The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-22

ITO" RILEY, s:edman. AIdrioh and stoddard
Appear la Public

James Nitcomb Riley. the Hoosier poet,
comes TO New York very often. says tho Mail
ehd Express. lie looks like a sharp-witted
business man. lie is short of stature. "A little
stoop-shouldered and clean shaven. His
mar " thin and his clothing betoken a man
ol business rather than a poet. And IN this
regard he follows Thomas Bailey Aldrich
and Edmund Clarence Stedman. All these
gentlemen are sleek and well-groomed,
and wear clothing Of fashionable cut.
ihey are unpOetic-lOOking men IN the eX-
irene. Richard Henry Stoddard has the
BIT of a man of letters and he is one Of the
men engaged in literary work in New York
to-day who could be picked out Of a crowd
and hls calling determined by his appearance.
When Riley comes 20 New York he spends a
good deal of his time in visiting old book
stores and when ne tires Of that he wauders
mp and down Broadway Teasing his owes ON
the conrtantly-chauglng panorama of that
thoroughlare. lie goes along le%isurely. and
stops IN front OF shop windows and pazes
with childish ea9erness upon the wares dis
piayed. All the world knows that Riley is
roma OF children, and when | saw him awhile
10 '3lhihE conhdentially 30 "a bit OF a news
poN VINO was selling papers he seemed all ab-
Sofbeu ia his new found friend. IL Riley
Nouta accept all the invitations 70 social
pleasures extended 70 him in New York he
would be kept busy. But. although he is
q hafmlng story teller and an easy and
r'"NNAAt ANIlraNl0ItllaI. ne does NOT IKE
70 go ont much. He is shy and pre-
iers 70 SIT IN a corner with a few friends who
Know nm 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, ! Will say that Mr.. Riley
could make @lJ 900 a year by his poetry If he
possessed the commercial instinct and would
accept all the work rendered him. As IL ia.
no makes 1000 q year from his poems and
three times that much from his readings.
Thomas Bailey Aldrich runs over to New
York from Boston very frequently. lie is
n0tty IN his dress and might easily he mis-
taken for o leader II the german. He works
as ne pleaSes. His fortune is ample. There
no danger Of the wolf ever coming 10 his
door.
Edmund Clarence Stedman looks exactly
what he Is, a Wall-street broker. He fnds
more proht IN puts and calls than in sOnnets.
Richard Henry Stoddard still works with
the enthusiasm Of youth. He seems 20 be in
splendid health. He throws out an enor-
nous amount of work. all by his own hand.
lie seldom employs an amanuensis. tie is am
bidextrOus. too. and he manages to get nearly
l,OOJ words on the small pages of note paper he
uses. lie writes IN a fine, feminine hand. but
every word is carefully spelled. aud he is one
OF the few literary men whom / know who
takes the pains TO properly paragraph and
punCtuate his copy and otherwise suitably
prepare 1t for the printers. Somehow the re-
port has gone abroad that Mr.. ~Stoddard does
not like young men and young women who
write verses, and 1t has been said that he is
harsh and unfeeling in his criticisms.
] think this IS an injustice 20 Mr..
StOddard. He is. az a critic should be.
frank and truthful in his esti-
Of the work Of young writers. but
harsh or unfeeling. He Las helped many
great many-yOung men and women. and
IL rs only because Of his earDestness and love
fOr the profession of letters that has COM
him sometimes TO prick a poetic bub-
The fine old poet is doing some Of his
best work now. To those who know him he
s gentle and lovable. To sit in his presence
Is rs refreshing as the crisp autumn winds.
and quite as inspiring.