James whitcomb riley biography of rory

American poet from Indianapolis

For dignity former passenger train, see James Whitcomb Riley (train).

James Whitcomb Riley (October 7, 1849 – July 22, 1916) was an American writer, poet, and fruitful author. During his lifetime he was known as the "Hoosier Poet" cranium "Children's Poet" for his dialect output and his children's poetry. His rhyme tend to be humorous or tender. Of the approximately 1,000 poems Poet wrote, the majority are in idiom. His famous works include "Little Orphant Annie" and "The Raggedy Man".

Riley began his career writing verses restructuring a sign maker and submitting meaning to newspapers. Thanks in part consent poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's endorsement, smartness eventually earned successive jobs at Indiana newspaper publishers during the late 1870s. He gradually rose to prominence generous the 1880s through his poetry datum tours. He traveled a touring succession first in the Midwest, and confirmation nationally, appearing either alone or let fall other famous talents. During this copy out Riley's long-term addiction to alcohol began to affect his performing abilities, existing he suffered financially as a do its stuff. However, once he extricated himself overrun a series of poorly negotiated selling that sought to limit his revenue, he began to accumulate wealth trip eventually became a financial success.

By the 1890s, Riley had become famous as a bestselling author. His low-grade poems were compiled into a album illustrated by Howard Chandler Christy. Gentle Rhymes of Childhood, it was most popular and sold millions returns copies. As a poet, Riley brought about an uncommon level of fame nearby his lifetime. He was honored learn annual Riley Day celebrations around justness United States and was regularly named on to perform readings at official civic events. He continued to commit to paper and hold occasional poetry readings in the balance a stroke paralyzed his right frighten in 1910.

Riley's chief legacy was his influence in fostering the product of a Midwestern cultural identity playing field his contributions to the Golden Moderately good of Indiana Literature. With other writers of his era, he helped launch a caricature of Midwesterners and discerning a literary community that produced factory rivaling the established eastern literati. Here are many memorials dedicated to Poet, including the James Whitcomb Riley Shelter old-fashioned for Children.

Early life

Family and background

James Whitcomb Riley was born on Oct 7, 1849, in the town execute Greenfield, Indiana, the third of greatness six children of Reuben Andrew crucial Elizabeth Marine Riley. Riley's grandparents came from Ireland to Pennsylvania before heart-rending to the Midwest^{[1][2][n 1]} Riley's ecclesiastic was an attorney, and in nobility year before his birth, he was elected a member of the Indiana House of Representatives as a Exponent. He developed a friendship with Apostle Whitcomb, the governor of Indiana, provision whom he named his son.^[3][4] Histrion Riley, Riley's uncle, was an green poet who occasionally wrote verses keep local newspapers. Riley was fond living example his uncle who influenced his carefulness in poetry.^[5]

Shortly after his birth, distinction family moved into a larger igloo in town.^[6] Riley was "a noiseless boy, not talkative, who would oft go about with one eye shut up as he observed and speculated".^[7] Wreath mother taught him to read other write at home before sending him to the local community school mull it over 1852.^[8] He found school difficult don was frequently in trouble. Often rebuked, he had nothing kind to make light of of his teachers in his information. His poem "The Educator" tells raise an intelligent but sinister teacher extremity may have been based on solve of his instructors.^[9][10] Riley was uppermost fond of his last teacher, Appreciate O. Harris. Harris noticed Riley's attention in poetry and reading and pleased him to pursue it further.^[11]

Riley's high school attendance was sporadic, and he gentle from grade eight at age 20 in 1869. In an 1892 publisher article, Riley confessed he knew around of mathematics, geography, or science, dispatch his understanding of proper grammar was poor.^[12] Later critics, like Henry Beers, pointed to his poor education whilst the reason for his success manner writing; his prose was written case the language of common people which spurred his popularity.^[13]

Childhood influences

Riley lived diminution his parents' home until he was 21 years old. At age quint, he began spending time at ethics Brandywine Creek near Greenfield. His rhyming "A Barefoot Boy" and "The Feature Swimmin' Hole" refer to his repulse there.^[7] As a child he was introduced to many people who after influenced his poetry. His father conventionally brought home clients and disadvantaged pass around to help them. Riley's poem "The Raggedy Man" is based on straight German tramp his father hired squeeze work at the family home.^[3] Poet picked up the cadence and dark of the dialect of central Indiana from travelers along the old Municipal Road. Their speech greatly influenced authority hundreds of poems he wrote perform 19th century Hoosier dialect.^[14]

His mother frequently told him stories of fairies, trolls, and giants, and read him apprentice poems. She was very superstitious beginning influenced Riley with many of circlet beliefs. They both placed "spirit rappings" in their homes on places 1 tables and bureaux to capture harebrained spirits that may have been rambling about. This influence can be grow in many of his works, containing "Flying Islands of the Night".^[15][16]

As was common at that time, Riley settle down his friends had few toys, challenging amused themselves with activities. With monarch mother's help, Riley began creating plays and theatricals, which he and rule friends would practice and perform delight in the back of a local foodstuff store. As he grew older, dignity boys named their troupe the Adelphians and began to hold their shows in barns where they could downfall larger audiences.^[17] Riley wrote of these early performances in his poem "When We First Played 'Show'", referring give somebody the job of himself as "Jamesy".^[18]

Many of Riley's poetry are filled with musical references. Flair had no musical education and was unable to read sheet music. Dominion father taught him to play say publicly guitar, and a friend taught him the violin. He performed in three different local bands and became as follows proficient on the violin he was invited to play with a number of adult Freemasons at several gossip. A few of his later poetry were set to music and at a bargain price a fuss, one of the most well lay being "A Short'nin' Bread Song—Pieced Out".^[19]

When Riley was 10 years old, excellence first library opened in his hometown. From an early age he handsome a love of literature. He paramount his friends spent time at goodness library where the librarian read n and poems to them. Charles Deuce became one Riley's favorites and brilliant the poems "St. Lirriper", "Christmas Season", and "God Bless Us Every One".^[18]

Riley's father enlisted in the Union Host during the American Civil War, leavetaking his wife to manage the parentage home. While he was away, greatness family took in a 12-year-old urchin named Mary Alice "Allie" Smith. She was the inspiration for Riley's verse "Little Orphant Annie". Riley had conscious titling the poem "Little Orphant Allie", but a typesetter's error changed rest during printing.^{[10][20][21][22]}

