The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-20
Mr.. RILEY HOME AGAIN.
Forty Nights Ovation Through the West and
on the Slope-Visits joaquin Miller

Manager w. c. Glass, who has been lead
ing James Whitcomb Riley q chase of forty
nights along the Pacific coast, arrived in
Indianapolis with MS charge last evening.
I'VE have been in the land where
they spend dollars with almost as much
lavishness as your Indiana farmer sows
his clover" said Mr.. Glass. speak
ing of the trip. Generous. warm
hearted and sociable to degree.
far beyond courteous hospitality. the
average Californian reminds one
more of Indiana than perhaps any other
place in the United States. IL
was perfect ovation for Mr.. Riley
from the night we opened in Davenport
Ia, Nov. a. until our roundup at Mime
apolis, last Saturday night. At Denver
we met the Rev. MyrOn w. Reed.
who hadn't seen Mr.. Riley since their
European trip together. Mr.. Riley gave
two entertainment there, and left without
half the people who desired seeing him. 1t
was long Jump to Los Angeles, but the
reception In the beautiful city more than
requited the tlresome journey. There we
Hoosier colony. All knew Mr.. Riley.
and lad been looking forward TO his
arrival. The coast people, too. appeared
10 be as familiar with his works as were
the people from Indiana. and the two
nights in Los Angeles were repetition
of the Denver reception. Mr.. Riley
was entertained there 10y the California
Club, awealthy and pretenti0us 0rganiza-
tion. and by Major Bowenbrake, formerly
of Fort Wayne.
1--WE spent ten days in all at San Fran
cisco. giving three entertainments 60 the
most hattcring houses. Joaquin Miller
came over from his famous country-s seat,
The Heights. situated far u D the coast range
II. ~ IL n e.-l -<xf
the city. bav and Golden Gate stretc hing
out below, and then carried off Mr. Riley
and a party to his mountain
eyrie for q days entertainments From
there We gave entertainments along the
coast ND to Portland. Tacoma, Seattle and
Olympia. Washington's capital. In all
those places We met Indiana people
who have gone West and risen TO
wealth and influence. all of whom Wed
with one another 10 do honor to Mr.. Riley.
It being his first trip to the coast. AT Ia
coma ex-Congressman Calklns. formerly of
this city. gave him q reception, as
did also the Union Club. At
Seattle we met Judge Will Fl. Thompson.
ing eastward. we stopped at Helena
and Duluth. At Minneapolis the re-
ception was simply wonderful. Salvini had
the other opera house, but we turned hum
dreds away. l may say we did not have q
bad night during the whole time"
visit to the home of the poet of the Sier-
ras." where he lives In delicious
seclusion with his charmipg2 mother
in all the simplicity of child. The hos
took his visitor to bis den decorated with
q valuable and novel collection of Indian
relics and souvenirs from every w here.
One of his treasures is the gauiily har-
messed skin of the rare three-legged bear.
With all the weird trappIngs of an Indian
medicine man Mr.. Miller harnessed him
self and went through an immitstIon Of
the mystical lamentations to produce ram
Presently the rain began to pour on the
fiat. fustic roof of the queerly constructed.
camp-like home, and looking out the
little window the party saw it
was actually raining on the outside.
With all the solemnity of medicine man
Mr.. Miller conducted the dance, and but
for his simple smile at their confusion
the guests could not have guessed
he was perpetrating O huge joke.
When they left the little house 1t was ex-
planned that the rain came from an
ingenious. system of lrrisating
water pipes 10y which the gem
tie poet conducted d never failing
supply of pure spring water over his lofty
farm. Mr. Riley Will remain in Indian
apolis few days before going East.