The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley — Volume 1 — John Shaqi
The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley — Volume 1Riley, James Whitcomb
General
The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley — Volume 1
Riley, James Whitcomb
American poetry
As these distinguished honors came they found him each time
surprised anew and, though proud that they who dwell in the high
places of learning should come in cap and gown to welcome him,
yet gently and sincerely protesting his own unworthiness. And as
they found him when they came so they left him.
Mr. Riley made his home in Indianapolis from the time judge
Martindale invited him to join The Journal's forces, and no one
of her citizens was more devoted, nor was any so universally
loved and honored. Everywhere he went the tribute of quick
recognition and cheery greeting was paid him, and his home was
the shrine of every visiting Hoosier. High on a sward of velvet
grass stands a dignified middle-aged brick house. A dwarfed
stone wall, broken by an iron gate, guards the front lawn, while
in the rear an old-fashioned garden revels in hollyhocks and wild
roses. Here among his books and his souvenirs the poet spent his
happy and contented days. To reach this restful spot, the
pilgrim must journey to Lockerbie Street, a miniature
thoroughfare half hidden between two more commanding avenues. It
is little more than a lane, shaded, unpaved and from end to end
no longer than a five minutes' walk, but its fame is for all
time.
"Such a dear little street it is, nestled away
From the noise of the city and heat of the day,
In cool shady coverts of whispering trees,
With their leaves lifted up to shake hands with the breeze
Which in all its wide wanderings never may meet
With a resting-place fairer than Lockerbie Street!"
Riley never married. He lived with devoted, loyal and
understanding friends, a part of whose life he became many years
ago. Kindly consideration, gentle affection, peace and order,--
all that go to make home home, were found here blooming with the
hollyhocks and the wild roses. Every day some visitor knocked
for admittance and was not denied; every day saw the poet calling
for some companionable friend and driving with him through the
city's shaded streets or far out into the country.
And so his life drew on to its last and most beautiful year.
Since his serious illness in 1910, the public had shown its love
for him more and more frequently. On the occasion of his
birthday in 1912, Greenfield had welcomed him home through a host
of children scattering flowers. Anderson, where he was living
when he first gained public recognition, had a Riley Day in 1913.
The Indiana State University entertained him the same year, as
did also the city of Cincinnati. In 1915 there was a Riley Day
at Columbus, Indiana, and during all this time each birthday and
Christmas was marked by "poetry-showers," and by thousands of
letters of affectionate congratulation and by many tributes in
the newspapers and magazines.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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