The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-07-28
JAMES wmrooM RILEY is DEAD
The HOOsier Poet Who Sang to the
People of Common Things
Died Saturday


James Whitcomb Riley, the famed
Indiana poet, died at his home in
Indianapolis, Satu rday night, July 20,
of a stroke of paralysis. He had been
well as usual up to Friday, but Sat
urday morning suffered a severe at
tack of paralysis, from which he
seemed to recover slowly until even
ing, when it returned and took away
his life. In the early part of June
Riley had first su ffered a violent at
tack of the paralysis. 1t disabled his
whole right side and as it gradually
wore away leaving only the right
hand lifeless, the poet set to work
theoretically to learn to write with
his left hand. He had become so
much better by last week that he
took n of his regular drives in his
touring a just the day before his
death.
or late years MI, Riley has spent
his time mostly in ~seclusion at his
beautiful indianapolis home, reading,
writing and receiving the guests who
flocked to his door. He was presum-
ably in his sixty-third year. On &C
count of his sensitiveness to the APP
proach of old age he would not dis
.cuss the number of his years with
anyone, SO that now it is not positive
ly known whether he was born in
1853 or 1848. However, tho an old
man, Riley kept hearty and active,
spent his winters in Florida, took a
great interest in his home town at
fairs, (Indianapolis) and went motor
ing every afternoon. When he re-
turned last May from the south he
declared that he had never felt bet
ter in his life."
Poems Brought Wealth
James Whitcomb Riley is one of
the few poets who gained fame and
a fortune thru writing verse. He
was the o of a lawyer who wished
him to follow that profession, but the
boy Riley would not do it. Instead,
he travelled about the country paint
merchants who wished to advertise
their wares. He also sketched neat
illustrations along with the signs
which should further help to interest
the public in spending money with
the merchants. From time to time
bits Of his verse appeared in the
country papers along the line of his
march, and at various towns he
would get out his fiddle and play for
dances, for he was naturally musical.
When he had roved to his hearts
content in this ann thru the Ohio
valley he was only about 20 when he
settled down to report for a news
at Anderson, Indiana.
The Poe Hoax
A few years later, after the first
appearance Of his verse on homely
and in dialect had attracted
a torrent of ridicule from all critics,
he wrote a poem in the style of Edgar
Allen Poe and actually palmed it off
the reading public as a recently
discovered piece from the elder poets
hand. A controversy arose about it
and Riley joyousiy took part in 1t.
Finally in the heat of argument some
one tainted him with being merely
obstinate and Jealous in not believ-
ing that Poe really wrote the poem,
80 he and his publisher confessed the
real authorship. This proved that
he could write poetry. From that time
to this Riley's poetry has steadily
been gaining. range in the homes OF
the people, and especially his child
ren's verse will always keep his name
great. He never married, but as an
old bachelor observer and loving in
terpreter of childhood he won so
much popularity among children that
it seemed the most fitting thing in
the world when his birthday, October
in 1915, was declared Riley Day
In Indianapolis, and a million school
children, with many OF the nations
most prominent men, assembled to
celebrate the poets birthday. And
he himself, in all this turmoil of
and congratulation, was most
touched by the glad marching of the
of little tots. He always
loved children and home life. The
hurry and scramble Of New York City
never did interest him; it even so
repealed him that his only visits to
the metropolis we're on the business
Of lecturing, at which times he would
take a hack or taxicab to the hall,
and back to the train again, without
the least bit acquainted with
The city.
His Works
Some of the best known of Mr..
Riley's short poems are, "Raggedy
Old Sweetheart of Nine"
When the Frost is on the Pump
kim" Goodbye Jim," Little Or
ohant Annie" "The Old Swimmin'
"Out to Old Aunt Mary's,'
Rhymes of Childhood"
Body Lay in State
BY order. of the governor the
Ioosier Poets body was viewed Mon
lay at the Indiana state capitol from
!, to 9 p. M, where it lay in state as
m honor to his memory and to give
he people a chance to have a last
ook at their poet friend. The fun
,ral was private and simple, in &C
,ordance with his own wishes.
RARE BARGAIN IN PIANO