The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-10-04

Icsiueut uOeb HOI llkt
paving, and when, several years ago,
the citt council insisted that 1t
should be converted into a conven.
tional city street with q paving Of
brick, he voiced his protest in .
poem beginning:
Such a dear little street II 10. nestled
away,
From the noise OF the city and heat of
the day.
In cool shady coverts OF whispering trees.
With their leaves lifted up to shake hands
with the breeze,
which In all Its wide wanderlngs never
may meet
With a resting-pla fairer than Locker
bic street!
That poem has long been famous
and Lockerbie street remains as Il
always was, nestled away from the
noise OF the city and heat OF the day"
It's leading resident" is no less a
parsonage than James Whitcomb RI
ley, recognized as the greatest OF liv-
Ing American poets and whose name
Ii one the best known literary critics OF
n world treat with a profound re-
spect. Here in Lockerbie street he
lives, quietly, unostentatiously. in q
large brick house that breathes the
very spirit OF comfort, but which
makes no %pretentions to elegance.
And to this spot countless friends will
wend their way on Monday, October
Z. TO eXtend their congratulations and
fluctuations. the occasion being the
poets birthday.
This will begin what Is to be known
throughout literary circles as Riley
week" and which will mark the great
est ovation V e rendered an Ameri-
can writer. This celebration will not
be confined to Indianapolis either. for
nearly every city in the United States
has enthusiastically taken up the
Idea and arranged exercises 90 be
held during this week in honor of
James Whitcomb Riley. Every one
seems anxious to pay tribute TO the
man who has brought sunshine into
thousands OF lives.
Only q few months x there was
sadness In many hearts. for the word
had gone forth that Mr.. Riley had
been stricken with an illness from
which he could never ecover. But
today that sadness is changed 10 JOY,
for Mr.. Riley has been spared to cele-
brate another birthday. He Is not
only alive. but practically as we'll as
ever he was. He Is always happy,
and although he no longer strolls
through the Indianapolis streets as
once he did. he Is still a familiar
figure. and every day he takes long
rides In his big touring Ar. He is an
enthusiastic motorist and oae OF his
principal delights is TO take his
friends for a spin around the city or
through the country in the vicinity OF
indianapolis.
In 1853. i'm the little country village
Of Overwhelmingly even a village
In those ~days-there was born James
Whitcomb Riley. the son OF Reuben
his fearlessness and unconventionality.
The boys mothcr-a Marinr-was a
gentle and naturally poetic woman.
and il was from her that Riley in.
herited his ability as a rhymester.
The young lads life. i'm his earlier
years. was not marked by any unus-
ual event. His was the life common
to boys In small towns. Beyond this,
nothing much is known-there Is
nothing else to know. He attended
school i%rregularly. more often than
not q truant--as he himself has pic
tnred--barefoot, Drowned by summer
suns, happy and care-free. listening
to a voice no other boy could hear.
keeping his heart open and his soul
free-a heart and soul that have
never grown old.
II did not 20 to school very much"