Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1921-04-20
POET At 50 SAYS
CAREER AS AUTHOR
IS JUST BEGUN

Dick Posey's introduction as O pro
Bfessional entertainer Is most Inter
estingly depicted In yesterdays Ore
I,gonian, in an interview given by him
to o. H. Basnhill, the well known
former Ashland man who is fast be-
coming a writer OF considerable
prominence. Preceding a number OF
sketches from the popular Poet oil
the Rogue River Valley, Mr.. Barn
hill gives the following sketch OF
Mr.. Campbell, Dick Posey," as he
appears before Chautauqua audi
ence:
AFTER parking his car on the
shady side of the big cement garage.
the newcomer strolled over to the
Chautauqua tent, from which issued
sounds of hilarious laughter. Ac-
celebrating his pace, the visitor bought
a ticket and hurried inside the tent
to learn the cause OF such unseeming-
ly mirth. On the platform a jolly
faced man of fifty-something, with
white hair and twinkling eyes, was
impersonating a small boy telling
how his father weaned calf, SEEM
Ing to enjoy the story as much as
the audience.
Pretty soon the speaker changed
to sob stuff. making believe he was
an old man mourning for brother
In battle and had come home to die.
A hush came over the vast audience
ps the people listened with rapt at
tention to the speakers qulyering
voice and watcher his paIn-drawn
face. Many a tear bedewed face
but lately c0nyulsed with laughter.
Who was this man whose elocu-
tionary art so powerfully played up
on human emotions? Dick Posey,
the Riley of the Rogue read the pro-
gramme.
Anybody can make people laugh
deprecatingly averred Mr.. Campbell
behind the scenes, vigorously, fan
ming himself with palm leaf. It's
when peoples hearts are touched and /
they are so still you can hear a pin |
drop that I feel am doing .ny best |
work.
Yes, this Is my first year as q
professional entertainer. How did I
come to start el0cuting on the shady
side of so? Wen, I've been speaking
pieces for 80 years or more, but
never made it a bushes until this
summer. When I was a young fel-
low back In Posey county, Indiana,
used to read Riley's poems In pub
lie. Pretty soon began substitut-
ing my own poems for his, gradually
reading more and more original COM
positions until finally l dropped Riley
altogether. But folks never knew
Just when the change was made.
I first Committed poetry" when
about IA years of age" continued
Mr.. Campbell. "A long and impos-
sible legend was sent to the Toledo
Blade, which promptly returned my
maiden effort, together with a cold
and clammy rejection slip. Shortly
afterwards a well-known firm of
music publishers, which evidently
had seen or heard of my first effu-
lion sent me a request to submit
Iome poems.
That was when opportunity
Knocked at my door, sadly confessed
he poet, but | didn't recognize the
ady and so turned my back upon her,
,eing so disheartened at the failure
Il my first literary effort
"Mr. Campbell came west some rs
ears ago, being postmaster at Aber-
ieen. Wash, for dozen years,
afterwards removing to Ashland. Or.
where he has since resided, selling
cal estate and various other COM
nodities. Even and anon--sometimes ,
has read his poems at
,ublic gatherings, generally for no
'ther remuneration than love of the
york.
"The uniform success OF these !,
and the remarkable enthus-
asm with which they were every
vhere received attracted the atten-
ion OF Chautauqua managers, who
asst year engaged Mr.. Campbell for
seasons platform work. So en-
nently satisfactory were the efforts !,
4 the new entertainer that plans are
eing worked out to keep him busy
he entire year playing upon peoples
eartstrinss and tickling their funny /,
ones