Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-19

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to appear in the three cities
under the auspices of the Tri-
City Press club. 1 shall al
ways recall with happy remem-
ORANGES my visit here"
lanes Whitcomb RILEY.
Tri-City people turned out III force
last night to greet James Whitcomb
Riley in his reading at the Burtis opera
house, Davenport, under the auspices
of the Tri-City Press club. The
warmth of the reception accorded the
poet did honor even to one of MIR.
Riley's station. He was perceptibly
moved by it and more than once ex-
pressed his gratitude for the kindly
spirit in which he had been welcomed.
1t is seldom any theatre in the three
cities contains such a cultured.
thoroughly representative audience.
The theatre was filed to the
doors, while about 100 people sat on
the stage and n namber occupied
chairs, placed for the occasion, in the
orchestra pit. While naturally Mr..
Riley's readings were the feature of
the performance, the artistic musical
program furnished by local talent
con Jributed in no small degree to the
evenings enjoyment. Assisting MIR.
Riley were Misses Louise WesterVelt.
soprano, Davenport; Miss Gertrude
Stephens, mezzo-soprano. Moline;
Miss Olga Junge, pianiste. Rock Island;
Hugo Toll, violinist, Davenport, aud
the Beethoven quintet, of Davenport,
composed nf Miss Ludo Bruning
piano; Albert Peterson, first violin
Hesry Sonntag, second violin; Claus
Koepkc, viola, and Gustav Foehringer
cello.
The program was opened by the
Beethoven quintet with c. Reissigers
'Adagio non Troppo" and ALLEGRO
Moderate non Tanto," both admirably
rendered, after which Mr.. Riley
was introduced by S. w. Ssarle,
of the Davenport Leader, who
acted in behalf of the Tri-City
Press club. 1t was fully a moment
before the applause had subsidized,
MIR. Riley took for his first topic An
nails of the Poor" reciting in dialect
the story of a family feud as related
by one of the hoosiers who was a
party to it, the entire trouble grow
ing out of q dispute between brothers
in-law over hoe. Res bonding to an
encore the poet gave a humorous
sample of a story as it is told by the
old soldier who really believes it i
funny but does all the laughing him
self-one of those long-drawn out
that one has to bear from n
friend occasionally, and laugh at it
too, lest offense be given.
Miss stephens Sings
Miss Stephens, for her mum Der sang
George Chadwick's- "Bedouin Love
Song" 1t given with sweet and
charming effect, the singer having a
rich and highly cultivated voice She
was roundly enoored. but could only
be induced to bow her acknowledge
ment. Another selection BY the Bee
thoven quintet, c. Reissiger's "Scher-
20 Presto" and allegro non Tanto,"
and Mr.. Riley recited In his inlmita-
bic twang, ''Out to Old Aunt Msry's:'
Wash t It pleasant, o brother, mine.
IN thos- old Gays OF .tn,. lost su, shine
OF youth, when the Saturdays chores we're
A nd the SUNDAYS wood in the kitchen. too
Out to old Auot Mays.
How the audience hung on his words
from grave to gay-and smiles gave
place to moistened eyes when in the |
last staBza he told:
And O. my brother so far away
This Is TO tell you she w ATS today
To welcome uS-Aunt Mary Tell
A sleeo this morning whispering. TEL
I he bows to come And all is well
out to old Aunt Mary's.
Mr.. Riley has never married, but
that fact detracted naught from the |
effort produced by the climax in That |
Old Sweetheart of Nine:
-Tis fragrant retrospectlor-for the loving
thong hts that stsrt
II to being are lixe perfumes frcu, ths blossom
and 70 dream the Old dreams over Is luxury |
When my truant fancy wande,s with that old |
sweetheart of mine
7 Gao see the pink sunponnss and the little |
chSckered dress
She wor1 whe- i inst kissed her aod she an.
swered the caress
With the written declaration that AS surely |
Grew round the stump she loved me-that |
cd sweetheart OF mine.
But. ali, my dream is broken by step upon
And me 6o0r is opened softIy-ny wife il
Yet WITH esgerness and rapture al my visions |
To greet the living presence of that old sweet
hssrE .! nine |
Then ths poet responded TO the GER
sistent aPPlsuding OF the sudience by