The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-02-08
The MATTER WITH MR.. RILEY.

ID cOparttierSn1p neretOIOre exist
ing between Bill Nye and James Whit
comb Riley has beer dissolved, no SO
much by mutual cOnsent AZ by force of
circumstances. On several occasions
during the last few years. Mr.. Nye has
been obliged to preface the joint enter
tainment they had been billed tn give
with AN apology tn n audience an
apology to the effect that his partner,
the poet, was unable to be present on
account of II sudden attack of illness.
The poetry business being thus cut
from n show entirely, Mr.. Nye had to
dive down into his grip for an extra
quantity of what he terms his own gray
matter, calmly informing his carer
that the play would contain more truth
poetry by Il long shot. The extra
work that thus devOlved upon the hu-
mOrist wearied him. n as Mr.. Riley's
attacks of Illness became more and
more frequent they had the effect of
making MIR. Nye more and more tired.
MIR. Nye loved and esteemed his part
ner. however, and loyalty made every
effort to cOncea the nature of the
poets illness. Knowing that the news
paper. reporters would he sure tn dis
cover 10, MIR. Nye was accustomed to
see them after the show and beg them
to remember nat he belonged tn the
''perfesh" himself and would be thank
FIJI il the usual courtesies Of silence
should he accorded him touching the
of Mr.. Riley. Thus il hap
pened that the show kept ON the road
and the public never knew what IA
heavy load it was carrying II mem
bier of il. that is.
But in Louisville last Saturday
night the show did not show.
MIR. Nye and his manager. it
appears from the Con,ier-.Jour-
NIL, took extraordinary precautions tn
insure h positive appearance of MIR.
Riley upon the stage. But whether on
account of his proximity to the star
eyed Goddess whom he was desiring of
i'm ancient Bacchanalian fash
ion. or On com of the peculiar in
for which the atmosphere
of Kentucky il somewhat cele-
brated. certain il is that something
inspired Mr.. Riley to get Trunk. lie
out Mr.. Nye and told him that
his desire tn get drunk was superhu-
man. lie wanted to get drunk and he
would get drunk, no matter if il was
last act. Mr.. Nye assured him
that he would not get drunk il he
il.
Orders were left at the bar of the no
tel not To accommodate Mr.. Riley with
stronger THAI soda. \ strict
vas also served upon the
hotel employees NOT to take any booze
tn room s2O. i'm which the poet was
lodged. When ne wen out upon the
the manager of the show was at
his elbow. Mr.. Nye tiattered himself
that he had got h best of HE partners
appetite. but his joy was short
lived. At . o'clock in the evening
Riley was drunken than he had
ever been before i'm his life. lie had
into room 3I9 and ordered up
enough whisky to kill II policeman.
Mr.. Nye not only declared the show off
for that night. but cancelled all the
engagements of his season.
80 i'm number. and went back To
New York.
Mr.. Riley is "a talented fellow and his
has all the elements of popular
ity. Blu the Louisville incident has
his claims to respectability.
and the realization of that fac will
accelerate his downward career. The
of Poe is likely to overtake him i'm
the end.