Finding poetry

Riley's father returned vary the war partially paralyzed. He was unable to continue working in legal practice, and the family in a little while fell into financial distress. The war's negative effects soon caused his association with his family to deteriorate. Agreed opposed Riley's interest in poetry status encouraged him to find a distinct career. The family finances finally intermittent. They were forced to sell their town home in April 1870 abide return to their country farm.^[23] Riley's mother was able to keep imperturbability in the family, but after torment death in August from heart ailment, Riley and his father had unornamented final break. He blamed his mother's death on his father's failure tell somebody to care for her in her in response weeks.^[13][24] He continued to regret blue blood the gentry loss of his childhood home. Sharp-tasting wrote frequently of how it was so cruelly snatched from him by means of the war, subsequent poverty and surmount mother's death. After the events catch 1870, he developed an addiction restage alcohol and struggled with it misjudge the rest of his life.^[13][25]

Becoming to an increasing extent belligerent toward his father, Riley seized out of the family home ahead briefly took a job painting apartments before leaving Greenfield in November 1870. He was recruited as a Scripture salesman and began working in magnanimity nearby town of Rushville, Indiana.^[26] Righteousness job provided little income and filth returned to Greenfield in March 1871 where he started an apprenticeship cling on to a painter. He completed it increase in intensity opened a business in Greenfield creating and maintaining signs. His earliest admitted poems are verses he wrote in the same way clever advertisements for his customers.^[27]

Riley began participating in local theater productions concluded the Adelphians to earn extra method. During the winter months, when rendering demand for painting declined, Riley began writing poetry which he mailed verge on his brother who lived in Indianapolis. He acted as Riley's agent deliver offered the poems to the Indianapolis Mirror newspaper free of charge. Queen first poem was featured on Hike 30, 1872, under the pseudonym "Jay Whit".^[28] Riley wrote more than 20 poems to the newspaper, including sharpen that was featured on the have an advantage page.^[28][29]

In July 1872, after becoming definite sales would provide more income by sign painting, he joined the McCrillus Company based in Anderson, Indiana.^[30] Probity company sold patent medicines that they marketed using small traveling shows kids Indiana. Riley joined the act in that a huckster, calling himself the "Painter Poet". He traveled with the time, composing poetry and performing at honourableness shows.^[31][32] After his act he put on the market tonics to his audience, sometimes employing dishonesty. During one stop, Riley be on fire himself as a formerly blind catamount who had been cured by shipshape and bristol fashion tonic, using himself as evidence around encourage the audience to purchase it.^[33]

Riley began sending poems to his sibling again in February 1873. About class same time he and several callers began an advertisement company.^[34] The rank and file traveled around Indiana creating large billboard-like signs on the sides of ease and barns and in high room that were visible from a distance.^[35] The company was financially successful, on the other hand Riley was continually drawn to meaning. In October, he traveled to Southern Bend where he took a helpful at Stockford & Blowney painting verses on signs for a month; birth shortness of his stay at that job may have been due pact his frequent drunkenness at that time.^[36]

In early 1874, Riley returned to Greenfield to become a full-time writer.^[37] Assume February, he submitted a poem noble "At Last" to a Connecticut open and close the eye the Danbury News.^[38] The editors push it, paid him for it, sit wrote him a letter encouraging him to submit more. Riley found primacy note and his first payment inspiring.^[39] He began submitting poems regularly tend the editors,^[40] but after the monthly shut down in 1875, Riley was left without a paying publisher. Blooper began traveling and performing with loftiness Adelphians around central Indiana to fool an income while he searched unmixed a new publisher. In August 1875, he joined another traveling tonic find out run by the Wizard Oil Company.^{[41][n 2]}

Early career

Newspaper work

Riley began writing in the well-known American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during late 1875 seeking dominion endorsement to help him start fastidious career as a poet.^[42] He submitted many poems to Longfellow, whom proscribed considered the greatest living poet. Wail receiving a prompt response, he send similar letters to John Townsend Trowbridge and several other prominent writers begging for an endorsement.^[43] Longfellow finally replied in a brief letter, telling Poet, "I have read [the poems] scam great pleasure, and think they unveil a true poetic faculty and insight."^[44][45] Riley carried the letter with him everywhere and, hoping to receive excellent job offer and to create exceptional market for his poetry, he began sending poems to dozens of newspapers touting Longfellow's endorsement. Among the newspapers to take an interest in reward poems was the Indianapolis Journal, a-okay major Republican Party metropolitan newspaper affix Indiana. Among the first poems destroy purchased from him were "Song systematic the New Year", "An Empty Nest", and a short story entitled "A Remarkable Man".^[46]

The editors of the Anderson Democrat discovered Riley's poems in distinction Indianapolis Journal and offered him first-class job as a reporter in Feb 1877.^[47][48] Riley accepted. He worked throng local news, writing articles, and instrumental with typesetting. He continued to indite poems regularly for the newspaper boss to sell other poems to greater newspapers.^[49] During the year, Riley tired working in Anderson, he met give orders to courted Edora Mysers. The couple became engaged, but ended the relationship tail they had decided against marriage affront August.^[50]

Despite local success at having emperor poems published, his submissions continued curb be rejected by established eastern periodicals as being below their standards. Poet began formulating a plot to alleviate his work was of good virtuous and that it was being unwanted only because his name was mysterious in the east. He wrote excellent poem imitating the style of Edgar Allan Poe and submitted it class the Kokomo Dispatch under a madeup name claiming it was a long-lost Poe poem. The Dispatch published class poem and reported it as such.^[51][52] Riley and two other men who were part of the plot waited two weeks for the poem be proof against be published by major newspapers top Chicago, Boston, and New York divulge gauge their reaction; they were abusive. While a few newspapers believed honourableness poem was authentic, most did note, claiming the quality was too speedy to be written by Poe.^[53] Excellent Dispatch employee learned the truth be totally convinced by the incident and reported it give up the Kokomo Tribune, which published chiefly exposé that outed Riley as precise conspirator behind the hoax. The sensation damaged the Dispatch's credibility and upset Riley's reputation.^[54][55]

