davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
Pals of 'Swimmin' Hole
Days Cherish Memories
of Riley as Young Boy
Aged Greenfield Men Proud
of Early Friendship With
HooSier Poet.

With his never-to-be-fo forgotten
poems James Whitcomb Riley placed
his stamp on the hearts of all Amer
lea, but to two men who knew him
in the days of the odd Swimmin'
Hole" he left the imprint of nick
name that still sticks and the
memory of a few bits of doggeral
that can never be published.
Drop down on State-av in Green
field and you may meet John E.
Davis, IS, and hear, as he walks
automatically down the shady street,
how he got the name "Durbin."
Or if you go north to Lincoln and
Spring-sts you may meet another
old crony, Uncle" Billy Davis, SO,
and hear him recite the ribald verse
that Jim" made up on the banks of
the "Old Swimmin' Hole"
Between movements of his tobacco
quid, stubby "Durbin" Davis will tell
you of a night when Jim" Riley
himself, and Uncle" Billy Davis
they're not related-were whooping
it up on the towns streets.
WED stopped at the Last Chance
but the place had already closed
jim Riley said he knew another
place and he led us down the main
street to pump.
"He grabbed hold of the pump
handle, clapped me on the back
and said, I want you to meet Mr.
Durbin. Now Mr.. Durbin, I want the
boys to have all they want. It's on
the house, boys We drank water
and pumped and drank again.
And ever since" the old man eX-
planned as he wiped his tobacco
stained mouth, they've called me
after a kind of pump manufactured
in those days known as the Durbin
pump.
HE always had picketful OF
poems even when we swan down on
the Brandywine. I've seen him turn
somersaultS, recite poem, and then
jump clean over the muddy bank
into the swimmin' hole. He knowed
all of Charles Dickens works by
heart.
You know" he added as if trying
to recall the days, & never could see
how he got all his grammar, for he
wasn't a hard worker in school"
In a home a few blocks away,
Uncle" Billy Davis adds to the
"Swimmin' Hole stories the declar-
alton that Riley was not an expert
swimmer as a boy, but preferred to
loiter in the shade on the POOLS
banks.
WED go in natural and many'S
the time we'd tie each others
clothes into knots and throw mud
at each other" says "Uncle" Billy.
"He used to make up poems down
there and recite them to us while
we swan around. There we're some
dandies all right. There's one Of
them I'll never forget. I only wish
it could be printed.
To the two aged men his poems,
his fame, are not half as near to
them as their memories of how the
one got a nickname of town-pump
and the other learned his i'm
promptu poetry.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
Riley Composed Verses On the Spot
to Express His Appreciation to Cook
for Preparation of Favorite Dishes
Aged Servants Unable to
Recall Lines Composed
as Tips for Them.

James Whitcomb Riley sometimes
showed his appreciation Of prepara-
ton Of favorite foods by little
piece Of money"
More often. however, he paid for
them with a bit of his homespun
verse, composed eXtenporaneously
and recited as the poet stood
framed in the kitchen door Of the
Lockerbie-st house
If Mrs Mamie Ewing, aged Ne
gro cook Of the Holstein family,
with whom Riley made his home,
could recall those verses, she might
add a delightful volume to the other
Well-knoWn Riley collections. But
all she recalls, as she reminisces at
her home, 1856 N. WeSt-st, is the
laughter which the verses brought.
Mr. Riley always came to the
kitchen door and thanked me when
he had enjoyed a meal" she says.
Sometimes it was for the entire
meal, but he always thanked rue
when I had baked sweet potato
or a pumpkin pie, Those were his
favorjtes.
Recited Verses at Kitchen Door
Sometimes he would slip a little
piece Of money in my hand. Most
times, he WOULD make up verses
about the food and recite them to
me as he stood in the doorway.
10
knew it. When I laughed at them
he was satisfied, and would go up
to his room, chuckling as he went
The Holstein household meals al
ways were elaborate ones. Often
they were conferred around a main
dish Of wild game, the gift of Mr..
Riley's sportsmen friends.
I'm the hunting season, there
would be partridgeS and wild tur-
keys to cook" Mrs. Ewing recalls.
Mr.. Riley was fond of them, and 1
took particular pains to prepare
them in the way he liked them, He
always was appreciative.
Husband Poets Personal Servant
Both Mrs. Ewing and her husband,
Dennis Ewing, saw service in the
HOlstein household, where Mr.. Riley
spent many years of his life. Hey
husband, still active at II, was
hOuseman, and in later years of
Riley's life, was personal servant to
the poet.
"One of my duties was the care
of the family horse, which Mrs. HoI-
stein usually drove" Ewing says.
That horse surely loved sugar, ana
Mr.. Riley knew it. He never failed
to go into the kitchen and get lump
sugar to feed him before the family
started out for a drive"
Neither Of the aged servants re-
call ever seeing the poet at his work.
He wrote his poetry at night,
when the family had gone to bed.
We always knew when he was writ
ing, but never saw him working"
Ewing says.
Among the EWing's priced pos
sessions, Whic hinclude pictures Of
the Holstein family and their pets,
is a volume of Riley'S poems.
But Mrs. Ewing admits that she
would enjoy more than those pub
lished poems, the verses that the
poet made up out of his head" as
he stood in the kitchen door.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
BIRTHDAY
OBSERVED HERE
Poet to Be Honored With
Ceremonies Opening
Hospital Pool.
Continued From Page One)

