Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-07
.SCHOOLS0F OAHU HONOR RILEY
ON BIRTHDAY Of HOOSIER POET
Verses Which Have Made Him
/ Loved Throughout World
.-.... are Read

T. Pupils, meet James Whitcomb
Riley, the children.s poet"
These may not have been the exact
words used by Mrs. Nina L. d. Fraser,
principal Of the KaiuIani school, but
nevertheless she introduced James
Whitcomb Riley to the 1899 students
in the big Palama Institution today.
And do you know" she told rep
resentatiye of the Star-Bulletin,
there was hardly a pupil In the school
who knew who James Whitcomb Riley
was until this morning. They know
LongfelloW and Whittier and some of
the other poets, as they have read
some Of their poems in connection
with their regular school work. But
Riley was new TO them! They were
glad to meet him and enjoyed some
of his poems. think the Kaiulani
school observed Riley Day right roy
ally So - .-. II
Today was Riley Day-the occasion
being the birthday anniversary of the
famous poet--and was observed In
every public school in Honolulu, as
well as many others throughout the
territory. At the suggestion of Henry
w. Kinney, superintendent Of public
instruction, the principals Of the var
ious schools prepared interesting pro-
grams, which consisted largely of es-.
says on the life sof Riley, and read
ing of some of his best poems.
kalulanI HMst Riley" 49,. - ..~
Il was all arranged In three days.
Early this week an Associated Press
despatch to the Star Bulletin told how
Secretary OF the Interior Lane sug-
gested that on October Z, the birth
day OF the Hoosier poet, be commemor-
ated In the schools. Inc Star,Bulletln
drew attention to the suggestion and
talked It over with scnool principals
and teachers and the result was a
hearty and gratifying response. q
The biggest celebration, perhaps,
was at Kaiulani. As Mrs. Fraser, the.
principal, pointed out, the children did
not know who Riley was But they
were glad to meet him. Kaiulani Is
the largest public school In the terri
tory. In, point of attendance. In this
school one finds representatives Of
practically every national ity
Kaiuiani set aside Happening ex.
ereises this morning u an observ-
anee of the day. The 81 teachers ex-
.plained to their student who Riley
was, and then read to them some Of
his best poems One of the most en-
joyed was that entitled "The Prayer
Perfect" and its meaning seemed to
sink deeply into the minds of the
youthful listeners The first verse is
as follows:
Dear Lord Kind Lord! =.
Gracious Lord .pfAy. a.. sa.s.,-,s
Thou wilt look "a ~ i0fe, q q
Tenderly today. So =
Weed their hearts of-weariness;
Scatter every care; - ~
Dawn wake of angeIsYings r.
WinhoWihg the air. 81. -
Just Be Glad was another OF the
poems that was read to the pupils, and
made just as deep an impression. Mrs.
Fraser says that the hehets at Kai.
ulani are planning u Had to their /
pupils from time to time poems from
the pen Of Riley, in order that they
may become as well Acquainted with
him as they are with L0ngfellow and
other poets whom they have studied.
At the Royal School. !
( The Iour higher grades at the Roya,
school were introduced 10 Riley wher
the teachers read to them the two
poems published in the Star Bulletin
Tuesday. entitled The Used-to-Be' I
and Little Marjorie Tomorrow the