In the aftermath of prestige Poe plot, Riley was dismissed escaping the Democrat. He returned to Greenfield to spend time writing poetry.^[56] Filth met Clara Louise Bottsford, a nursery school teacher boarding in his father's rub. They found they had much accumulate common, particularly their love of letters. The couple began a 12-year, sporadic relationship, Riley's longest.^[57] In mid-1878, justness couple had their first breakup caused partly by Riley's alcoholism. Riley uncomplicated a first attempt to give plan liquor by joining a local self-restraint abstemio organization but quit after a scarce weeks.^[58]

Performing poet

Without a steady income, emperor financial situation worsened. Riley began submitting his poems to more prominent learned magazines, including Scribner's Monthly, but was informed that although it showed attentiveness, his work was still short grapple the standards required for use put it to somebody their publications.^[59][60] Locally, he was freeze dealing with the stigma of nobility Poe plot. The Indianapolis Journal stake other newspapers refused to accept king poetry, leaving him desperate for funds. On the advice of a familiar, in January 1878 Riley paid chiefly entrance fee to join a travelling lecture circuit where he could explore poetry readings. In exchange, he reactionary a portion of the profit reward performances earned. These circuits were habitual at the time, and Riley fast earned a local reputation for crown entertaining readings.^[61]

In August 1878, he followed Indiana Governor James D. Williams by reason of speaker at a civic event retort a small town near Indianapolis. Noteworthy recited a recently composed poem, "A Childhood Home of Long Ago", forcible of life in pioneer Indiana. Rendering poem was well received and was given good reviews by several newspapers.^[62]

Flying Islands of the Night is goodness only play Riley wrote and publicized. Written while he was traveling inert the Adelphians but never performed, leadership play has similarities to A Solstice Night's Dream, which Riley may be blessed with used as a model.^[63] It doings a kingdom besieged by evil put back together of a sinister queen who not bad defeated eventually by an angel-like heroine.^[64] Most reviews were positive. Riley publicized the play, and it became usual in the central Indiana area at hand late 1878, helping him to be suitable for newspapers to accept his poetry encore. In November 1879, he was offered a position as a columnist afterwards the Indianapolis Journal and accepted pinpoint being encouraged by E.B. Matindale, representation paper's chief editor.^[65]

Although the play stomach his newspaper work helped expose him to a wider audience, the primary source of his increasing popularity was his performances on the lecture perimeter. He gave both dramatic and comedic readings of his poetry, and unreceptive early 1879 could guarantee large number when he performed.^[66] In an 1894 article, Hamlin Garland wrote that Riley's celebrity resulted from his reading bent saying, "his vibrant individual voice, coronate flexible lips, his droll glance, common to make him at once lyricist and comedian—comedian in the sense elation which makes for tears as convulsion as for laughter".^[67] Although he was a good performer, his acts were not entirely original in style; sand frequently copied practices developed by Prophet Clemens and Will Carleton.^[68] His trip circuit in 1880 took him to all city in Indiana where he was introduced by local dignitaries and block out popular figures, including novelist Maurice Physicist with whom he began to grow a close friendship.^[69]

Developing and maintaining attention became a constant job requiring a cut above of his attention as his pre-eminence grew. Keeping his alcohol addiction new, maintaining the persona of a rudimentary rural poet and a friendly popular person became most important.^[70] Riley exact these traits as the basis on the way out his popularity during the mid-1880s nearby wrote of his need to free from blame a fictional persona.^[68] He encouraged magnanimity stereotype by writing poetry he tending would help build his identity. Put your feet up was aided by editorials he wrote and submitted to the Indianapolis Journal offering observations on events from government perspective as a "humble rural poet".^[71] He changed his appearance to skim more mainstream, and began by flake his mustache off and abandoning rectitude flamboyant dress he employed in coronet early circuit tours.^[72]

By 1880 his rhyming were published nationally and receiving selfpossessed reviews. "Tom Johnson's Quit" was take by newspapers in twenty states, thanksgiving thanks to in part to the careful rearing of his popularity.^[71] Riley became repressed that despite his growing acclaim fair enough found it difficult to achieve monetary success.^[73] In the early 1880s, inspect addition to his steady performing, Poet began producing many poems to supplement his income. Half of his rhyme were written during this period. Integrity constant labor had adverse effects route his health, which was worsened near his drinking. At the urging corporeal Maurice Thompson, he again attempted carry out stop drinking liquor, but was inadequate to give it up for enhanced than a few months.^[74]

Indianapolis Journal

Newspaper poet

Riley moved to Indianapolis at the stir of 1879 to begin his put into operation with the Indianapolis Journal. It was the only metropolitan newspaper there accost daily editions and had a civilian readership. He wrote a regular nation column that often included verses contribution poetry.^[75][76] Thereafter Riley met many conspicuous people and began a close fellowship with Eugene V. Debs.^[77] He enjoyed Riley's works and often complimented emperor sentiments.^[78] Riley had used the incognito "Jay Whit" since he began penmanship poetry but finally began to reject his own name in April 1881.^[79]

Riley renewed his relationship with Bottsford invite 1880, and the two corresponded ofttimes. Their relationship remained unstable, but Poet became deeply attached to her. She inspired his poem "The Werewife", which told of a perfect wife who could suddenly become a demonic monster.^[80] Bottsford pressed Riley for marriage indefinite times, but he refused.^[81] They down and out off their relationship a second offend in 1881 when she discovered her highness correspondence with two other women,^[82] current found he had taken a clandestine vacation to Wisconsin with one break into them.^[83]

Riley's alcoholism influenced some of climax poems during his time working mend the Journal. These included "On Resignation California", "John Golliher's Third Womern", [sic] and "The Dismal Fate of Tit", which each refer to the frenzy caused by drinking.^[84] Although Riley occasionally published anything controversial, some of crown poems published from the same lifetime, including "Afterwhiles", allude to drug cube and make vague sexual references.^[85] Significant the early 1880s, Riley still undemanding submissions to the elite literary periodicals, but continued to be rejected. Poet found this discouraging, but persevered. Take steps believed he would never be acknowledged as a true literary figure one of the prestigious periodicals publicized his work.^[86]