The chorus of School 2 sang the
Prayer Perfect"
The James Whitcomb Riley school,
No. 43, 40th-st and Capitol-av, and
School No. II, 1888 S. West-st, we're
two elementary schools giving spe-
cial Riley programs in honor of his
birthday
Civic clubs, city officials and nu-
merous. organizations participating
in Riley Hospital work were ex-
pected to attend the dedicatory rites
at the hospital at 3.
DR.. Bryan Among Speakers
The afternoons ceremonies were
to be held on the hospital lawn. DR..
William Lowe Bryan, president of
Indiana University; Mr.. Landon,
Riley association head; Fred Hoke,
William H. Book, executive vice
president of the Indianapolis Cham
Der of Commerce, were to be the
speakers.
The pool was constructed with the
aid Of FERA labor and it's warmed
and healing waters are adapted to
treatment of cases of infantile and
other forms Of paralysis. The waters
are said to have the same healing
effects as those at the Warm
Springs Foundation, sponsored by
President Roosevelt.
Built at Cost of $4,000
Funds of Indiana University
the Riley Memorial Association and
F'ERA built the pool at an approx
mate cost of 100000.
Glass enclosed, the pool is under
the direction of Miss Charlotte w.
Anderson. Patients are taken one
at a time into the poof for treat
ments.
Hospital officials as we'll as those
in charge of the dedicatory rights
say the general public are welcome
to attend the ceremonies and visit
the new pool.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
$50 VACANCIES AT FORT
Places Open in More Than Four
Branches, Army Announces.

There are vacancies for $50 men
in the enlisted army at FIT. Ben
iamin Harrison in accordance with
an act passed by the last session
of Congress, the enlisting officer
announced today.
TIE act allowed an increase in
Fit HarriSon's enrolment of $50
men. The recruiting Office is at 408
Federal Building. There are va
Cancies in more than four branches.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
Blocks Open Fountain Room

William H. Block co. announced
today the opening of the James
Whitcomb Riley Fountain room in
its new store. The room is dec
Grated by white and silver murals
depicting Riley subjects, and is a
place for lunch and refreshments.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
OPEN DRIVE FOR
$4,000 TO AID
RILEY SHRINE
Campaign to Restore Home
Begins With Exercises
at'GreenfIeId.
BY ARCH STEINEL
Times STAFF Writer,

