The Washington herald., 1916-08-27
Affection for Poet Riley
Based on Merits of Work

The passing Of James Whitcomb Riley.
known and beloved in this country and
in nearly every country in the world as
the "Hoosier Poet" marked the end
Of one OF the most pronounced characters
in modern letters. The affection which
Riley drew from the thousands who
read his poetry was spontaneous and
won only by the merit Of his endeavors
in the literary world. AS a citizen he
was both modest and retiring
Since the death of Henry v. Long
fellow it is doubtful il there has ap-
peared in America, a poet who was so
endeared in the hearts OF his country
men. Should the question be asked to-
day, who was the most popular poet
since the death of Longfellow, the answer
would be unanimous-James Whitcomb
Riley" says Rev Daniel Martin, pas
tor of Dumbarton Avenue Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Riley was great because Of religious
tendencies, his simplicity and his gen
erous heart. His death meant the loss
to America of one OF her most useful
and distinguished sons. If judged by
some standards, Riley could not be class
ed with many of the worlds great poets,
but the good which emanated from his
verses entities him to a seat with the
immortals.
DR.. Martin, in his article continues:
James Whitcomb Riley's mission on
earth was a great one. He preached
good gospel. He made men smile and
laugh and see the humorous side OF
things, and thus forget their troubles,
and any man who can do that is one of
Gods great preachers.
As it's give me to perceive,
] most certiny believe
When mans Jest glad plum through,
Gods pleased with him, same you.
He made people serious at times and
some perhaps cry, and it is well to make
all serious sometimes and some even cry
occasionally. He well knew that
naturally we are creatures OF sentiment
and with the hand OF a master he plays
upon the heart strings OF multitudes,
touching and arousing the finest feelings
within men. He takes US to the country,
to Gods great and beautiful outdoor
world. where flowers bloom, birds sing
ana silver brooks run, and talks to us
about woods and country lanes, and the
old farm with Its horses and plows and
cornfelds, about silent mills, and rivers,
and cattle, and orchards, and playing
children, and springtime and summer and
autumn, and roses, and apple blossoms,
and blue skies, and golden sunrises, and
purple sunsets, and barefooted boys and
fishing pools and swimming holes. until
the man born in the country feels that of
all creatures he was most blest and the
one born in the city that as a boy he
must have missed everything worth
while.
Many of US have a full appreciation
Of the poets words:
In spring. when the green gets back in the trees,
And the sun comes out and stays
And yer boots pull with a good tight squeeze
And you think Of your barefoot days;
When you ort to work and you want to not
And you and yur wife agrees
Its time to spade up the garden lot
When the green gifts back in the trees
Well. work is the least O. my ideas
When the green Eits back in the trees!
When the whole tail feathers O. winter tins
Is all pulled out and gonel
And the sap 1t thsrs and begins to climb
And the sweat 1t starts out on
feller's forred a Eittin' down
At the old spring his knees-
1 kind o like Jest a loafsrin' roun'
When the green Eits back in the trees
Jest potterin' roun' / durn please
When the green gits back in the trees
Rtley's "Wortermelon Time" brings
to manly men the recollection of things
that happened In their hoyhood, that