Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-12
James Whitcomb Riley.

James Whitcomb Riley,
Wallace evening" was celebrated by
the Indiana Society of Washington at the
Arlington Hotel last evening by the larg
est gathering of state society at the
eeapital during this season. United States
senator's. representatives the governor of
the state. the states most famous living
poet. government officials whose homes
are in Indiana and host of other promi-
nent persons from the Hoosier state gath
cred In the assembly hall of the hotel and.
after general reception to the members
OF the society and their guests, partici-
pated in the literary and vocal exercises
in honor OF the memory of Gen. Lew Wal
lace
The feature of the program was a reci-
.tation by James Whitcomb Riley, who
was given a tremendous ovation by his
fellowHoosiers. AS he was introduced
by President Tracy the entire audience
arose and gave him three rousing cheers.
After the applause ceased MIR. Riley said:
II know that YOU do not want speech,
and / am going to offer something in the
old Hooser vernacular; something in the
language of the old Hoosier whose gram
mar may be awry, but whose heart is in
the right spot
He recited the "Old Farmers Solilo-
guy and after repeated calls responded
to an encore with "Out TO Old Aunt
'Mary's." Mr.. Riley had not been east
for several years, and the members of
the society We'd with each other in show
ing him attention.
The assembly hall was decorated with
the Stars and Stripes profusion of
ferns and flowers. and above the plat
form. from which so many prominent
sons OF Indiana addressed the society,
hung the coat of arms of the state.
Preceded by a Reception.
Before the exercises in memory of Gen.
Wallace began reception was held to
Gov Marshall, Senator Beveridge, Sena-
tor Shively. James Whitcemb Riley the
Indiana representatives In Congress and
the members Of the Wallace statue COM
mission. In the receiving line were
President A. W. Tracy of the Washing
ION Indiana Society and Mrs. Tracy, Gov
i. r. Marshall of Indiana and Mrs. Mar
snall, Senator and Mrs. Shively, Mr.. and
Mrs Henry Wallace of Indianapolis son
and daughter-in-law of Cen Wallace
Representative and Mrs. John W.
Boehne. Representative and Mrs. William
\. Cullop, Representative and Mrs. Will
liam E. Cox. Representative and Mrs
Lincoln Dix and Miss Dix, Representative
and Mrs. Ralph W. Moss, Representative
and Mrs. William o. Barnard. Represent
alive and Mrs. Charles A. Korbly Rep
resentative and Mrs. John A. NJ Affair."
Representative Martin A Morrison. Rep
resentative and Mrs Edgar ID. Crum-
packer. Representative George w. Rauch
Representative and Mrs. Cyrus Cline,
Representative and Mrs. Henry A Barn
hart. Senator and Mrs. Albert j. Bev-
ertdse, Capt. j. p. Megrew and Controller
Tracewell, Mr.. and Mrs. w. III. Fox, Will
liam Allen Wood and Mr.. Riley
The guests were presented by Mrs ]
p Megrew and F. E. McCalip and after
passing the line entered the auditorium
to await the beginning of the exercises
cises. A section of the United States
Marine Band played during the evening.
After selection by the Hoosier Quartet.
composed of Perry Arnold. Thomas l..
Jones. owen Penney and Arthur Deibert.
Capt. j. p Megrew. who served under
Gen Wallace in the civil war and knew
him personally. spoke of him as a soldier
He mentioned that in the audience were
two persons. Charles NJ. Robinson and
Thomas T.. Purcell. who were members
OF Gen. Wallace's old company, organized
by him in indianapolis before the civil
war and known as the Montgomery
Guards, which afterward became the
nucleus Of the regiment which Gen Wal
lace later commanded.
Miss Edith Stoweli sang a soprano solo,
with violin obligato by Mrs. r. NJ Dickey
ana piano accompaniment by Mrs T. L..
Jones. Mr. Riley was then introduced
Senator Shively was the next speaker and
gave an estimate of Gen Wallace as a
diplomat; tie told how Cen Wallace ac-
cepted the post at Constantinople from
his friend, President Garfield, and of the
excellent services he rendered there.
Tribute by Senator Beveridee.
After bass solo by A. H. Diebert.
Senator Beveridge was introduced and
gave an estimate OF Gen. Wallace as an
author. He said that the greatness of a
book is it's power to move to action. and
added that Gen. Wallace wrote the great
est drama ever penned of the story of
the Savior of the World as a human he
ing in the flesh
After Mrs. Charles III. Henney sang a
contralto solo. Gov. Marshall of Indiana.
VINO was the last speaker. paid tribute
10 Gen. wallace as a citizen. The exer-
cises were closed by recitation of The
Chariot Race" from "Ben-Hur" by Rich
ard BUTLER.
During the evenings gathering Mr..
Riley met his old schoolmaster. Col.
Nathan War FitZ-Gerald of Seattle.
Wash, whom he had not seen for fif-
teen years. Rev. w. w. Curry, who has
been a resident of Washington for a long
time. was congratulated several times
during the evening on being the Oldest
Hoosier present. He is in his eighty
ninth year and as we'll and strong as he
was many years ago.
The reception committee consisted of
Mrs. j. r. Megrew, chairman; Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles McGonigle. Mr.. and Mrs
William Ethel. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Nc
Calip. Mrs. Willis Fowler. Mrs Jesse
Wilson. Mr.. Bynum. Miss Bessie Spring
~r, Miss Bertha Wolf, Miss Cora Curry
Miss Alice Sanger, MIR. and Mrs. Ray
niond Dickey. Mrs. Gcyer and Miss Anna
Brown.
Thomas L. Jones, financial secretary
Of the society, and J. o. Lambert, gen
eIal secretary. did much work toward ar
ranging the reception.
Will Install Officers.