Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-03-31
THE CHILDREN's POET.

address delivered by William Jen-
nings Bryan at Miami, Fla, Feb. %
1916, at the James Whitcomb Riley
Day Exercises.)
Mr.. Chairman, DR.. Riley, Children,
Friends: 1t seems an intrusion for
grown-up people to take part in these
exercises, and / shall not violate the
proprieties by trespassing long upon
your time. This is Riley Day and the
children are hosts; all the children be-
long to Riley, and Riley belongs to
them. You have just heard him de-
scribed as chief among the song birds;
perhaps that explains his migration
to Florida. Like the other song birds
he divides his time between the north
and the south in order that he may
sing the year round.
| ask your attention while speak
two words, one personal and one as
your representative. My children
were brought up on Riley food, and
| hereby acknowledge the family's
whiled away many an evening hour
reading his homely and wholesome
rhymes to those who are to carry
our blood down through the years to
come. Our son-who knows how many
pitfalls he might have stumbled in.o
had he not been warned away by "The
COLLINS will get you ii you don't
watch outlaws especially fond of
DR.. Riley's writings, so much so that
when a few years ago, the eminent
author honored us with a set of his
works, we inscribed on the fly leaf of
the first volume, with remained over
to VIM. Jennings Bryan, Jr.," and the
books will go from our library to his
in recognition of his early attach
ment.
And now, DR.. Riley, a word from
the audienceto you. l do not know
whom you had in mind when you i'm
mortalized the words, Goodbye Jim,
take care of yourself" If it was your
fathers parting advice, you have
obeyed it to the letter; you have taken
care of yourself by devoting your
self to others-the only real effective
way. Your life has proven anew the
truth of the proverbs: There is scat
tering that increaseth." You have
cess as few of our generation have
in the list of our multi-millioaires,
but you have secured what all their
money can not buy-that glowing fa-
vor" which is rather to be chosen
ethan silver and gold"
The blue books do not record your
name among the great legislators of
the nation, but this need not disturb
you, for you are entitled to the dis
tinction embodied in the words, "Let
me write the songs of nation and
l care not who make the laws"
You do not claim place among
the great warriors of the world, and
yet you, the "Hero of the Nursery"
are the commander-in-chief of a larg-
er army than any general ever ieu
and those who follow you know not
the cruel clamor of war or the min
gled miseries of the battlefield, but
rather the joy of innocence and the
laughter of youth.
You are not of the royal company
of kings, and yet you reign with un-
disputed sway over the twilight hours
You have never aspired to the pres
idency of the United States, and yet
without arousing the animosities Of
campaign, you have won a victory ma
q tion-wide. / constitute myself the
messenger of the masses to inform
you that, at an election where all
could vote, you have been unanimous
ly chosen to preside in the hearts of
the children of America-ch chosen for
life, and to live in memory forever
after.