How The Literati Laugh

Lowell, Twain, Cable and Others Entertained By the Poet Riley

One of the most amusing things, besides hearing James Whitcomb Riley recite, the other evening at Chickering hall, was to watch how the big literary lights were affected by the inimitable "Hoosier" poet. James Russell Lowell, the Right Rev. H. C. Potter, Mark Twain. Dr. Edward Eggleston, R. H. Stoddard, H. C. Bunner and George W. Cable all had read or recited their pieces on the programme when Mr. Riley was announced. He came forward with a luminous smile on his mobile, jovial face, buttoned up his Prince Albert coat, looked at the highly intellectual audience, composed mostly of ladies, and said he would recite a poem called, ''When the Frost is on the Punkin," just as the old farmer was supposed to have spoken. The laughter began as soon as he repeated the first line and continued until he finished.
Mr. Lowell, as chairman of the meeting, tried to look as calm and unmoved as possible, but his companion, Bishop Potter, could not, repress his risibility and joined in the fun with graceful dignity. Mark Twain's face resembled the diagram of a five-act comedy in blank verse, while Dr. Eggleston's high, tufted hair worked backward and forward as if the wind of humor had a contract to blow through his tangled locks. Poet Stoddard crossed his legs and laughed till the tears ran down his face and were soaked up by his snow white beard. Mr. Bunner's black side whiskers ceased to look staid and prim and joined his smiles in a bolero of almost unrestrained cachination, and as for Mr. Cable, he put off for a moment his Tremont Temple Sunday school air and roared, not in his favorite patois of the Creole, but in common every day English. Bill Nye, Mr. Riley's side partner, merely corkscrewed a dry grin on his noble facade, and kept it there at equal temperature during all the fun.
Toward the last of the "Hoosier" comedian's recital the glacial dignity of Mr. Lowell melted somewhat, and he put his hand to his face and quietly beamed several ripples of enjoyment from his half closed eyes. Mr. Riley 's power to create fun was not gauged when his name was pIaced on the programme, or else these distinguished literati would have have been prepared, and not taken front seats on the stage. Maj. Pond, who is somewhat of a prophet, remarked carelessly before the authors met that Riley would take the "bean" easily. If the bean meant to create the most amusement and delight an audience as it had never been before, he certainly deserved that richest and rarest of Boston dishes. His personation of the "educator" was a decided hit also. - New York Commercial Advertiser