New-York tribune., 1916-07-23

les tobacker" I says. l.
And you'd or,o' he.rd EN- yell
His Last Birthday.
Men of letters from all quarters OF
the globe did honor 10 James Whitcomb
Riley on his sixty-second birthday on
October 7. Men Of note made the pill
grimage to indianapolis. Those who
were unable to be present sent
messages OF congratulation. 1t was q
tribute such as has come TO no other
poet during his lifetime.
Children throughout the length and
breadth Of the United States sent
messages of love to the man who had
spoken TO them from their books,
Throughout Indiana school children
celebrated Riley Day with special exer-
cises.
Charles Warren Fairbanks was toast
master at the birthday dinner. The
speakers were Governor Ralston OF
Indiana, Senator John W. Kern, Dr.
John H. Finley, Young E. Allison, Al
bert ]. Beveridge. William Allen White,
George Ade and Colonel George
Harvey.
President Congratulated Him.
Among the hundreds of goodwill
messages were those from President
Wilson, Walter II. Page, Ambassador at
London; Brand Whitlock, American
Minister to Belgium; Henry van Dyke,
) American Minister TO the Netherlands; F;
! Henry Watterson, William Dean How
ellis. Stewart Edward White, Lincoln
Steffens, Henry NJ. Alden and Samuel
E. Kiser.
From almost every window in In
dianapolis the American flag was hung.
! The poets picture was displayed in
! store windows throughout the city. A
stream of friends poured into his home
on Lockerbie Avenue all day long. A
pageant was produced in his honor.
Riley was deeply touched, and ex-
pressed his feelings in his speech at
the birthday dinner.
Born in 1883.
Mr.. Riley was born at Greenfield,
Ind, in 1853, and was the son Of q
leading attorney of that town. He re-
ceived common school education, and
early acquired a taste for a rowing life
through accompanying his father about
the circuits. He intended to study law
himself, but gave up the idea and took
to the road. He became in turn . sign
painter, assistant to 8 patent medicine
pedler, and finally a member Of a stroll
ling company of actors, for whom he
composed songs and remodelled plays
In 1873 he began to contribute poems
to the Indiana papers, and from that
time devoted practically his whole life
70 literature, for several years giving
readings from his poems in different
cities of the country. In 1902 he re
ceived the honorary degree Of A. NJ
from Yale, which was followed in 1904
by that of Lift. D. from the University
OF Pennsylvania, and in 1907 by the de-
gree of LII. D. from the Indiana Uni
versity.
List of Riley's Works.
A complete list Of his works
and 'Leven More Poems,' The Boss
Girl and Other Sketches" "After-
whi.es," "Olr-Fashioned Roses" Pipes
O. Pan at Zekesbury," Rhymes OF
Childhood Flying Islands of the
Night" Green Fields and Running
Brooks" "Armazindy." "A Child,
World" "Neighborly Poems" Home
"Rubaiyat of Doc. Sifers," The Book
OF Joyous Children" "An Old Swee'-
heart Of Mine" "out to Old Aunt
Mary's," "A Defective Santa Claus,
Home Again with Me-" THE Boys OF
the Old Glee Club" While the Heart
Beats Young" "Raggedy Man" Morn
ing" The Little Orphant Annie Book"
and "Old Schoolday Romanccs."
The author was a member of tn,
National institute Of Arts and Letters.