Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-11
T our Poets of To-Day-RiIey, Stedman
Aldrich, Stoddard. I,

Aldrich, Stoddard.
James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet
comes TO New York very often. He look:
like sharp-witted business man. He is
short of stature, trifie stoop-shouldered
and clean shaver. His hair is thin, and his
clothing betokens man of business rather
than poet. And in this regard he follows
Thomas Bailey Aldrich and Edmund Clar
ence Stedman. All Of these gentlemen are
sleek aud well grooned, and wear clothing
of fashionable cut. They are unpoetiC
looking men in the extreme. Richard
Henry Stoddard has the air of a man OF
letters and he is one of the few men engaged
in literary work in New York to-day who
could be picked out of i crowd and his call
ing determined by his appearance. When
Riley comes to New York he spends a great
deal of time in visiting old book stores,
and, when he tires Of that, he wanders up
and down Broadway feasting his eyes on
the constantly changing panorama OF that
great thoroughfare. He goes along leisurely,
and stops in front of shop windows and
gazes with childish eagerness upon the
wares displayed All the world knows that
Riley is fond of children. and when l saw
him awhile ago talking contidentially 10 u
bit of Il newsboy who was selling papers,
he seemed all absorbed in his new-found
friend If Riley would accept all the ipNi-
tations to social pleasure extended TO him
in New York he would be kept busy. But,
although he is = charming story
teller and an easy and graceful CONVEX
sationalist, he does not like to go
out much. He is shy. and prefers to sit in
4 corner with few friends who know and
understand him. Even on the platform he
is nervous and fidgety, and glad when he
has finished his readings. For the benefit
of those who say that poets cannot make
their salt, viii say Mr. Riley could make
hi a~,.fvt l. cad
the commercial intrinsic aud would accept
all the work rendered him. As it is, he
makes 5000 year from his poems, and
three times that much more from his read
ingS.
Thomas Bailey Aldrich runs over to New
York from Boston very frequently. He is
natty in his dress, and might easily be mis-
as he pleases. His fortune is ample. There
is no danger of the wolf ever coming to his
door.
Edmund Clarence Stedman looks exactly
what he is-a Wall street broker. He finds
more profit in puts and calls than in SON
nets.
Richard Henry Stoddard still works with
the enthusiasm of youth. He seems to be
in splendid health. He throws out an
enormous amount of work, all by his own
hand. He seldom employs an amanuenSiS.
He is ambideXtrous, too, and he manages to
get nearly 1000 words on the small pages of
note paper he uses. He writes i'll a fine,
feminine hand, but every word is carefully
spelled, and he is one of the few literary
men whom l know who take the pains to
properly paragraph and punctuate his
copy" and otherwise suitably prepare it
for the printers. Somehow, the report has
gone abroad that Mr.. Stoddard does not
Jike young men and young women who
write verses and it has been said that he is
hagsh and unfceling in his criticisms. l
think this an injustice to Mr.. Stoddard.
He is, as critic should be, frank and truth
full in his estimate of the work of young
writers, but not harsh and unfeeling. He
has helped many--a great many-yourg
men and young women. and it is only be-
cause Of his earnestness and love for the
profession of letters that has compelled him
sometimes to prick poetic bubble. The
fine old poet is doing some of his best work
now. To those who know him ne is gentle
and lovable. To sit in his presence is as re-
freshing as the crisp autumn winds, ard
quite as inspiring.