The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-12-20
The ''H0OSTEB" POET.
James Whitcomb Riley Before a Sac
ramento Audience.
lie Entertains His Hearers by His In
imitable DroIleries and Senti-
ment-Again Tonight.

The Congregational Church was
crowded far beyond its seating capacity
with those who wished to hear and see
James Whitcomb Riley, under the auspi-
ces of the Sacramento Lecture Associa-
ton, last evening, and the audience
proved very appreciative and enthusiasts
tic. The evenings entertainment began
with a piano solo by Theodore Mertens,
after which MIR. Riley was introduced.
The "Hoosier" poet and humorlst was
greeted with a round of applause. He
began his brief Introductory speech in in
formal and slow tones that verged upon
drawing style of speech. 1t was soon
apparent, however, that he was master of
the situation, and that his audience was
prepared to laugh or sigh upon the least
provocation.
He began by stating that the dialect Sc
lections he would give were meant to be
truthful and common to middle America,
rather than to the extreme West. He
denominated the dialect produced to be
the voice Of Nature, aud from the heart,
and held that it meant something more
han smooth tone or bad grammar, and
nc believed the time would come when it
would be more than ever appreciated as
lBlllIeu anu Slnc6I6 DIS e& DTcSSNlS OF
natural and hOmely sentiment. His
studies, he said were taken from the life
and people and pioneer "Hoosiers."
His first selection was the story of a
farmers quarrel with Deighboring far
mer, and the story was told in the words
OF the farmer himself, in rather rugged
rhyme.
The selection, as were all that followed,
was full OF feeling, natural sentiment and
humor, but Mir. Riley's manner of recit-
ing, his facial expression and his entire
oemeanor captivated his hearers more
than his words, and at once put them in
an easy, appreciative mood.
That Old Sweetheart of Mine" was
given with great force of expression and
III style which seemed peculiarly nat
ural to the lecturer.
His character sketch ofthe Stockholders
courtship was also given III a very attract
i've and natural manner, which kept his
hearers between laughter and seriousness
and wholly enrapt.
His rendition of a brothers letter, re-
calling old times at "Old Aunt Mary's,v
drew vivid picture of country lanes,
bareioot boys and rural scenes, and was
produced with pathos and truthfulness
OF expression that thrilled many a breast
lie was most humorous in his narrative
OF city teachers address to a country
school, and IN the story OF the crippled
soldier borne from the field by COM
rade, as country boy tried to tell it.
The school teacher from the city was
depicted as one Of the most esthetic. with
eyeglasses and drawl, and he disserted in
lncOmpreheusible language upon "object
lessons" Mr.. Riley inpersonated the
character to perfection. and when he pro-
duced peanut from his vest pocket and
lnade II the subject of learned haraneue,
he threw his audience into long and hearty
laughter and kept them there tor half an
hour.
The story of the soldier was given in
the lnimitable way Of an OyergrOwn
country boy. Il was that a soldier in a
fierce battle had his leg shot away. He
called a comrade, who undertook to bear
him from the field, but while being
borne of on his comrades shoulders the
wounded mans head was taken of bv a
second cannon ball. The faithful COM
rade, however, did not know of his bur-
denis second misfortune, and continued
on his way to the rear bearing his decap-
itated friend.
Finally he was hailed by an officer.
who asked him what he had there. When
told the mans leg was shot OF, the Off
Ger replied, Ills head is shot of, YOU
lubber!" Thereupon the good Samari-
tan threw down his burden, as he ex-
claimed: "pH be burned if it amt!
Why, the durn cuss told Inc himself that
it was his leg 7"
The story may have been an old one to
some, but it was never told with so good
effect.
Mr.. Riley concluded with some tales of
boyhood days, and was so loudly encored
at his llnlsh that he was obliged to apollo
Gize and excuse himself on account of
hoarseness.
During the evening a quartet COM
posed OF Messrs. Cohn, Week. Beardslie
and Barree sang Annie Laurie" and
"Mary's Lamb" and in each instance
were encored enthusiastically. Pro-
lessor c. J. Dunster rendered an organ
solo, and was Obliged to give a second
performance to satisfy the audience.
The committee OF the Lecture Associa-
ton prevailed upon Mr.. Riley to ac-
quiesce to the universal request of his
listeners to give a second lecture, and he
will appear again tonight with an entire
change of programme. The regular as
ISOLATION tickets are good Tor admission
10 to-night's entertainment.