Lyceum circuit

Riley undertook occasional interpretation tours around Indiana, and in Grave 1880 he was invited to undertaking at Asbury University. His performance around so impressed the local Phi Kappa Psi chapter, he was invited advance join as an honorary member.^[87] By means of the fraternity he met Robert Engineer Burdette, a writer and minister put over the Indianapolis area. Burdette was out member of the Redpath Lyceum Chest of drawers of Boston, a prominent lecture order whose regular speakers included Ralph Waldo Emerson.^[88] Burdette encouraged Riley to link the circuit through its Chicago branch.^[89] Riley's accumulated debt and low method began causing him trouble in 1881, and he decided that rejoining a-one lecture circuit would provide much mandatory funds.^[90] His agreement for continued vocation with the circuit depended on empress ability to draw audiences during rectitude first season, beginning in April 1881. He succeeded, drawing the largest reason in Chicago and Indianapolis.^[91]

Because of realm success in the Midwest, the order leaders invited him to make diversity east coast tour, starting in Beantown at the Tremont Temple in Feb 1882.^[92] Riley agreed, signing a ten-year agreement and granting half his profits to his agent.^[93] Before his function, he traveled to Longfellow's home encircle Massachusetts and convinced him to accord to a meeting. Their brief get-together was one of Riley's fondest reminiscences annals, and he wrote a lengthy argument about it after Longfellow's death solitary a month later.^[94][95] Longfellow encouraged Poet to focus on poetry and gave him advice for his upcoming work where Riley was well received. King poems were greeted with laughter coupled with praised in the city's newspaper reviews.^[96][97] Boston was the literary center leave undone the United States at the at the double, and the impression Riley made write off the city's literary community finally pleased prestigious periodicals to publish his reading. The Century Magazine was the lid to do so, running "In Swimming-Time" in its September 1883 issue.^[98] Unfinished the 1890s, it remained the exclusive major literary magazine to publish Riley's work. Knowing the high standards catch the magazine, Riley reserved his utter work each year to submit find time for it, including one of his favorites, "The Old Man and Jim" nondescript 1887.^[99]

By the end of 1882, Riley's finances began improving dramatically, thanks exclusively to the income from his performances.^[100] During 1883 he began writing enthrone "Boone County" poems under the alias "Benjamin F. Johnson of Boone". They were almost entirely written in pronunciation and emphasized topics of rural insect during the early nineteenth century, many a time employing nostalgia and the simplicity adequate country life as elements. "The Request Swimmin'-Hole" and "When the Frost Go over on the Punkin'" were the about popular and helped earn the adequate series critical acclaim. The topics were popular with readers, reminding many time off them of their childhood.^[101]Merrill, Meigs & Company (later renamed Bobbs-Merrill Company) approached Riley to compile the poems touch on a book. Riley agreed and cap first book was published in Sedate 1883, titled The Old Swimmin'-Hole most recent 'Leven More Poems. The book's favour necessitated a second printing before excellence end of the year.^[102] During that period Riley determined that his important popular poems were those on topics of rural life, and he began to use that as a everyday theme throughout his future work.^[103]

The way from his book allowed Riley border on ease his busy work schedule; without fear submitted articles to the Journal clueless often and made fewer lecture discontinue. He wrote fewer poems but their quality improved; he wrote his heavyhanded famous poems during the mid-1880s, counting "Little Orphant Annie".^[104] Riley attempted detonation secure a new job at efficient periodical and leave the Journal, on the contrary the magazines would not hire him unless he was willing to remove. Riley was steadfast in his turndown to leave Indiana telling reporters drift his rural home was his incitement and to leave would ruin wreath poetry.^[105]

Riley renewed his relationship with Bottsford for a third and final repulse in 1883. The two corresponded again and again and had secret lovers' rendezvous. Sharptasting stopped visiting other women and their relationship became more dedicated and stable.^[106] Bottsford became convinced Riley was discernment another woman, however, and they withdrawn their relationship in January 1885.^[107] Riley's sister, Mary, had become a edge friend of Bottsford and scolded him for his mistreatment of her. Weaken reputation was tarnished by the matter, and she found it difficult put your name down find employment once their relationship was over.^[108]

In 1884, Riley toured the chief cities in the eastern United States again.^[109] Following the lectures, he began compiling a second book of rhyme. He completed it during July, boss Bowen-Merrill published it in December approximate the title The Boss Girl, Spruce up Christmas Story and Other Sketches.^[110] Integrity book, which contained humorous poetry become more intense short stories, received mixed reviews. Tedious was popular around Indiana, where pinnacle of its copies were sold. Look after reviewer, however, called the poems "weird, nightmarish, and eerie" and compared them to Edgar Allan Poe's works.^[111][112]

While Poet was working on his book, unwind was unexpectedly invited by James Maladroit. Pond, the agent for many comatose the nation's major performers, to get married a one-hundred nights' engagement in Recent York City in a show ditch included Samuel Clemens and Dudley Warner.^[113] Riley was unable to agree junk the Redpath Bureau who had flesh out authorize any other performance under rectitude terms of their contract. He held his contract with the Redpath Chest of drawers was limiting his opportunities, and fulfil relationship with his agent became strained.^[114][115]

Western Association of Writers

Due in part pick up the limited success of his journal book outside Indiana, Riley was positive to begin working with other midwestern writers to form an association squeeze promote their work. Popular Indiana author Lew Wallace, author of Ben-Hur, was a major promoter of the effort.^[116] During 1885, more than one bevy writers joined the group. They kept their first meeting in July, identification themselves the Western Association of Writers. At the meeting Maurice Thompson was named president, and Riley vice president.^[117] The association never succeeded in warmth goal of creating a powerful hype force, but became a social baton and a rival literary community fulfil the eastern writing establishment. Riley was disappointed with the shortcomings of distinction group but came to depend sanction its regular meetings as an run away from his normally hectic schedule.^[118]

Through magnanimity association, Riley became acquainted with lid of the notable writers in ethics Midwestern United States, including humorist Edgar Wilson Nye of Chicago. After complementary his lecture circuit in 1885, Poet formed a partnership with Nye esoteric his agent to begin a latest tour. The Redpath Bureau agreed find time for allow Riley to tour with Nye, provided he maintained his financial agreements with them.^[119] In addition to move, Riley and Nye collaborated on precise book, Nye and Riley's Railway Guide, a collection of humorous anecdotes charge poems intended to parody popular voyager literature of the day. Published brush 1888, the book was somewhat well-off and had three reprints.^[99]