LINUS atAh Ni'N'lf
The spider webs that hung on
buildings at the old home Of James
Whitcomb Riley are to be restored
The wide board fence that jim
Riley used to walk on his hands in
acrobatic stunts may encircle his
residence on w. Main-st in Green
field.
Today, on his birthday, as school
children of Greenfield decorated his
monument on the Courthouse lawn
with flowers, the drive to raise $50
600 for the rehabilitation Of the
home gained momentum throughout
the nation.
Glasses of school children. accord
ing to plans of the Riley Old Home
Society Of Hancock County, will
donate the money TO make it pos
sible for the home, closed for four
months TO visitors, to be reopened.
County Granted Option.
AS Greenfield celebrated Mr..
Riley's birthday with school recita-
tions and programs, its citizenry,
headed by Z. M Smith, school
superintendent and president of the
Riley Society, and Mrs. Helen Gem
mill, treasurer, planned even to re-
store the homes old we'll, to take
modern furnishings of the place
and bring back the days when Mr.
Riley actually lived in it.
Heirs Of the Riley estate have
given Hancock County residents and
the Riley society the option to buy
the property.
It is the desire Of the Riley heirs
to keep the home from being COM
mercialized and the 10-cent admis-
sion fee to be charged will be used
merely for hiring of caretakers and
the homes upkeep.
Up to the spring Of this year the
home was under the care Of Mrs,
julia Wilson Riley, widow of John
Riley the poets brother She left
to make her home in Long Beach,
Cal, and the residence remained
closed to tourists and passerSby.
Weeds High in Yard
Weather worn advertisements, cir
culars dried yellow after summer
rains, cover the homes porch and
give it a lonesome lasSitude, Weeds
are high in the back yard
But Hancock County citizens say
all that will pass as soon as the
home comes under their control.
They plan to open it tentatively,
pending the results Of the nation
wide drive this fall.
Saturday night. William A. Huff,
Greenfield, reader of Riley poems
and the KiWanis Club quartet, gave
a program over WLW in honor of
the poets birthday, beginning the
drive for funds.
The National Parent Teachers
Association is aiding in the cam
paign. Senior memberships will be
sold at 81 and junior memberships
at so cents. The funds raised will
be placed in a foundation fund.
A book, written by native Hoosier
authors who have gained fame, may
be published and sold as another
means of raising the funds.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07

Adlerika acts On BOTH upper and
lower bowels while ordinary laXativeS
act on the lower bowel only. Ad-
lerika gives your system a thorough
cleansing, bringing out old, poison
Gus matter that you would not be-
lieve was in your system and that
has been causing gas pains sour
stomach. nervousness and headaches
for months.
DIR. II. L. Shoub, New York, reports:
I'm addition TO intestinal cleansing.
Adlerika greatly reduces bacteria
and colon bacilli."
Give your stomach and bowels a
REAL cleansing with Adlerika and
see how good you feel. Just one
spoonful relieves GAS and chronic
conctipation Sold by all druggists
and drug apartments Advertise
ment
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
ENROLMENT IN TECH
HIGH SCHOOL OPEN
Glasses to Be Accepted for Two
Weeks, Official Says.

Enrollments in Technical High
School night school classes will be
accepted for the next two weeks,
Edward f. Greene, vice principal in
charge of evening classes, announced
today.
Mr.. Greene stated that the pur-
pose of the night school is to serve
those persons who wish to continue
their education and are unable to
do so in day school.
Approximately 200 students have
already enrolled and classes will be
formed in all subjects for which the
registration is sufficient
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
HOSPITAL STAFF ELECTS
DR.. E. o. Asher New President of
Methodist Society.

DR.. E. o. Asher is the new pres
ident of the Methodist Hospital
Medical Staff Society. and DR..
Charles Thompson is vice presi-
dent, DR.. John M Whitehead. secre-
tary-treasurer. and DR.. Roy V.
Myers, executive committeeman.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
REL Head Colo jelly
born of 1877 different
experiments!

The makers of REM for Coughs
had the idea for a long time of
offering a product for head colds.
But it was years before they were
ready to say Here it isl" They
went at it very carefully. First a
study of the good and bad points
of existing remedies was made.
Distinguished physicians, pharma-
cists, chemists and pharmacolo-
gists were consulted. One hundred
and thirty-seven different expert
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
AS GOOD AS REM
HIGH PRAISE FOR REL
New head cold remedy praised
by delighted users of REM

WHEN REL Head Cold Jelly
wv was first announced, what
was more natural than that the
users of REM for Coughs should
say to themselves Wonder whether
it's as good as REM?"
They're not wondering any
more. They knoWi
BY the way REL Head Cold
Jelly is selling, it seems certain
that it will duplicate the great
success of REM for Coughs!
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
GAS, GAS ALL
the TIME, CAN'T
EAT OR SLEEP

The gas on my stom-
ach was so bad | could
not cat or sleep. Even
my h cart hurt. \
friend Sug geSted Adj
lerika. The first dose
l took h ron z h t me
relief. Now ! eat as |
wish. sleep fine. and
never felt better. -
Mrs Jas. Filler.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
Jobs Daughters to Hold Ritual

