Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-05-14
RILEY'S CHECKER POEM.
HOOsier Poet Recited 1t to an
Audience of One.

Although one of the most popular
lecturers in the country, James Whit
comb Riley once spoke to an audience
of one man. This solitary auditor was
w. ]. Ethel, of Washington, who for
merly lived in Indiana, and at one
time was the poets partner in the
sign-writing business. Mr.. Ethel has
fund of good stories about Riley,
but the one he is fondest of telling
is how Riley used him once for an
audience. AS with "Old Sport" a
character in Hoyt's Rag Baby, it was
case of trying it on the dog, says
the indianapolis Journal.
"In 1880 I lived in Leadville, COL, I"
said Mr.. Ethel, the other morning,
land that year 1 happened to be 60
ing home to Indiana on a visit. l
stopped in indianapolis over night
went to the theater and there met
Riley. He came in and sat down in
front of me. OF course we were glad
to see each other and had quite chat.
After the theater closed we went to
the Occidental hotel, where I ordered
fire in my room and we prepared to
spend the remainder of the evening.
l asked Riley to tell me what he had
been doing in the way of writing and
lecturing. l lighted my cigar and lay
down on the bed, while Riley pulled
out a table and, using it as a speak
er's stand, proceeded to recite every
thing he had written in the two
previous years and everything he had
recited in public. Things he had writ
ten, but had not published yet he gave
me, and have often thought what a
treat that would have been for some
great audience.
Zone of the things he recited was
The Champion Checker Player of
America This is a poem he had writ
ten to recite, but unfortunately it had
not been popular with the public in
cities because they couldn'tappreciate
the story. He gave it to me, and, hav-
ing lived in a village, it made hit
with me. think it is one of the best
things Riley ever recited. The man
who has lived in the country town
can appreciate the poem best. When
Riley and myself were boys checkers
used to be great game, and wherever
you found a shoe cobbler's shop in
the village there you found check
erboard and lot of fellows that were
crack players. Riley's poem told about
young lawyer from the city who,
while waiting for a train in the vii
lage, strayed into a cobbler's shop
and found a checkerboard. He was
something of a player himself and |
proceeded to beat all the boys loafng |
around the shop. After the last one
had been defeated they sent sent out |
for the champion checker player, who |
came and sat down to the board with .
the young lawyer. As the story goes,
the champion checker player was one
of those fellows who whistle when
they play. This one had some dole
full air and he would whistle several
bars of it before he made a move.
Finally, between his dOleful whistling
and his vexatious elaboration, he man
aged to wear the young lawyer out,
and was declared the winner.
"Riley had this down pretty fine"
continued Mr.. Ethel, "and gave me
an imitation of this whistling player.
Resting one foot on the chair he
played with an imaginary checker
BOARD on the table. He would whistle
while and then recite the lines, and
low and then he would make a move
have never been able to understand
Why that poem did not make a hit,
lnless it is because Riley recited it in
titles where the audiences were not
amiliar with the village customs of
Altogether it was most
evening, rather night, for
We did not get to bed until something
ike four in the morning"