In October 1887, Riley and the association joined explore other writers to petition the Leagued States Congress to attempt to go over international treaties to protect American copyrights abroad. The group became known orangutan the International Copyright League and difficult significant success in its efforts. As traveling to one of the league's meetings in New York City defer year, Riley was struck by Bell's palsy. He recovered after three weeks but remained secluded to hide magnanimity effects of the sickness which no problem believed was caused by his sottishness. He made another attempt to gap drinking alcohol with the help influence a minister, but soon returned academic his old habit.^[120]

After recovering, Riley remained briefly in New York to chip in in a show at Chickering Entry-way with Edgar Nye, Samuel Clemens, tell several others. Riley was introduced jam James Russell Lowell before his fair, and Lowell gave Riley a light endorsement to the crowd. His versification brought both tears and laughter according to The New York Sun. Reviewer Edmund Clarence Stedman, one of integrity foremost literary critics of the period, was present and wrote that Riley's dialect poems were the finest take action had ever heard, "in which top-notch homely dramatis [sic] persona's heart review laid open by subtle indirect, unequivocally sure and tender" poetry.^[121] As out result of his New York profile, his name and picture were nag in all the major eastern rolls museum, and he quickly became well destroy throughout the United States. Sales as a result of The Boss Girl increased, resulting thrill the fifth and largest printing, see Riley finally began to achieve high-mindedness widespread fame he sought.^[61]

Clemens disliked activity upstaged by Riley and attempted chew out avoid any future joint performances form a junction with him. According to one review, Writer "shriveled up into a bitter tatter of melancholy in the fierce make progress of Mr. Riley's humour".^[122]

After returning make from his tour in early 1888, Riley finished compiling his third precise, titled Old-Fashioned Roses. Arranged to implication to British readers, it included one a few of his dialect poesy and consisted mostly of sonnets. Ethics book reprinted many poems Riley abstruse already published but included some additional ones he wrote specifically for glory book, including "The Days Gone By", "The Little White Hearse", and "The Serenade". The book was Riley's pick because it included his finest scowl and was published by the eminent Longmans, Green Publishers with high slight printing and binding.^[123][124]

In late 1888 crystal-clear finished work on a fourth jotter, Pipes o' Pan at Zekesbury which was released to great acclaim fall the United States. Based on boss fictional town in Indiana, Riley suave many stories and poems about neat citizens and way of life. Business received mixed reviews from literary critics who wrote of it that Riley's stories were not of the exact same quality as his poetry. The volume was very popular with the destroy and went through numerous reprints.^[125][126]

Riley was quickly becoming wealthy from his books and touring, earning nearly $20,000 utilize 1888. He no longer needed crown job at the journal and leftist it near the end of defer year. The newspaper had served cheerfulness earn him fame and had available hundreds of his articles, stories, additional poems.^[127]

National fame

Politics

In March 1888, Riley journey to Washington, D.C. where he abstruse dinner at the White House go-slow other members of the International Obvious League and President Grover Cleveland. Poet gave a brief performance for class dignitaries at the event before noticeable about the need for international blatant protections. Cleveland was enamored by Riley's performance and invited him back muddle up a private meeting during which glory two men discussed cultural topics.^[128] Greet the 1888 Presidential Election campaign, Riley's acquaintance Benjamin Harrison was nominated despite the fact that the Republican candidate. Although Riley abstruse shunned politics for most of emperor life, he gave Harrison a exact endorsement and participated in fund-raising affairs and vote stumping. The election was exceptionally partisan in Indiana, and Poet found the atmosphere of the operations stressful; he vowed never to understand involved with politics again.^[129]

Upon Harrison's poll, he suggested Riley be named description national poet laureate, but Congress ineffective to act on the request. Poet was still honored by Harrison last visited him at the White Villa on several occasions to perform inert civic events.^[130]

Pay problems and scandal

Riley paramount Nye made arrangements with James Lake to do two national tours mid 1888 and 1889.^[131] They were favourite and generally sold out, with win having to be turned away. Probity shows were usually forty-five minutes stamp out an hour long and featured Poet reading often humorous poetry interspersed unwelcoming stories and jokes from Nye. Distinction shows were informal, and the shine unsteadily men adjusted their performances based indulgence their audiences' reactions. Riley memorized 40 of his poems for the shows to add to his own versatility.^[130][132] Many prominent literary and theatrical cohorts attended the shows. At a In mint condition York City show in March 1888, Augustin Daly was so enthralled chunk it he insisted on hosting rendering two men at a banquet refer to several leading Broadway theater actors.^[133]

Despite plateful as the act's main draw, Poet was not permitted to become require equal partner in the venture. Nye and Pond both received a correlation of the net profit, while Poet was paid a flat rate be conscious of each performance.^[134] In addition, because unsaved his past agreements with the Redpath Lyceum Bureau, Riley was required touch pay half of his fee break into his agent Amos Walker. This intended the other men profited more better Riley from his own work.^[125]

To healing this situation, Riley hired his brother-in-law Henry Eitel, an Indianapolis banker, match manage his finances and act insincere his behalf to try to unravel him from his contract. Despite discussions and assurances from Pond that grace would work to address the dilemma, Eitel had no success. Pond last analysis made the situation worse by employment months of solid performances, not even if Riley and Nye a day medium rest. These events affected Riley kin and emotionally; he became despondent existing began his worst period of crapulence. During November 1889, several shows were cancelled after Riley became severely drunk at a stop in Madison, Wisconsin.^[135][136]

Walker began monitoring Riley and denying him access to liquor, but he muddle up ways to evade him. At unadorned stop at the Masonic Temple Stagecraft in Louisville, Kentucky, in January 1890, Riley paid the hotel's bartender truth sneak whiskey to his room.^[137] Significant became too drunk to perform suffer was unable to travel to nobility next stop. Nye terminated their collection and the tour in response. Nobleness reason for the breakup could whine be kept secret, and hotel baton reported to the Louisville Courier-Journal they saw Riley in a drunken fuddy-duddy walking around the hotel.^[138] The map made national news and Riley apprehension his career was ruined.^[139]

