The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-21
HOW R|LEY'S WAR
STORY WAS STAGED
Told It to Nye Expecting His
Displeasure Became
Stage Hit.

Los Angeles, May 20.-Robert +.
Burdette, whose home is in Pasadena,
Cal. has written to the Times of his
recent visit to his old friend, James
Whitcomb Riley. In Indianapolis. He
says
I'VE found Riley happily. hopefully.
cheerfully convalescent after his re-
cent illness. For all afternoon until
long after curfew we sat and talked
and laughed together. He and chat
ted long over the old days when eth
er of us would cancel date of his
own to run hundred miles out of
the way to hear the other .argy. AS
he talked cheerfully Of the yesterdays
when the word was just made for
us to play in so he talked hopefully Of
the tomorrows that would come with
the easy tasks of working days. The
next day when we came back again
he was stronger in body and in mind
and spirit just as CHEEKY and hopeful,
and earnest. He quoted from the
songs of other poets whom he loved;
recited, at Mr.. Burdette's request.
fragments from his own platform re-
citals talked a great deal. and with
very tender and loving laughter. OF
Bill Nye, his old-time yokefellow. RI.
ley knew better than any other man,
perhaps. the pathetic shadows that
drifted across Nye's patient. brave
hopeful life. For years he was sick
man and many nights he was at his
work on the platform when he should
have been in the hospital.
bill was good-natured, even with
the bores whom Riley slammed down
One morning on their lyceum tour
through Georgia they landed In city
where they knew by past experience
they would be assailed by self-appoint
ed delegations of entertainers. They
would be importuned to take long
drives over rough and dusty roads tc
see things they had seen a thousand
times and didn't want to see the first
time. They would be dragged away tc
luncheon with people who made them
tired and dragooned to dinner with
folk who bored them. And Jim re
beiled. They obtained privacy IN
their own rooms long enough to wash
their faces and the poet said !:
"Bill, here's where shake the com
mittee on hospitality. I'm not COINS
out of my room till we 60 to the hal
tonight. I'll play Ill. I'll do anything
but wear myself out listening to q lo
of stories badly told, all day and ther
60 before the audience and pays 1T
good money to hear US at our best *
tired and worn out that look and fee
like shadow on the scenery. Lets
send away our genial friends and
sleep till dinner time
$50 Jim went dead, as he knows
how to do. but Bill couldn't bear to dis
appoint the committee. He came bach
to dine at the hotel. however, pale and
tired, but family smiling and trying
to feel strong for the evenings work
Jim was mad He determined to teacl
Bill lesson.
when we went down to dinner,
he told me. i made up my mind II
give him enough of old stale. worm
eaten stories, such as / knew he'(
been feeding on all afternoon. begoI
to tell him as earnestly as though i
was newer than the hour, the oldes
story I ever heard. / heard a circu,
clown tell when was boy and thu
first eternity only knows how old Il
had to be before clown would be al
lowed to use it. You've heard 1t Ions
before ever you heard me tell 1.-THE
old mans story Of the soldier carrying
his wounded comrade of the battle
field-the comrade whse leg was firs1
shot OF and whose head was carried