive, and he has been restrained from thorough
Initiative bent might mar his originality OF ex-
preston
The grotesque has always had a peculiar fasci-
nation for Mr.. Riley. He has written a dramatic
work OF some length. which he printed In a local
literary paper OF narrow circulation, and which
ne intends 10 revise and Illustrate. and may uti-
mately put upon the stage. II Is highly imagt-
native, as may be inferred by its title 1.-THE Fly
ing Islands OF the Ni2ht.r