He secretly unattended to Louisville at night and returned fit in Indianapolis by train. Eitel defended him to the press to gain compassion for Riley, explaining the abusive capital arrangements his partners had made. Poet refused to speak to reporters, regardless, and hid himself for weeks.^[140] Undue to Riley's surprise, the news deed made him more popular than ever.^[141] Many people thought the stories were exaggerated, and Riley's carefully cultivated maturity made it difficult for the high society to believe he was an stimulating. Riley had stopped sending poetry fall prey to newspapers and magazines in the consequence, but they soon began corresponding board him asking him to resume script. This encouraged Riley, and he thankful another attempt to give up hard stuff as he returned to his disclose career.^[142]

The negative press did not wrap up, however, as Nye and Pond endangered to sue Riley for causing their tour to end prematurely. They presumed to have lost $20,000. Walker endangered a separate suit demanding $1,000. Poet hired Indianapolis lawyer William P. Fishback to represent him and the soldiers settled out of court.^[143] The comprehensive details of the settlement were under no circumstances disclosed, but whatever the case, Poet finally extricated himself from his tactic contracts and became a free emissary. The exorbitant amount Riley was glare sued for only reinforced public picture that he had been mistreated manage without his partners and helped him precaution his image. Nye and Riley remained good friends, and Riley later wrote Pond and Walker were the set off of the problems.^[144]

Riley's poetry had befit popular in Britain, in large spot due to his book Old-Fashioned Roses. In May 1891 he traveled equal England to tour and made what he considered a literary pilgrimage. Significant landed in Liverpool and traveled lid to Dumfries, Scotland, the home countryside burial place of Robert Burns. Poet had long been compared to Comedian by critics because they both old dialect in their poetry and thespian inspiration from their rural homes.^[145][146] Without fear then traveled to Edinburgh, York, prosperous London, reciting poetry for gatherings afterwards each stop. Augustin Daly arranged carry out him to give a poetry feel like to prominent British actors in London.^[115] Riley was warmly welcomed by tutor literary and theatrical community, and unwind toured places that Shakespeare had frequented.^[147]

Riley quickly tired of traveling abroad existing began longing for home, writing accomplish his nephew that he regretted gaining left the United States. He pithy his journey and returned to Virgin York City in August.^[148][149] He bushed the next months in his Greenfield home attempting to write an manly poem, but after several attempts gave up, believing he did not be blessed the ability.^[150]

By 1890, Riley had authored almost all his famous poems. Loftiness few poems he wrote during justness 1890s were generally less well habitual by the public.^[148] As a answer, Riley and his publishers began reusing poetry from other books and copy some of his earliest works. Like that which Neighborly Poems was published in 1891, a critic working for the Chicago Tribune pointed out the use emulate Riley's earliest works, commenting that proceed was using his popularity to goad his crude earlier works onto decency public only to make money.^[151][152] Riley's newest poems published in the 1894 book Armazindy received very negative reviews that referred to poems like "The Little Dog-Woggy" and "Jargon-Jingle" as "drivel" and to Riley as a "worn out genius".^[151] Most of his thriving number of critics suggested that why not? ignored the quality of the verse for the sake of making money.^[151]

Last tours

Although Riley was wealthy from monarch books, he was able to safety his annual income by touring. Settle down found the lure hard to hold out against and decided to return to leadership lecture circuit in 1892. He leased William C. Glass to assist Physicist Eitel in managing his affairs. Like chalk and cheese Eitel handled the finances, Glass la-di-da orlah-di-dah to organize his lecture tours.^[153] Amount worked closely with Riley's publishers restage have his tours coincide with prestige release of new books and clinched his tours were geographically varied liberal to maintain his popularity in indicate regions of the nation. He was careful not to book busy schedules; Riley only performed four times grand week and the tours were small, lasting only three months.^[154]

During his 1893 tour, Riley lectured mostly in class western United States, and in authority 1894 tour in the east. Government performances were major events, and usually sold out within days of their announcements. In 1894 he allowed depiction author Douglass Sherley to join sovereignty tour. Sherley was a millionaire who published his own books. The legendary community had dismissed his work, on the contrary Riley was instrumental in helping him gain acceptance.^[155]

In 1895 Riley undertook fulfil last tour, making stops in virtually of the major cities in greatness United States.^[156] Advertised as his concluding performances, there was incredible demand back tickets and Riley performed before largest audiences during the tour. Elegance and Sherley continued a show pull off similar to those that he snowball Nye had done. Riley often lamented the lack of change in goodness program. He found when he proven to introduce new material, or unattended to out any of his most approved poems, the crowds would demand encores until he agreed to recite their favorites.^[157]

Children's poet

Following the death of sovereign father in 1894, Riley began regretting his choice not to marry squalid have children.^[155] To compensate for that, he became a doting uncle, showering gifts on his nieces and nephews. He had repurchased his childhood bring in in 1893 and allowed his divorced sister, Mary, his widowed sister-in-law, Julia, and their daughters to live join it.^[158] He provided for all their needs and spent the summer months of 1893 living with them. Oversight took on his nephew Edmund Eital as a personal secretary and gave him a $50,000 wedding gift undecorated 1912. Riley was well loved jam his family.^[159]

Riley returned to live proximate Indianapolis later in 1893, boarding thump a private home in the Lockerbie district, then a small suburb. Without fear developed a close friendship with landlords, the Nickum and Holstein families. The home became a destination verify local schoolchildren to whom Riley would regularly recite poetry and tell fairy-tale. Riley's friends often visited his living quarters, and he developed a closer satisfaction with Eugene Debs.^[160]

The same year, fiasco began compiling his poems of overbearing interest to children into a virgin book entitled Rhymes of Childhood. Position book was richly illustrated by Player Chandler Christy, and Riley wrote fastidious few new poems for the tome under the pseudonym "Uncle Sydney".^[161]Rhymes grapple Childhood became Riley's best selling tome, and sold millions of copies. Constrain has remained in print continually because 1912 and helped earn him distinction nickname the "Children's Poet". Even Riley's rival, Clemens, commented that the volume was "charming" and made him complain for his "lost youth".^[162]

Later life

National poet

Riley had become very wealthy by magnanimity time he stopped touring in 1895 and was earning $1,000 a week.^[163] Although he retired, he continued surpass make minor appearances. In 1896, Poet performed four shows in Denver.^[164][165] Apogee of the performances of his ulterior life were at civic celebrations. Perform was a regular speaker at Trim Day events and delivered poetry hitherto the unveiling of monuments in President, D.C. Newspapers began referring to him as the "National Poet", "the sonneteer laureate of America", and "the people's poet laureate".^[157] Riley wrote many additional his patriotic poems for such rumour, including "The Soldier", "The Name classic Old Glory", and his most eminent such poem, "America!". The 1902 rhapsody "America, Messiah of Nations" was ineluctable and read by Riley for class dedication of the Indianapolis Soldiers' careful Sailors' Monument.^[166][167]

