Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-09
DAY OFF WITH RILEY.
Frank L. Stanton, the Southern Singer,
Takes the HOOsier Poet Out For
Spring.Day Drive.

FRANK " stanton, the southern Singer,
Takes the HOOsier Poet Out For
IT, Spring. Day Drive.
The horses were trotting leisurely
along, and he was leaning back in the
carriage, enjoying the April sunshine
and glimpses OF green fields. We
passed country store, with typical
country citizens lounging around. II
reminded me of "A Liz Town Humor-
ist." and | said so, when, with evident
delight, he ratified off the lines:
"Settin' round the stove last night,
Down at Wess's store, wuz me
And Mart Strimples-Tunkand White,
And Doc Bills, and two or three
Feller's of the Mudsock tribe
No use tryin' to describe
And seq Doc-he seq, seq he:
'Talkin' bout good things to eat,
Ripe musmllion's hard to beat!'"
He went through the whole poem,
before delighted audience of two,
and he never did it better! We were
out where he could bare his brow to
the ample april morning and open
his heart to his friends. And that's
what he likes to do.
There are many lovely side-lights to
the beautiful character of the man.
Strong and answering in true nobl-
ity Of purpose, yet crowned with gen.
tleness and tears. Standing There, in
his room, in the Aragon, the day he
got back from Macon, coat off and
hands pocketed said to him:
TITS a fair, fine day outside Look
how the sunshine is taking in the
world"
YES" he said, gazing drcamily
through the broad windows, and
then, he began:
TITS mighty good to git back to the
old town-shore,
Considerin' I've been away fer twenty
year an morel'
And then, just off-handed he re-
pea'ted "rhe Old Band" which opens
with the lines quoted above.
1t was picture: Shirtsleeves-
hands in professionals and traps
around him. and Obvious Of all save
the sunshine without, and the delici-
Gus sense of restfumess within. No
audience ever got as much music out
of "l'he Old Eand' as | did that day,
1t came straight from his heart, with
its homely. HEARTBEAT refrain
But somehow-anyway.
| want to hear the old band play" |
Of course, It wouldn't do for any
body to ask Riley to recite for them-
to give rondel for a ride, a song for
a supper; and no one who knows and
loves him would think of doing that.
But a day off with him-a friend or
two, and the suggestion Of a song in
sky or meadow. and song comes rip
ling from his lips with all the breezy
abandon of the rils Of April!
Riley is not one Of the literary fell
ows
In foolscap uniforms turned up with
ink"
He loves to laugh, and doesn't talk
'hop'-lInless it be to say kind words
'or his contemporaries He doesn't
write by set domestic rules-any- I
where in green meadow. on a rush.
ng railway train will do for him. In
he words Of Richard Henry Stod-
|ard:-
LET no poet, great or small,
Say that he will sing a song;
For song someih--if at all
Not because we WOO il long"
And that fits Riley. The song comes
o him and he writes ii down. lie t
oes not ay seige TO the rosy citadelS I
i song. TO storm The muses. into line. 2
And he has a wonderful memory, t
nd all that is best in literature lives b
nd brealheS in it, y
Richard Realf?" he said In answer !
0 a question while we were walking e
n the street YES, know him by !
cart. And what a fine singer he t
'as! lie wrote this; Listen. b
He stood for simple manhood and t
was ioyed h
To see the august broadening of the il
light,
nd new earths heaying heayenward
from the void"
As he quoted the lines he stopped y
nd spread his arms out in sheer en-
'yment of them.
He was in birmingham, and after /
lie reading his representative said. >
well. ! shall leave on an early a
ain for Atlanta. You can rest TO-
ght and come on later" Il
Going to Atlanta, are your d
"Yes; III just go on ahead" =
NO, you WON'T" said Riley IF y
'n're going to Atlanta, I'm going
itb you! You can't shake me that Y
ay-not when 1t comes 10 Atlanta" o
"But-you don't want to get up at q
ybreak, do your"
YES, ] do! I'm fond Of fresh mir G,