Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1915-10-07
WHOLE STATE JOINS
IN BIRTHDAY FETE
FOR POET jim RILEY
Distinguished Men of Nation
Share With Indiana Honor OF
Sharing in Celebration for Be-
loved HooSieT Poet.


day comes tomorrow, and just to maze
it more memorable than any that has
preceded it. the entire state will join
him in celebrating it.
This year was picked for honorins
the poet because the citizens of In
diana wished to pay him tribute while
he would be fully able TO take part
in and enjoy it. In addition TO the
weight Of years. Mr.. Biley has felt
the burden of in health. He has
reached that season of his life when
the frost is on the punkin an the
folders in the shock" and the state
Of his birth and lifelong residence
felt that it didn't want to delay lon
ger the complete and formal express
sion of its love for him.
Governor Samuel NJ Ralston recent
ly issued a proclamation asking every
community in the state to set aside
the day for the honoring of 'Indiana's
most beloved citizen" His plan was
TO have business suspended as much
as possible. The proclamation is be-
ing generally observed in every city,
town and village, from Indianapolis
down to Greenfield, where Mr.. Riley
was born, and Carleton, the tiny ham
let. under the name of Talbot. the
praise Of which the poet sang with the
lines
you kin boast about yer cities. and
their Study growth and size,
And brag about yer county seats, and
business enterprise.
And railroads and factories and all
sich foolery-
But the little town o Talbot is big
enough fer me-"
I Greenfield took particular interest
fin the celebration. Many of its older
inhabitants remembered James Whit
comb Riley as a little boy, unknown
to the world except as the son OF
Captain Reuben Riley, a highly re-
spected citizen. Also it recalled that
it is situated on the banks OF the
Brandywine. the little stream whose
joys the poet chronicled in "Th Old
Swimmin' Hole. and of which he had
said that wandering up and down it.
he had more fun TO the square inch
than ever anywhere"
Governor Ralston Mayor Joseph +
ell Charles Warren Fairbanks, Mer.
edith Nicholson and George AIDE had
charge OF the celebration in Indian
apois In order to lend nationwide
interest to it. they invited celebrated
persons from all over the country to
attend Many accepted
William Allen White came from
Lmporia, Kan; Dr. John II Finley
and colonel George Harvey from New
York; Ellery sedgwich from Boston
and Young F. Allison from Louisville
KY. TO help honor Mr.. Riley
The list OF Indiana citizens taking
part in the celebration is big In ad
dition to the members Of the. commit
Zee Of arrangements, there were for
! .uer Senator Albert ]. Beveridge, Sen
ator Kern and others.
The program of the day called fol
an entertainment in a local theater il
4 the afternoon and a banquet at which
mr. Riley was TO be the guest o.
honor in the evening. It was expected
. that the poet would read a new poem
> at the banquet
AT the entertainment several Of Mr.
Riley's poems including THE Rag
s Redy Man" and Little orphan Annie
S were set to music by Mr. Ward Ste
phens. Dancers from Anna Pavlova'
company VIII interpret a number o
o the verses.
7 Hundreds who had hoped to atten
o the banquet viii be disappointed Tn
committee in charge have been con
PEELED to reject scores of appeals TO
accommodations, as there are seat
for but four hundred Former Vice
President Charles w Fairbanks wi
e be POSTMASTER
The coming Of his birthday In oct,
Der has a peculiar happiness for NJ
Riley, be said the other day. It
% his fayorite month as he attests j
o his poem, odd October In il h
-. says
81 love old October so,
Is can't bear 10 see her 60
S. Seems to me like lOsin some
= Old-home relative er chum-
Pears like sort o. settin' by
re Some old friend at sigh and sigh
De Was a-passin out o sight,
,r Into everlastin night"
James Whitcomb Riley was born
al Greenfield, Indian, October Z, 1853, n
st son of Captain Reuben A. Riley an
al Elizabeth Riley He first began co
tributions to Indiana papers in 1877
'y His dialect poem brought him h
of earliest fame. His first book appes
ed under the pen name Benz +. job
son of Boone" Among his be
DS known poems are Little Orphant A
sir ME-" "The Raggedy Man." Iced
al Dutch Baby" "Th' Old Swimmi
Hole" IAN Old Sweetheart o Min,
IN and How John Quit the Farm"