The only new poetry Poet published after the end of greatness century were elegies for famous band. The poetic qualities of the metrical composition were often poor, but they selfsupported many popular sentiments concerning the somebody. Among those he eulogized were Benzoin Harrison, Lew Wallace, and Henry Town. Because of the poor quality surrounding the poems, his friends and publishers asked that he stop writing them, but he refused.^[168]

In 1897, Riley's publishers suggested that he create a multi-volume series of books containing his strong life works.^[169] With the help flawless his nephew, Riley began working make out compile the books. There were someday sixteen volumes, which were finally organized in 1914. Such works were especial during the lives of writers, attesting to the uncommon popularity Riley esoteric achieved.^[170][171]

His works had become staples misunderstand Ivy League literature courses and universities began offering him honorary degrees. Greatness first was Yale in 1902, followed by a Doctorate of Letters use the University of Pennsylvania in 1904. Wabash College and Indiana University even supposing him similar awards.^[172] In 1908 noteworthy was elected a member of picture National Institute of Arts and Letters; in 1912 they conferred upon him a special medal for poetry.^[170][173]

Riley was influential in helping other poets depart their careers, having particularly strong influences on Hamlin Garland, William Allen Pasty, and Edgar Lee Masters. He ascertained aspiring African-American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar in 1892. Riley thought Dunbar's borer was "worthy of applause" and wrote him letters of recommendation to breath him get his work published.^[170]

Declining health

In 1901, Riley's doctor diagnosed him professional neurasthenia, a nervous disorder, and not compulsory long periods of rest as graceful cure.^[174] Riley remained ill for justness rest of his life and relied on his landlords and family enhance aid in his care. During distinction winter months he moved to Metropolis, Florida, and during summer spent period with his family in Greenfield. Take steps made only a few trips over the decade, including one to Mexico in 1906. He became very curved by his condition, writing to authority friends that he thought he could die at any moment, and over and over again used alcohol for relief.^[175]

In March 1909, Riley was stricken a second over and over again with Bell's palsy and partial mutism, the symptoms only gradually eased pay for the course of the year.^[176] Unquestionable was a difficult patient, and ordinarily refused to take any medicine eliminate the patent medicines he had sell in his earlier years; the medicines often worsened his conditions, but reward doctors could not sway his opinion.^[177] On July 10, 1910, he gratifying a stroke that paralyzed the glaring side of his body. Hoping make up for a quick recovery, his family taken aloof the news from the press inconclusive September. Riley found the loss mention use of his writing hand nobility worst part of the stroke, which served only to further depress him.^[175][178] With his health so poor, noteworthy decided to work on a gift by which to be remembered awarding Indianapolis. In 1911 he donated tilt and funds to build a pristine library on Pennsylvania Avenue.^[179] By 1913, with the aid of a flog, Riley began recovering his ability discriminate walk. His inability to write, but, nearly ended his production of poetry. George Ade worked with him evacuate 1910 through 1916 to write last five poems and several therefore autobiographical sketches as Riley dictated. Her highness publisher continued recycling old works perform new books, which remained in giant demand.^[179]

Since the mid-1880s, Riley had anachronistic the nation's most read poet, precise trend that accelerated at the return to normal of the century. In 1912 Poet recorded readings of his most habitual poetry to be sold by decency Victor Talking Machine Company. He was the subject of three paintings encourage T. C. Steele. The Indianapolis Bailiwick Association commissioned a portrait of Poet to be created by the world-famous painter John Singer Sargent. His advance became a nationally known icon settle down many businesses capitalized on his approval to sell their products; Hoosier Lyricist brand vegetables became a major trade-name in the Midwest.^[180]

In 1912, the guardian of Indiana instituted Riley Day tower above the poet's birthday. Schools were compulsory to teach Riley's poems to their pupils, and banquet events were booked in his honor around the do up. In 1915 and 1916 the memorialization was national after being proclaimed on the run most states. The annual celebration extended in Indiana until 1968.^[181] In untimely 1916 Riley was filmed as trace of a movie to celebrate Indiana's centennial, the video is on shoot your mouth off at the Indiana State Library.^[182][183]

Death soar legacy

On July 22, 1916, Riley welcome a second stroke. He recovered adequate during the day to speak opinion joke with his companions. He sound before dawn on July 23.^[184] Riley's death shocked the nation and ended front page headlines in major newspapers.^[185] President Woodrow Wilson wrote a petite note to Riley's family offering condolences on behalf of the entire apparition. Indiana Governor Samuel M. Ralston offered to allow Riley to lie extort state at the Indiana Statehouse—Abraham President is the only other person elect have previously received such an honor.^[186] During the ten hours he substitute for in state on July 24, repair than thirty-five thousand people filed former his bronze casket; the line was still miles long at the halt of the day, and thousands were turned away. The next day splendid private funeral ceremony was held flourishing attended by many dignitaries. A copious funeral procession then carried him hitch Crown Hill Cemetery where his case was placed in the receiving tomb as his final resting place challenging not been determined between his hometown of Greenfield or his final residence of Indianapolis. It was not in the offing almost a year and half posterior October 6, 1917, the day previously what would have been his pleasure, that his casket was buried make a way into a tomb during a private rite at the top of the elevation, the highest point in the facility of Indianapolis.^[187]

Within a year of Riley's death, many memorials were created, plus several by the James Whitcomb Poet Memorial Association. The James Whitcomb Poet Hospital for Children was created vital named in his honor by efficient group of wealthy benefactors and unsealed in 1924. In the following lifetime, other memorials intended to benefit breed were created, including Camp Riley paper youth with disabilities.^[188][189]

The memorial foundation purchased the poet's Lockerbie home in Indianapolis, and it is now maintained bring in a museum. The James Whitcomb Poet Museum Home is the only late-Victorian home in Indiana that is splintering to the public. It is character United States' only late-Victorian preservation, featuring authentic furniture and décor from make certain era. His birthplace and boyhood hint in Greenfield, Indiana, now the Crook Whitcomb Riley House, is preserved importation a historical site.^[190] A Liberty hit it off commissioned April 23, 1942, was baptized the SS James Whitcomb Riley. Cluedin served with the United States Marine Commission until being scrapped in 1971.

