Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-07
R|LEY'S BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATED BY
INDIANA STATE
SIxTY-SECOND ANNIVERSARY or
BIRTH or FAMOUS POET CAUSE
FOR GENERAL CELEBRATION
GOVERNOR PROCLAIMED DAY GEN
ERAL HOLIDAY AND IT Is OB-
SERVED ALL OVER STATE.


indianapolis. Ind. Oct 7-Jame~ Whit
comb Riley ~ixtv-~econd birthday came
able than amy that ha~ preceded it, the en-
tire state joined him in celebrating it,
This year was picked for honorng the
poet because the citizens of Indiana wished
to pay him tribute while he would BE- fully
able t. take part IN and enjoy it. In nd
dItion To- the wight of years. Mr.. Riley has
felt the burden of IN health. He ha~
reached that season Of life '.when the frost
J. on the punkin. an the fodder in the
shock. and the state ot hi~ birth and life
long residence felt that il didn't want to
delay longer the complete and formal ex-
preston of it, love of him.
Governor Samuel VI. Ral~ton recently
issued q proclamation asking every com
munitv IN the state to- ~et a~~le the dav
for the honoring ~ "lndiana'~ most be-
loved citizen" Ills plan wa~ 10 have
business suspended n much ~ possible
The proclamation j. being generally Oh
served IN every city. town and village. from
indianapolis down to Greenfield. where Mr.
Riley was born. and Carleton, the tiny
praise Of which the poet sang with the
lines:
"You can boast about yer cities. and their
~tiddy growth and size.
And brag about Yer county seats. and hu~i-
ness enterprise.
And railroads. and factories. and all ~ich
foolerv
But the little town o TaIholt j. big enough
fer me-
Greenfield took particular interest in the
celebration. Many 81 it, older inhabitants
remembered James Whitcomb Riley ~ Il
little hoy. unknown to the world except a.
the son Of Captain Reuben Riley, highly
respected citizen. Also il recalled that ii
J. situated on the banks of the Brandy
winc the little stream whose joys the poet
chronicled IN "Th' Old Swimmin Hole" and
Of which he said. that wandering mp and
down IL. he 'had more fun to the square
inch. than ever anywhere"
Governor Ral~ton. Mayor Joseph f. Bell.
Charles Warren Fairbanks, Meredith Mich
olson and George Adc had charge of the
celebration IN indianapolis In order to
lend nationwide interest to il. they in
vitcd celebrated persons from Ill over the
country 10 attend. Many accepted. vii
liam Allen White came from Emporia
Kan: Dr. John Finley and Colonel George
Harvey from New York Ellerv Scdgwich
from Boston and Young +. Allison from
Louisville. Ky. to help honor Mr.. Riley
The lit of Indiana citizens taking part
in the celebration j. biz. In addition to
the members cf the committee of arrange
mcnt~. there were former senator Albert
J. Beveridee. senator Kern. Vice President
Marshall and Others
James Whitcomb Riley was born ut
Greenfield Ind. October :. 1853. the son
Of Captain Reuben A. Riley and Elizabeth
Riley lie first began contributions to IN
diana papers in 1873 IIi~ dialect poems
brought him hi- greatest fame. His first
hook appeared under the pen name. 'Beni
r. Johnson Of Boone" Among his best
known poems are Little Orphant Annie. "
"The Rageedy Man. "Leedle Dutch Baby.
9TH Old Smmmin' Hole. "An' Old Sweet
heart . Nine" and Glow John Quit the
Farm"