Riley's Readings Like His Poems

The fiftieth season of the Students' Lecture association was auspiciously opened, Saturday evening, by James Whitcomb Riley in a recital of his own splendid poetry. The audience which greeted Mr. Riley was large and enthusiastic, and it was evident in this opening entertainment that the Lecture association is to have again this year the large and representative patronage that its successful past merits.

It was a rare treat to the students and residents in Ann Arbor, this opportunity of hearing Mr. Kiley, for the Hoosier poet is now seldom seen on the public platform and very soon his fine rendering of the poems which have made him famous will be known only in memory. It was a foregone conclusion that his recital would be one of much pleasure and interest. Those who had heard him before were sure of this and those who knew him only by reputation were no less expectant. But it is very seldom that the fulfillment of a hope so completely comes up to and even exceeds the anticipation as did the work of James Whitcomb Riley Saturday night.

Supreme and secure in his position as a poet, and in the very front rank of the men of letters in America today, Mr. Riley adds to his fame and popularity by the reading of his verses. You think you understood and appreciated "That Old Sweet-heart of Mine," "Old Glory," and some of his characteristic dialect poems when you have once read them, but you come to learn that you don't half know them until you have heard Mr. Riley himself read them. And it is this rare faculty that distinguishes the Hoosier poet from many excellent authors. For not in every case does an author increase his prestige by his appearances in public.

The program presented by Mr. Riley was varied and representative of the scope of his works. It included selections from his Hoosier poems, the "Home Folks," "Life Studies," and "Joyous Children," besides some special selections presented by request. The poet was warmly received by the audience on his introduction by C. R. Coulter, president of the Lecture association. The noted author's opening remarks were a happy reference to his former visit to Ann Arbor and an expression of his pleasure at again being present in the University city. He said that the series of studies which he would offer in the entertainment were the intent to copy something of the lives of the humble, homely but wholesome and true-hearted people of America.

In his first number he portrayed with characteristic dialect an old farmer, of Hoosier type, who, with sunny disposition and true philosophy, put to shame the common lament that 'There's altogether too much rain, or else not rain enough." This, Mr. Riley followed by his account of the matchmaking partnership struck up by the wary countryman who bespeaks his peculiarity when he says:

"I'm one of these curious kinds of chaps You think you know when you don't - perhaps."

For an encore to this part of the entertainment Mr. Riley gave an imitation of the yarn recounted by an unpracticed story-teller. It was one of the author's most humorous efforts and veritably brought down the house.

The next study was the reminiscent plant of one old man to his brother. Recalling the happy boyhood visits to "Good Aunt Mary's." Following this is recited the story of the old veteran's trip to Washington. In response to the demands of his audience Mr. Riley gave "An Old Sweet-heart of Mine," one of the most popular poems from his pen. That Mr. Riley's ability to  portray life is not confined to the use of verse was shown by his imitation of a would-be pedagogue who addresses an audience of school children in florid and stilted style. For an encore he read the beautifully serious poem "Old Glory." His last number was a study of child-life, and he sketched to perfection a small boy of five or six in his seance before the older sister's young man. It was a life-like imitation of one of those scenes where the proverbial younger brother tells all he knows before the undefended caller.

Despite its length and the generosity with which the author responded to encores, the entertainment was all too short. In the two short hours that the entertainer had been with them, the people in University hall had seen and heard not only Mr. Riley himself, but the characters of the poems he has written. So true was his art that you saw, not the vender, but the very person he sketched. When James Whitcomb) Riley introduced his characters to the people of Ann Arbor Saturday evening he brought them into a permanent place in the memories of his listener. They have come to stay.

An excellent program of organ numbers was rendered in connection with the recital by Prof. L. L. Renwick. His selections included the following: "A Royal Procession," Spinney; "Cantilena," Stebbins; "Allegretta Grazioso," Neuville; and "Festal March," Calkln.