The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-05

The unhappy subject Of this sketch was born 50
long ago tL.athe persists in never referring to the
date. Citizens of his native town OF Greenfield, 1nd-
while warmly welcoming his advent. were no less
demonstrative, some years since. to speed the part
ing guest" II seems. in fact, that as they caEe to
know him better the more resigned they were to give
him up. lie was Mstarred from the very cradle. It
appears. One day. while but n toddler, he climbed,
unseen. TO an open window where some potted fow-
ers were arranged, and, while leaning from his
high chair far out, to catch some dainty, gilded but
terfy, perchance. he lost his footing, and, with a
piercing shrek, fell headlong to the graveled walk
below; and when, an instant later, the a~ffrighted
parents picked him mp. he was-he was a poet.
The father of young Riley was a lawyer of large
practice. who used. In moments Of deep thought, to
regard this boy as the worst case he ever bai. This
may have been the reason that, il time, he insisted
on his reading law. which the boy really tried 10 do:
but. finding that Political Economy and Black stone
didn { rhyme. he sid out OF the o1lce one hot, sultry
afternoon and ran away with a p-atent.medicine and
concert wagon. from the tail end OF which he was
dscovere | by some relatives OF his in the next town,
violently abusing n bass drum. This was a proud
moment for the boy; nor did his peculiar presence of
mind entirely desert him until all the county fairs
wero over for the season. Then. afar of, among
strangers in a strange state. he thought it would be
fine 10 make a flying visit home. But he couldn't
fly. Forum a;ely, in former years he had purloined
some knowledge Of a trade. He could paint a sign
or a house-or a tin roOf-if some one else would fur.
nish him the paint-and one Of Riley's hand painted
picket fences was /. lpture to the most exacting
eye. Yet, through all his stress and trial, he pre-.
served a simple, Joyous nature, together with an
ever widening love of men and thin Is in general. He
made friends, and money. too-enough at last 10
crafty the highest ambition of his life. namely, to
own an overcoat with fur around the tail of 1T. he
then CROPPED his way back home, and worked for
nothing on n little country paper that did not long
survive the blow. Again excusins himself he took
his sappy paragraphs AMI poetry TO another paper
and another town, and there did better until he
spoiled 1t all by dcvisin & a Poe poem fraud by which
he lost his job; and. in disgrace snl humiliat on
shoe mouth deep. his feelings gave way beneath his
feet, and his lie art broke with a loud report. So the
true poet was born. "Hecame high, but we had 10
have him!" 80, happily, soliloquizes his first literary
patron, Judge f. b.. Martindale. then proprietor of
the Indianapolis Journal, with which paper Mr.
Riley and his better work are still identified.
His first book of poems was issued at the authors
expense by a Cincinnati publisher. The Bowen.
Merrill Company, as soon as they saw the volume,
recognized the remarkable genius Of MI. Riley, and
issued a handsome edition OF the book at their own
expense. The Bowen-Merril Company have since
issued seven volumes OF his works, and the sale has
been enormous in every State in the Union.
or the poets present rersonelle We need speak but
briefly. His dresSls at once elegant and paid for.
1t is even less picturesque than all wool. Not liking
hair particularly. he wears but little. and III at of the
mildest shade. lie is a good speak cr-when spoken
tO-but a much better listener, and often l ngs 10
change places with his audience. so that he also may
retire. In his writings he probably shows at his
best. He tries To, anyway. knowing the manifold
faux passes and "breaks" in this lie OF ours his
songs are sympatheiis and sincere. Speaking coyly
OF himself one day, he said: Il write from the heart;
that's one thing L like about ne. l may not write a
good hand. and my copy may occasionally got
mixel MP with the market reports. but all the same.
what challenges my admiration is that hum ane Pc
culiariiy CT mine, l. g., writing from the hcart-and
therefore TO the heart
Nj. Riley has been fortunate in having the well.
known house. the Bowen Merrill Company. as his
publishers. They have issued his books in the most
elegant and modern style Of book making. His en-.
tire works are i'll seven l2mO. volumes. beautifully
bound in combination cloth. gilt top, and Put up in a
neat box. Several Of the volumes are illustrated.
and there is also a special edition OF his poem.