RitualiStic work of Bethel No. 8.
Order of Jobs Daughters, will be
eXemplified at tonight in the
Brightwood Masonic Temple Bethel
No IS will meet at tonight in the
Irvington Masonic Temple.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07

Heights w. C. T. U. to Meet
The University Heeignts w. c..
t. U. will meet at 2 tomorrow in the
Madison Avenue Methodist Episco-
pal Church.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07

ments were made. Clinical tests
were conducted on actual cases
under careful medical supervision.
Then, and not until then, were
they ready to put their name on it.
It's ready now-and it's name is
REL Head Cold Jelly.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
Artillery Regiment Chooses Head

Russell Watson, Kokomo, was
elected president of the One hun
dred thirty-ninth Field Artillery as
the reunion closed yesterday in the
Lincoln.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
Now 1 q minute relief
for head colds!

Don't take our word for it-try
it for yourself! Put a little REL up
your nose-and you'll feel like a
new person. You'll find REL really
magic relief for head colds-or
stufed-up heads. REL is con-
venient for pocket or purse. 80
No messy nose-droppers or FA
atomizers 20 bother with! EE
Montana labor news., 1935-04-18

WASHINGTON.-(FP) IL Farmers
support for labor in its fight against
the Administrations low-wage proposals
on work relief is expressed by the
Farmers Educational and Co-opera-
tive Union, in a joint statement signed
by President f. H.. Everson and Sec
rotary E. E. Kennedy.
"The administrations proposal TO
pay prevailing rates of interest to the
money changers and prevailing prices
to manufacturers for material and to
pay less than prevailing wages to labor
out of the $4,SS0,000,000 proposed work
relief program appropriations is as in
defensible and as un-American as il
is for the government, through the
AAA, to require farmers to produce
food and fibre for less than cost Of
production" say the leaders of the Far
mers Union.
Pointing out that "the interests of
farmers and laborers are inseparable,"
the Farmers Union declares that low
returns to farmers penalties labor with
unemployment and low wages, by des-
truction of the home market for la
boris products; while the home mark
ct for agriculture is destroyed and far
mers are penalized with low prices,
when labor receives less than a living
wage or is unemployed.
Montana labor news., 1935-04-18
Transient Service
Station

In another communication from the
Southside Progressive Club, fear was
expressed that if transient labor SER
vice was established in Butte that it
would tend to invite unemployed peo-
pie from other places to come to Butte
and that these people might be used in
time of labor trouble to break down
the wage schedule of the Butte dis
trict and to interfere with the season.
al work of the Butte men and women.
However, it was disclosed by the min
ers' delegates that very little appre-
hension need be felt in regard to these
transient people. The actions of these
transients last summer would lead the
unions to believe that they are more
class conscious and loyal to union prin-
ciples than many of the so-called res
pectable eliment. During the strike
last summer no Butte transient scab-
bed or offered his services as a strike
breaker. Those that did came from
the outside to serve as strike break
ers arrived in Butte in high-powered
cars, adequately fed and clothed. APP
parently from the expression of the
officers in charge of the local transi-
ent service, it is not the purpose OF
this bureau to provide food and shelter
indefinitely to transients. The only
purpose in establishing the Center at
all is merely to provide meals for one
day and possibly a place to sleep for
one night. Many Of the delegates ex-
pressed their sympathy for these vic
Tins of an unjust social condition.
Montana labor news., 1935-04-18
President Graham
Explains The
Patrol Bill

A notification was received from
James Graham, president Of the Mon
tana Federation of Labor, relating to
the Highway Patrol Bill. In this let
ter, Mr.. Graham stated that it may be
possible that the provisions of this mea-
sure may not be put in operation.
There is a technical question relating
to appropriation. According to the
Montana law, appropriations measures
must originate in the House. This
Highway Patrol measure originated in
the Senate. OF course if no money
can be obtained to insure performance,
the bill will remain imperative. Mr..
Graham also stated that should the
unions care to go to the trouble of
securing names to petitions, it is pos
sible to secure a repeal Of this mea-
sure. Should 5 per cent of the voters
of twenty three counties indicate their
desire to be permitted to vote on this
measure, such a desire must be indi-
Gated on the ballot at the mex general
election. In this way the people would
have an opportunity to show whether
they desired the Highway Patrol Bill
to be retained or discarded.
Montana labor news., 1935-04-18
Relief Workers Ask
Help In Maintaining
Wage Rates

