Riley, James Whitcomb

James Whitcomb (1855-), an American poet. He was born in Greenfield, Indiana. When quite a young boy he learned sign painting and, after following that pursuit for a time, joined a company of strolling players, taking the part of an actor, composing songs, or arranging plays, as need required. He secured later a position on the editorial staff of the Indianapolis Journal. When about twenty years old, he began publishing poems in the Indiana papers. These were popular at once. From his use of the Indiana dialect he soon won the name of The Hoosier Poet, by which he is still known. Dialect poetry is Riley's special field, but his work is not confined to this. He has written melodious and beautiful lyrics in literary English. His public readings of his own poems have been popular. The personality of the man and his sympathetic voice make his rendering of such poems as Out to Old Aunt Mary's and Good Bye, Jim unusually effective. Riley's chief books are Afterwhiles, Poems Here at Home, Armazindy, Rubaiyat of Doc Sifers, Pipes o' Pan at Zekesbury, and Rhymes of Childhood. Among his poems, The Raggedy Man, Griggsby's Station, Nothin' to Say, The Old Band, Little Orphant Annie are universal favorites, known and quoted by everybody. Riley has been called locally "The American Burns."