The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-30
RlLEY's POEM "LEoNASIE."
How the Famous limitation OF Poe
Came to He Written.


In his youth James: Whitcomb Riley
had a friend and confident who was
a hard-headed. practical fellow. and he
took the same view of the young mans
poetical aspirations, as did Jims father,
aud knowing how sorely the lack of ap-
probation was hurting his young friend.
he tried to coax him, and that failing.
TO badger him into abandoning the
muse. He said that Jim's poetry
vas mo good there was nothing
in it, etc. etc. Jim maintained that he
did not claim that his work was great, but
he did think it fully equal to much that
was used over the names of writer's of
more or less reputation. To prove this.
under the sting of his friends taunts, Jim
formed plan for the sole purpose of
working sell on his badgering friend,
never dreaming of the effect il would Gre
ate aside from hoodwinking this doubser
At Kokomo, Ind, he had two friends
and associates, Samuel Richards, who
has since gained some fame as an arts.
the lives now, l believe, at Denver.
COLI; and the editor and proprietor of
the kokomo Dispatch Oscar Henderson,
who is at this time auditor of the state of
Indiana.
To these two friends he confided the
scheme he had formed and enlisted them
in the plot.
His plan was to write something after
the style of some weil-knowu author, at
tribute the article to him, and by its being
accepted as genuine and copied by
reputable publications show the I'M
fairness of those who hold the por-
tails TO literary recognition, and de-
monstrate that merit without name
was passed by without recognition.
N NIL al
coined if they came with q well-known
trademark. Accordingly he wrote
poem entitled "Leonanie," which he at
tributed TO Edgar Alien Poe, and caused
20 be published in the Kokomo Dispatch.
the paper owned by his friend, Mr.. Hen
derson. The story went that this poem
had been written by Poe, but that il
and now saw the light for the first time.
The poem was copied throughout the
length and breadth of The land. 1t was
pronounced by such well-known literary
men as William Cullen Bryant aud Others
as undoubtedly genuine and among the
best things the erratic poet had
ever written. Poc's biographer wrote
TO the Kokomo Dispatch ask
ing for the manuscript of the
poem. and offering To pay large amount
for II. II its genulneness was established.
This frightened both Henderson ana
Riley, seeing they were to be called upon
TO establish the authenticity Of the story.
Riley called his friend Richards,
who was an expert with the pen, to
his assistance. They went to butcher
IN kokomo. who had small
library which had been sen. HIM
upon the death of relative in Phladel-
pnia. They took him into their conf
dence and secured his cooperation. From
ials library they took an old thumb
worn copy of Ainsworths dictionary
and, IA imitation OF Poe's handwriting. Z
using faded ink. on the hy-leaf OF
this book Richards copied the poem
and signed II "A. l.. p" This, when
shown TO the literary men was convincing
proof that the poem was genuine their
theory being that Poe himself had written
IL there, and that the fact that II Was writ
having been published. Its genuineness
vas fully accepted by the literary donhters
kIey's triumph was then complete
and the truth regarding the
y hole ALTAR was proclaimed by Hem
dcrson. Richards and Others who
h9j IN the meantime become acquainted
With the facts. Much "a Riley's surprise.
instead AZ his story being accepted as true,
BE was denounced - an impostor. who
was tying to steal Poe's work. But the
facts eventually became established,
atd then the critics proceeded 10
literally skin poor Riley alive. William
Cullen bryant denounced his action in
the strongest terms and never foggave
him for having deceived him. This
gave Riley new idea about the whole
business, and he saw for the first time that
ne had been guilty of something unpro-
iessionsl. II grIevsd him beyond ex-
preston when he realized that there
might tc something dishonest in his ruse
thAI was meant only as joke on
TREND. and | know positively that IL is
the regret OF Riley's lite that this affair
ever happened. lie tried every way
IN ihe world % suppress the poem
Leonalne, and any reference either to
u or the incident IS very distasielut
20 him. How Se.i he has succeeded in
sappressiUg II may be surmised bv the
TACT that II does not appear in any II the
many editions OF the haif-liozen or more
vo'umes Of his writings. and /. who have
TeAG everything can get from his zen,
have never even