The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-07-19
JAMES WHIICOMB RILEY
Homs coning Wesk at Andersen. Ind.
Wners He Was rendered
Touching Reception

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. July is.-An-
derson. one OF the most enterprisinH
eiies In Indiana had Home Coming
Week recently and invited James
Mhiteomb Riley TO attend the eeieerst-
Ion as the guest OF the city. The fam
Gus poet accepted the Invitation and the
result was one or rne most beautiful
nbilees ever accorded any author.
The last time Riley visited Anderson
IL was to give one Of those wonderful
readings from his published works: the
poems that 50 interpret the very heart
or Indiana on that occasion they pre-
kented him with beautiful loving cup
Tnis time they presented him with their
love.
Mr.. Riley came to Anderson in his
own automobile. bringing as his guest
~. Carleton MCCu!loCh. his physician
ami Rector Fuller. After a delightful
i.ue To Hend.eto0. a smaller city near
And rson. the Riley automobile was met
b. committee from Anderson In dec
Otate 4 automobiles. All Pendicton turn
hslt an hour shaking hands with old
ir.tuds. al Of whom had a.
"Howdy. Jim. don't you remember
meT
he remembered them all. with a pleas
M smile ana shake of the hand
called most OF them b. name and recall
cd some Incident Of the olden times
From Pendleton ON IL was a procession
with Riieys automobile leading the
way.
Along the road even out in the coun-
try. the people We're gathered to see the
Hoosier poet GO by. and there was
scarcely homestead whose porch was
not crowded with children and women
t. wave a hand OF welcome to Ander-
sons distinguished guest
And then-Anderson' Gay with many
rags. It's public buildings and H.. Vrin-
cipal stores draped with multi-colored
hn1 a1a NR..s
best Of all. so Mr.. Riley said. was the
happy smile ~ greeting that was on
every face. the hearty wave OF the hand.
the cheerful and oft-repeated veil or:
Howdy. Jim
At the Grand Hotel NJ. Riley was
compelled 20 face two moving picture
cameras and then. what was more EN-
hsrra sStng TO him 10 face the shake
hands with committee OF the leading
women OF Anderson society. all OF whom
wore Riley badges. The poet was seat
81 ~ h'r comfortable chair and one
~ one all the women and many OF mis-
nld-time friends came in and shook
lands with him
After a luncheon Mr. Riley was taken
for d. - around to see the leadi <
factories ~ Anderson and then to West
Eighth street whore all the school
children ~ tho cIty mere gathered TO
greet tho poet
clad most - them In white. they
made Urctt' sight. e~rer' ally ~ all of
them without exception. previously
va-u'd. carried "A bouquet % flowers IN
their hands All ~ Ind ana's fragrant
June flowers Were represented AMI as
the poet passed Slowly between two
lines OF the children. greeting them on
either side. they Literally covered his
machine with the blossoms Roses
knocked his glasses -. peonics hit lin
the crown of his hat
Talk about knee deep In June In
less than ten minutes NJ. Tslev Nas
knee deep ~ flowers. and tH"t over
flowed ont of The machine ~ front ~
tie court house the automobile stopped
and Mr.. RILEY. standing erect. mayed
to staWner ont a f"w words ~ thanks.
Ills N"i.r wcS tfenulouS- 70 Was al
mos "refEu"sTsI ly ffe tenderness of
his glad welcome Nut 800 said. citizens
81 Anderson and won. little children. W. n
have 80 wonderfully greeted mo. I have
no words 10 express TO YOU what Is in
my cart at Ills moment. This IS the
your beautiful flowers ! thank Won for
yolr generous welcome With all my
n on s.ii followed Nv crowd NJ
hauUy children 'rst filed tie street.
behind his suto'roh.l" for TWO blocks. the
post was driven through the pavilion
were ON exhibition lie vas then driven
70 TIE S'iiveU homestead. where IN the
oldeu DAYS be- ra S-eH so many happy
hours. AMI while resting here ne was
visited hN iiS Oh friend and partne- IN
UIf iEtt- painting INDUSTRY. James Nc
tlarH ran and the two croufcs had fine
"crark' there on the porch
TIE return ~ Mr.. Riley % Anderson
was IN a measure. a renewal % the
poets youth. FOR here 20 was that ne
first vertIrei 20 sound those Pipes
O'Pan" OF whic... since those years. ne
has so e!oqIent.y sing II - well known
how. IN his early days the Hoosier poet
made one n a liftfe company ~ itinerant
artists who IrrEed t-e fences and
barns % q section - Indiana with the
bold claims - ali tho virtues of certain
patent medicine. some OF hls hari.-
NorS rs stiil eN'ar' TODAY.
IN those dav-. wen Eifrv signed his
poems with tie simple signature 81: '
tnc reason was Do .a--e t'e poet vac oIt
- r.rceit Mt. il7 name What can
man ever rope 20 20 who must sign him
self =. ". Euey~ 10 would often say
lie felt ttIs particularly Ea~riy wren
poems we're returned % MIN from the
rnaEazines he feit tr1t 10 was not So
much TIE matter ~ re nar wno v.rDf~
~ tnat counted Among those VINO GATH
cred @ greet ST. E3sy Vhen be ar
rived 81 Arderenr was Nrs kIruard
the Widow OF WI kIur~I who whom
Eley vas ou tta Ar.ar-.H TerIrsaf.