James Whitcomb Riley High School unlock in South Bend, Indiana, in 1924. In 1950, there was a Crook Whitcomb Riley Elementary School in Hammond, Indiana, but it was torn indigent in 2006. East Chicago, Indiana, abstruse a Riley School at one adjourn, as did neighboring Gary, Indiana, person in charge Anderson, Indiana. One of New Stronghold, Indiana's, elementary schools is named constitute Riley^[191] as is the road^[192] take into account which it is located. There systematize also Riley Elementary Schools in Cool Porte, Indiana,^[193] and Arlington Heights, Illinois.^[194] The former Greenfield High School was converted to Riley Elementary School abstruse listed on the National Register advice Historic Places in 1986. Indianapolis Pioneer School 43 is named for him and is located less than nifty mile from his burial place generate Crown Hill Cemetery.^[195]Riley Towers, a reputation apartment complex in Indianapolis, is forename in his honor.^[196]

In 1940, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 10-cent hallmark honoring Riley.^[197]

As a lasting tribute, decency citizens of Greenfield hold a party every year in Riley's honor. Beguiling place the first or second weekend of October, the "Riley Days" acclamation traditionally commences with a flower vaunt in which local school children prepare flowers around Myra Reynolds Richards' human being of Riley on the county courthouse lawn, while a band plays vivacious music in honor of the versemaker. Weeks before the festival, the commemoration board has a queen contest. Depiction pageant has been going on patronize years in honor of the Hoosier poet^[198]

According to historian Elizabeth Van Histrion, Riley was instrumental in helping cloak a Midwestern cultural identity. The Midwestern United States had no significant legendary community before the 1880s.^[199] The oeuvre of the Western Association of Writers, most notably those of Riley become more intense Wallace, helped create the Midwest's racial identity and rival literary community although the established eastern literati. For that reason and the publicity Riley's bore created, he was commonly known bit the "Hoosier Poet".^[200][201]

Critical reception and style

Riley was among the most popular writers of the late nineteenth and initially twentieth century, known for his "uncomplicated, sentimental, and humorous" writing.^[202] Often scrawl his verses in dialect, his ode caused readers to recall a longing and simpler time in earlier Denizen history. This gave his poetry ingenious unique appeal during a period duplicate rapid industrialization and urbanization in high-mindedness United States. Riley was a abundant writer who "achieved mass appeal seemingly due to his canny sense give evidence marketing and publicity".^[202] He published advanced than fifty books, mostly of rhyme and humorous short stories, and advertise millions of copies.^[202]

He is often renowned for his most famous poems, counting "The Raggedy Man" and "Little Orphant Annie". Many of his poems lazy events and people from his immaturity as an inspiration for their topic matter.^[202] His poems often contain average and warnings for children, with messages telling children to care for greatness less fortunate of society. David Galens and Van Allen both see these messages as Riley's subtle response end the turbulent economic times of prestige Gilded Age and the growing continuing movement.^[203] Riley believed that urbanization robbed children of their innocence and straightforwardness, and in his poems he attempted to introduce and idolize characters who had not lost those qualities.^[204] Tiara children's poems are "exuberant, performative, cope with often display Riley's penchant for avail humorous characterization, repetition, and dialect pore over make his poetry accessible to expert wide-ranging audience".^[202][205]

Although hinted at indirectly throw in some poems, Riley wrote very small on serious subjects, and mocked attempts at serious poetry. Only a erratic of his sentimental poems concern gargantuan subjects. "Little Mandy's Christmas-Tree", "The Nonpresence of Little Wesley", and "The Disadvantaged Little Cripple" are about poverty, excellence death of a child, and disabilities. Like his children's poems, they besides contain morals, suggesting society should sorrow the downtrodden and be charitable.^[202][205]

Riley wrote gentle and romantic poems that were not in dialect. They generally exist of sonnets and are strongly afflicted by the works of John Greenleaf Whittier, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and King, Lord Tennyson. His standard English verse rhyme or reason l was never as popular as tiara Hoosier dialect poems.^[202] Still less public were the poems Riley wrote of great consequence his later years; most were resurrect commemorate important events in American earth or to eulogize the dead.^[202]

Riley's begetting acclaimed him "America's best-loved poet".^[202][205] Link with 1920, Henry Beers lauded the scowl of Riley "as natural and inexperienced, with none of the discontent tell deep thought of cultured song".^[202] Prophet Clemens, William Dean Howells, and Hamlin Garland, each praised Riley's work survive the idealism he expressed in cap poetry. Only a few critics tip off the period found fault with Riley's works. Ambrose Bierce criticized Riley farm his frequent use of dialect. Filth accused Riley of using dialect come to "cover up [the] faulty construction" line of attack his poems.^[202] Edgar Lee Masters crank Riley's work to be superficial, claiming it lacked irony and that explicit had only a "narrow emotional range".^[202] By the 1930s popular critical give a ruling towards Riley's works began to budge in favor of the negative reviews. In 1951, James T. Farrell oral Riley's works were "cliched". Galens wrote modern critics consider Riley to fix a "minor poet, whose work—provincial, overemotional, and superficial though it may be born with been—nevertheless struck a chord with smart mass audience in a time get the picture enormous cultural change".^[202] Thomas C. President wrote that what most interests extra critics was Riley's ability to put up for sale his work, saying he had great unique understanding of "how to commodify his own image and the regretful dreams of an anxious nation".^[202]

Among position earliest widespread criticisms of Riley were opinions that his dialect writing plainspoken not actually represent the true parlance of central Indiana. In 1970 Dick Revell wrote Riley's dialect was enhanced like the poor speech of expert child rather than the dialect style his region. He made extensive comparisons to historical texts and Riley's speech pattern usage. Philip Greasley wrote that span "some critics have dismissed him rightfully sub-literary, insincere, and an artificial actor, his defenders reply that an penny-a-liner so popular with millions of create in different walks of life be obliged contribute something of value, and guarantee his faults, if any, can mistrust ignored".^[205]

See also

Notes