The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-19
DINNER TO THE.POET RILEY
Brilliant Party in His Honor Around
RichIy-Laden Tables at the D~enisOn.
Many Friends Welcome the Distinguished
Hoosier Writer to Good Cheer and Will
His Speech and Letters from Admirers.

A dinner was given to James Whitcomb Riley
by the Western Association of Writer'S and
other friends at the New Dsnison last even
inc. The cozy parlor 10 which the banquet was
spread was beautifully decorated with smblems
suggested by Mr.. Rileyis dialect
poems. and ths days in which
"the frost is on the punkin
and the folders in the shock" were illustrated
by o liberal supply of these articles in the state
Get forth in the poem. Among the forty-odd
guests who fanked the Hoosier poet on either
side were Judge Martindsls and wife, Captain
J. A. Lsmcke. Treasurer Of State; DR.. George
Cook, Mr.. Claypool, of Connersville; Mr.. Noble
G. Butler, DR.. Frank Hays, Mrs. Rose Bailey,
Miss Ida Harper. of Tsrre Hauts; Mr.. and Mrs..
@. G. Foster. Mrs. NJ A. Andrews. Mrs. Sci
dell, Mrs. Benjamin 5. Parker, OF New Castle:
Mr.. Thso. L. Sewall, Miss Mamie S. Raden, Of
Cincinnati; Mr.. John c. Ochiltree, OF Danvii.e;
Prof. David Starr Jordan, OF the State Univers-
ity; Rev. NJ. L. Haines and others whose names
escaped the reporters pencil
When the attractive menu had been thor
oughly discussed the Hon. ". Dudley Foulke,
the of the evening, in Q happy little
speech reviewed the literary advances of the
West in the last decade, and with tho remark
that no man had done more to promote this
progress than the gentleman in whose honor tho
entefIalQr0onL was glvoQ, proposed ice Qoalt0 Oh
James Whitcomb Riley.
Mr.. Riley was heartily applsudsd when he
rose to reply, and his response was earnestly
AND feeliDgly spoken. He said:
Through neither spoken words, nor carefully DELHI
Grated phrase of ink and pen could I convey to you
the full sense of my gratitude this hour. The honor
you so generously bestow is so muni6ceut that, in
comparison, my deserving seems to me q very trivial
beyond all definition, I am no less patbeticaIly
reminded OF my present unworthiness, and the &C.
companying fear that even the most generous future
may, IN that regard, still ind me . delinquent. Yet,
by your tribute, of two certainties ! am assured:
Your faith and my intent. Should the latter find
accomplishment BETTING the demand. then only
will l feel the debt 1 owe you has been
righteously repaid. So, answering the spirit Of your
toast tonight, / take it that Our Guest is q common
one-so common indeed. that had we a register" we
would end, IN very simple Characters, the name
scrawled there. B. Love-the q, of course, for broth
erly. Therefore, with more loyalty than language,
and more tears than wine-God bless us every one.
Following Mr.. Rilsy's remarks. Benz. S. Par
ksr. OF New Castle, and president Of the West
ern Association of Writers, gave an interesting
sketch of the growth Of Western literature, and
Mrs. III l.. Andrews read . numoer of letters
rom absent friends of Mr.. Riley's, in-
GLIDING Gen. BENZ Harrison, Edgar Wilson
Nye. s. L. Clemens. Brander Mathews, d. l..
Payne, Rev. Robt Mcintyre, Robt. Burns will
ston, Charles A. Dana. sRichard Malcolm John
son, Jalia Carter Aldrich. Gen. Lew Wallace.
Richard fGiidsr, Will Cnmback, Geo. William
Curtis. John Boyle ORsilly aud others.
The following is the text Of letters written by
General Harrison, Bill Nye and Mark Twain:
GENERAL HARRIsoN's REGRETS.
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 10, 1883.
Mrs. 81. l.. Andrews:
My Dear Madam have the honor TO acknowledge
the receipt of an invitation, on behalf of the commit
tee OF the Western Association Of Writers, 20 at-
tend q banquet to be given at the New
Denison Hotel. Thursday evening. Oct. Is. in honor
of James Whitcomb Riley. 1t would give me great
pleasure. If my engagements would permit me. to
meet with you on this interesting occa-
sion. I am an sdmirer of Mr.. Riley's,
and would DO glad to participate in
however, be impossible for me to attend, owing to
other engagements. Very truly yours,
BENZ. HARRISON.