The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-29
LIKE THE HOLSTERS
MIR. RILEY OBSERVES THE NORTH
CAROLINA MOUNTAINEERs.
A Dialect and Quaint Songs Similar
to Those of His Own Native
State-Mr. Nye Happy.

James Whitcomb Riley and DR.. Frank
Hays, old 'cronies'' since they frequented
the "Old Swimmin' Hole together in Han
cock county, arrived home yesterday even
ing from their trip to the mountains of
North Carolina. The visit to this region
was undertaken for the relief that it was
to bring DR.. Hays from hay fever, and the
time was spent among the heights of the
mountain ranges. AS the travellers were
admiring the scenery just before entering
Asheville IN the train a cinder hit Mr..
Riley in the eye. After reaching the hotel
a long carriage ride was taken over the
beautiful and picturesque roads, with a stiff
wind blowing, so that when it came time
the next day to prepare for the call upon
Mr.. Edgar cBiH'o Nye, whose farm is
sixteen miles distant, Mr.. Rely was suffer-
ing so much from his eye that he could not
go, and Dr. Hays went. on alone. Fol a
time both Mr.. Riley and DR.. Hays were
much alarmed about the formers injury,
but it yielded to treatment. Mr.. and Mrs.
Nye called at the hotel to see Mr.. Riley.
Replying to a question as TO Mr.. Nye's in
tentions for the season, Mr.. Riley said:
HE told me that he intended to do no
platform work this year, and as that is
also my intention, he and 1 shook hands
upon the prospects of a seasons vacation.
He is living on his farm, which, 1 under
stand, is a valuable and attractive one,
and seems we'll contented with his sur
roundings. If anybody thinks he is run
ming a toy farm, a visit to the place would,
/ understand. convince him otherwise. Mr..
Nye was brought up on a farm in Wiscon-
sin, and understands the business. He told
me his last book was a financial success, a
kind of compliment exceeding in value any
other, to the authors mind
w were not long in one place. contin-
ued the Hoosier poet, w visited the
of splendor far beyond description. 1t was
to us q revelation of grandeur in scenery,
architecture and art. 1t stands at the sum
nit of a high promontory reached by a
winding road. 1t is of antique architecture
an. is built of Indiana stone. embellished
with marble in unique Ornamentation. In
its friezes, it's great gargoyles standing out
like mythical monsters from the turrets,
and in its classic parapets it Is
a picture that compares only with the sug-
gestions of Aladdin's lamp. 1T looks down
upon a classic valley, in keeping with the
lofty %splendor of the edifce. The palace
persons have any conception of the size of
the Vanderbilt plantation 1t must be
thirty miles across it. DR.. Hays was in
tensely delighted with the view we had of
the place"
I'D d yu meet any Indiana people"
1T was our pleasure. 10 meet Rev. DR..
<1COi Iia ilo wiz anu . ~ avian
mountain. His daughter is still an invalid
and has to live in the high altitude. The
Doctor is mingling much with the people
native to the mountains, and is learning a
great deal about them that makes interest
ing reading. He is doing some descriptive
work for the Independent that is excel
lent. We spent a very pleasant time with
him and his family. The natives interested
ME also. because they use the same dia-
lect that 1 have heard in Indiana. They
have some of the same quaint songs that
are heard in certain parts of Indiana and
they have the same lore, the same stories
as can be found in the southern parts of
the State among the hills, notably, those
of Brown county. 1 was led to the conclu-
sion that the early natives of Brown county
must trace their ancestors back to the
surprised to find this likeness IL so many
ways to native HOLSTERS"
Did you get any material for literary
use?"
mo, / made no effort to do so. Before /
left i had just turned over the manuscript
of a new book of poems to the publishers
ana L wanted to take a vacation. l made
no notes, except mental ones. We were out
for recreation and we had it. 1t was all so
new-old as the hills of course, but it had
not come our way before. There were times
on the mountain at ASheville when We
seemed standing In the center of a vast
blank space. Instead of finding the clouds
above us we were above them and, occa-
sionally, they would envelop us, shutting
off all the world. Then the mists would
sweep away and through riffs OF clouds we
could see peak after peak, one partly hid
ing another and but family outlined in the
azure. Then another rift would open and
we could look down through inconceivable
depths below. 1t was beautiful and ever
varying. We saw new cloud effects and new
mountain effects in the changing atmo-
spheres every, day. 1t was enchanting"
Mr.. Riley showed the effects of his vaca-
ton in his tanned face and signs of vigor-
Gus health. The news of his return home
spread rapidly among his numerous friends
and the parlors at his residence, No. 26
Lockerbie street, were crowded with callers