New Britain herald., 1915-10-07
ANA HONORS JAMES W. RILEY
Celebrating Sizty-Second Irthday of HOosier Poet


 brating the sixty-second birth
 James Whitcomb Riley. the
 r Poet, and tonight MT. Riley banqueted by his friends. The
 list includes many distinguished
 Every school in the state will
 the day to the man whose
 s have won so many hearts.
 the past two weeks MT. Riley ben showered with letters and
 lms and poems congratulating
 n his birthday. The poet reads
 them. His happiness over
 tributes is potent to all who
 m. Its so good to be alive" Id yesterday after reading 8 big pf messages, ''I try to answer
 one of these"
 IS year was picked for honoring \ bet because the citizens of In-
 wished to pay him tribute while buld be fully able to take part "a enjoy it. In addition to the of years, MT. Riley has felt the h of i'll health. He has reached season of his life when the is on the punkin', an the fold b the shock" and the state of (rth and lifelong residence felt tt didn't want to delay longer omplete and formal expression * love for him.
 bvernor Issues Proclamation. Fernor Samuel M. Ralston re- i issued a proclamation asking < community in the State to set
 the day for the honoring of hna's most beloved citizen" His was to have business suspended tch as possible. The proclama- &s being generally observed in city. town and village, from Snapolis down to Greenfield, e MT. Riley was born, and Carle- he tiny hamlet, under the name 'ilholt, the praise of which the sang with the lines: . kin boast about yer cities, and their stiddy growth and size, sd brag about yer County-seats, and business enterprise, railroads, and factories, and all sich foolery-
 
 t the little Town O Tailholt is big enough fer mel" Remembered As Little Boy. eenf1eld took particular interest |e celebration. Many of its old remembered James |comb Riley as a little boy, un- Tn to the world except as the son |aptain Reuben Riley, a highly Ected citizen. Also it recalled it is situated on the banks of Brandywine, the little stream |e joys the poet chronicled in Old Swimmin' Ho1e," and of h he had said, that, wandering Ind down it, he had more fun he square inch, than ever any, 'e."
 pvernor Ralston, Mayor Joseph F.
 Charles Warren Fairbanks, sdith Nicholson and George Ade charge of the celebration in In- apolis. In order to lend nation interest to it, they invited cele- ed persons from all over the try to attend. Many accepted. illiam Allen White came from oria, Kas.; pr. John H. Finley Colonel George Harvey from New |: Ellery Sedgwich from Boston Young F. Allison from Louisville, to help honor MT. Riley.
 Many From Indiana. le list of Indiana citizens taking in the celebration is big. In ad- n to the members of the com- ee of arrangements, there were ner Senator Albert J. Beveridge, tor Kern, Vice-President Marshall others.
 he program of the day called for entertainment in 8 local theater in afternoon and a banquet at which Riley was to be the guest of pr in the evening. It was ex- ed that the poet would read a new n at the banquet.
 Poems Set To Music. the entertainment, several ot Riley's poems, including "The gedy Man." and Little Orphant ie,' were set to music by MT. d Stephens. Dancers from Anna lowa's company interpreted 8 lber of the verses.
 undreds who had hoped to at- the banquet this evening will disappointed. The committee ir rge have been compelled to re- scores of appeals for accommoda- 8. Charles W. Fairbanks will be 
 October Favorite Month. he coming of his birthday ir ober has a peculiar happiness fol Riley, he said the other day. II lis favorite month, as he attests his poem, "Old October" In ii says:
 T love Old October so, can't bear to see her 90 Seems to me like losin' some relative CT chum- Pears like sorto' settin'. by Some old friend 'at sion hv siph