The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-06

braska beginning the latter part of Septem-
Der. This will be Mr.. Riley's first ex-
tensive platform appearance since 1900, when
ne made a tour through Illinois. concluding
with two immensely successful readings in
chicago.
The most significant thing about the COM
ing tour to Mr.. Riley and the people who
knew him when he first began to come
into public notice from his writings, will
be the reading TO be given at Anderson,
Oct. %. The function will be given under
the auspices of the literary organizations
OF Anderson and the surrounding towns.
Mr. Riley has never given a reading in
Anderson since he attained the position
in the literary world which he has occupied
the past fifteen years. His coming appear
ance there will be significant because it
was at Anderson that the Hoosier poet did
the first writing of verse and prose that
brought him into the public notice. An
derson is the place where Mr.. Riley was
in the sign-painting business thirty years
ago. Anderson is the place where he pub
lished "Leonainie.'' Anderson is the place
where he first received a salary large
enough to allow him to spend all his time
in literary work. Anderson is the place
wher he had his early struggles in the
field of literature. And it is eighteen years
since he has given any readings there. In
fact he never has given a really public
reading In Anderson. And so, TO Mr.. Riley,
his appearance in Anderson is of unusual
interest and Importance.
DOES NOT ENJOY A TOUR.
1T must not be understood that Mr. Riley
enjoys a reading tour" said a close friend
of his yesterday. "for he likes to remain in
his home and with his few intimate friends
and with his work much better than to
travel over the country. But he is going to
make a tour this fall because he desires to
keep in touch with the public mind and
public opinion. And he thinks the only way
20 do this is to go among people of different
parts of the country"
On his earlier tours Mr.. Riley frequently
gave as many as six readings a week. But
he will never do that again. The coming
tour ne will give about four readings a
week. spending the remainder of the time
resting. He expects to devote about three
months to the work.
The first reading will be given at Frank
fort. Ind. He will then'appear at Richmond
and the larger cities of Michigan and Ohio,
going as far east as Pittsburg. Pa. He will
SpcQQ ABOUT lOuT htthS Ol ZIG mp III
ing to Indianapolis about the 18th of Octo-
Der. Then, after appearing at Anderson
and resting about a week, he will start on
a tour through Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska.
The tour will be concluded about the third
week in December.
Mr.. John NJ. Dickey, Mr.. Riley's private
secretary. is making the arrangements for
the tour. and will accompany Mr.. Riley
throughout the trip.
RILEY AND NYE.
The greatest tour James Whitcomb Riley
ever made was in lSS9-9O with Bill Nye.
This tour, which was made under the man
agement of the late Major j. B. Pond, did
more than any other series of readings ever
given by the Hoosier poet TO bring him into
public favor. The tour consisted of about
40 readings. and was one of the most stu
pendous tours ever undertaken by a reader
or lecturer. Many weeks readings were
given six successive nights after long days
of hard, tiresome travel. When Mr.. Riley
returned to indianapolis his health was
greatly weakened. The sale of his books
of poems and prose increased by thousands
of volumes everywhere he appeared while
on the tour OF $3.50.
Never again will cir. Riley undertake as
exleuSlNe a lOuI dS III OHc. rs MI INlity
grows older he loves the quiet of his own
home more and more. In comparison with
his love of his home he really dislikes TO
go on the public platform AS many times
as he has appeared before the public, and
as immensely successful as he has been in
all OF his tours, he has never been able to
free himself altogether of stage fright. This
feeling often overcomes him during the day
49, T. -. III, ~ g. iii
reason an extensive series of readings is
not arranged. Stage fright, however, never
troubles Mr.. Riley after he steps in front
OF an audience. The moment he begins a
reading he has perfect control Of himself:
and, although he has said many times that
he often feared that he would sometime
forget parts Of his poems just when he
wanted to interpret them before an audi
ence, he has never found himself in this
situation.
This feeling that he will not be able to re-
member the poems he is going TO read and
that he will not be able to make a good
appearance before his audiences sometimes
takes such complete control of Mr.. Riley
that for two CT three hours before a read
ing he has paced his room, his face pale
and his hands trembling with nervous
ness.
NET AT OLD BATES HOUSE.
Mr.. Nye and James Whitcomb Riley were
attracted TO each other som time before
they met by each others writings. They
met at the old Bates House one evening
in the fall Of 1857. Mr.. Nye came to Indian
apolis from Laramie, wyo., where he was
connected with the Laramie Boomerang.
and attracting attention all over the United
States by his humorous writings. Just
before Mr.. Nye came here he was employed
10 contribute each week TO the New York
Sunday World. He came here after con-
siderable correspondence with Mr.. Riley
10 arrange plans for a tour with the Hoos-
Ter poet.
The following winter Mr.. Riley and Mr..
Nye made a tour of several months through
Indiana. Illinois and Ohio. under the man.
agement OF the late Amos j. Walker. of
this city. They made a second tour to-
gether through central Western States dur
ing the winter of 1SSS.
These tours were successful and were of
much aid 70 both writers in bringing their
works before the public more favorably
than hey had been known previous to
that time.
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