A committee from the F. T. R. A.
workers organization consisting of 7
men appeared before the Council. Mr..
L. o. Davis was the chairman of the
committee and the principal speaker.
Many miners and members of other
organizations belong to the relief work
ers, The relief workers propose to
maintain the laws, principles, and wage
rates established by the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor. Other communities
have already gone on record to main
tain the prevailing rate Of wages in
the community in reference to work
done on relief projects and the Butte
unions should also maintain hat prin-
ciple regardless of the failure of the
McCarran Amendment. One way to
bring this to the attention Of the pub
lie and to the employer is to revive
the spirit of May Day. May Day was
the original holiday Of the workers and
was started by the Federated unions
about 1884. It has been regarded as a
day Of celebration. Its o~rigination col
needing quite closely with the Hay
Market massacre. May Day has al
ways been associated with more or
less thoughts of disturbance. This is
not the purpose OF the day. Its purpose
is to show the solidarity of the labor
movement and to c again express
the aims and determination of the
working people to achieve their right
full place in their industrial structure.
It should be a day devoted to the
cause of humanity in general. That
appears to be the real significance OF
May Day.
Mr.. Cunningham, another member OF
the committee spoke for a few NOM
ents and called attention to the need
of renewing in the minds of the peo-
pie the special significance of this day
to them. It should be a day when the
whole craft union movement should
demonstrate its cohesion and its fidel-
ity to the principles and laws Of the
American Federation of Labor. Inas-
much as the American Federation OF
Labor was so determined in its efforts
to maintain the prevailing rate of pay
in the four billion, eight hundred mil
lion dollars work relief bill, the I'M
ions should stand faithfully behind
those efforts mad insist that this prin-
ciple be carried to its conclusion in
this community. No better way Of in
d~icating the determination of the I'M
ions to this end could be made than by
holding a May Day celebration. These
we're the sentiments expressed by the
committee.
Montana labor news., 1935-04-18
Butte Miner Speaks

The Montana Labor News is pleased
to print a little story taken from The
Voice Of Action. This newspaper is
printed in Seattle and gives a descrip-
ton Of the Congress recently held in
that city against War and Fascism.
References is made in the article to a
member Of the Butte Miners union in
the following manner:
Dennis Mccarthy, delegate from the
Butte, Montana, Miners Union, in a
smashing attack on Hearst declared,
The Post-Intelligencer wouldn't be
tolerated 10 minutes in Butte. Butte
newspapers once started an anti-union
drive, and lost 5000 circulation over
night.
We've got to consider today the
next step for tomorrow, not stopping
at vague g%eneralizing. The miners are
heartily in accord with points you set
out" Mccarthy concluded.
Montana labor news., 1935-04-18
Montana Copper
Tariff Board

Paul A. Cow of Butte, Montana, since
1928 president and general manager
Of the North Butte Mining Comany,
has been appointed to the Montana
Copper Tariff Board by Governor F.
H. Cooney to replace Frederick Laist
Of the Anaconda Copper Mining Com
pany, who resigned, saying he would
be unable to serve.
Cow has long been one of the most
aggressive advocates of the copper tar
if. Early in 1882 he said, Strange to
find that Of all our base metals, cop
per alone stands unprotected against
an approaching tidal wave Of low-cost
peon or semi-slaye produced foreign
copper, which threatens to completely
submerge our domestic copper mining
industry, unless held back by the i'm
mediate enactment of an adequate duty
on all copper imports Of whatever
form" Today, Cow again takes up the
cudgel to do his part toward saving
the copper mining industry by having
the copper tariff law OF 1882 extended.
American copper can no longer COM
pete in the world market" Cow said
in 1882. Our foreign market is a
thing Of the past. Our domestic cop
per market is sufficient to maintain a
prosperous domestic copper mining in
dustry, provided only that importation
of cheap foreign copper is excluded by
an adequate import duty"
Other members on the Montana boa
I'd are: w. B. DAILY and Carl Trauer-
man, both Of Butte; Ed. Dolan, Mis-
soula; Albert Wiggin, Great Falls; and
Samuel Barker Of Butte. Appoint
ment of a copper tariff board has been
announced by Colorado and Nevada.
The Arizona board has been function
ing for several years.