Indianapolis Journal James Whitcomb Riley

1 indianapolis journal

1.1 newspaper poet
1.2 lyceum circuit
1.3 western association of writers

indianapolis journal
newspaper poet

riley moved indianapolis @ end of 1879 begin employment journal. metropolitan newspaper in indianapolis daily editions, , had wide readership. newspaper wrote regular society column included verses of poetry. thereafter riley met many prominent people, , began close friendship eugene v. debs. debs enjoyed riley s works , complimented sentiments. riley had been using pseudonym jay whit since started authoring poetry, began write under own name in april 1881.

riley renewed relationship bottsford in 1880, , 2 corresponded frequently. relationship remained unstable, riley became attached her. inspired poem werewife, told of perfect wife become demonic monster. bottsford pressed riley marriage several times, riley refused. broke off relationship second time in 1881 when discovered correspondence 2 other women, , found had taken secret vacation wisconsin 1 of them.

riley s alcohol addiction influenced of poems during time working journal, including on quitting california, john golliher s third womern, [sic] , dismal fate of tit. each made references delirium caused drinking. although riley published controversial, of poems published same period, including afterwhiles , allude drug usage , make vague sexual references. during 1880s, riley still made submissions elite literary periodicals, continued rejected. riley found rejection discouraging, persevered. believed never recognized true literary figure until 1 of prestigious periodicals published work.

lyceum circuit

riley made occasional reading tours around indiana, , in august 1880 invited perform @ asbury university. performance there impressed local phi kappa psi chapter, invited join honorary member. through fraternity met robert jones burdette, writer , minister in indianapolis area. burdette member of redpath lyceum bureau of boston, prominent lecture circuit regular speakers included ralph waldo emerson. burdette encouraged riley join circuit through chicago branch. riley s accumulated debt , low income began causing him trouble in 1881, , decided rejoining lecture circuit provide needed funds. agreement continued employment circuit depended on ability draw audiences during first season, beginning in april 1881. succeeded, drawing largest crowds in chicago , indianapolis.

because of success in midwest, circuit leaders invited him make east coast tour, starting in boston @ tremont temple in february 1882. riley agreed, signing ten-year agreement , granting half receipts agent. before performance, traveled longfellow s home in massachusetts , convinced him agree meeting. brief meeting 1 of riley s fondest memories, , wrote lengthy article on after longfellow s death month later. longfellow encouraged riley focus on poetry, , gave him advice upcoming performance. @ performance, riley received , poems greeted laughter , given praise in city s newspaper reviews. boston literary center of united states @ time, , riley s impression on city s literary community helped him work accepted prestigious periodicals. century magazine first such periodical accept work, running in swimming-time in september 1883 issue. until 1890s, remained major literary magazine publish riley s work. knowing high standards of magazine, riley reserved best work each year submit, including 1 of favorites, old man , jim in 1887.

by end of 1882, riley s finances began improve dramatically, largely income performances. during 1883 began writing boone county poems pseudonym benjamin f. johnson of boone. poems entirely written in dialect , emphasized topics of rural life during nineteenth century, employing nostalgia , simplicity of country life elements. old swimmin -hole , when frost on punkin popular, , helped earn entire series critical acclaim. topics popular readers, reminding many of them of childhood. merrill, meigs & company (later renamed bobbs-merrill company) approached riley compile poems book. riley agreed , printing of first book began in august 1883, titled old swimmin -hole , leven more poems . book s popularity necessitated second printing before end of year. during period riley determined popular poems on topics of rural life, , began use common theme throughout future work.

the income riley s book allowed him ease busy work schedule; submitted articles journal less , made fewer lecture stops. poems became fewer quality of poetry improved; wrote famous poems during mid-1880s, including little orphant annie [sic]. riley attempted secure new job @ periodical , leave journal, magazines submitted not hire him unless willing relocate. riley steadfast in refusal leave indiana, , told reporters rural home inspiration , leave ruin poetry.

riley renewed relationship bottsworth third , final time in 1883. 2 corresponded , had secret lovers rendezvous. stopped visiting other women , relationship became more dedicated , stable. bottsworth, however, became convinced riley seeing woman, , terminated relationship in january 1885. riley s sister, mary, had become close friend of bottsworth , scolded him mistreatment of her. reputation tarnished affair , found difficult find employment once relationship ended.

in 1884, riley made tour of major cities in eastern united states. following lectures, began compiling second book of poetry. completed during july , bowen-merrill published in december title boss girl, christmas story , other sketches. book, contained humorous poetry , short stories, received mixed reviews. popular around indiana, majority of copies sold. 1 reviewer, however, called poems weird, nightmarish, , eerie, , compared them edgar allan poe s works.

while riley working on book, unexpectedly invited james b. pond, agent many of nations major performers, join one-hundred nights engagement in new york city in show included samuel clemens , dudley warner. riley, however, unable agree redpath bureau had authorize other performance under terms of contract. riley believed contract redpath bureau limiting opportunities, , relationship agent became strained.

western association of writers

due partly limited success of latest book outside indiana, riley persuaded begin working other midwestern writers attempt form association promote work. popular indiana writer lew wallace, author of ben-hur, major promoter of effort. during 1885, more 1 hundred writers joined group. held first meeting in july, naming western association of writers. @ meeting maurice thompson named president, , riley vice president. association never succeeded in goals of creating powerful advertising force, became social club , rival literary community eastern writing establishment. riley disappointed shortcomings of group, came depend on regular meetings escape hectic schedule.

through association, riley became acquainted of notable writers in midwestern united states, including humorist edgar wilson nye of chicago. after completing lecture circuit in 1885, riley formed partnership nye , agent begin new tour. redpath bureau agreed allow riley tour nye, provided maintained financial agreements them. in addition touring, riley , nye collaborated write book, nye , riley s railway guide, collection of humorous anecdotes , poems intended parody popular tourist literature of day. published in 1888, book successful , had 3 reprints.

in october 1887, riley , association joined other writers petition united states congress attempt negotiate international treaties protect american copyrights abroad. group became known international copyright league , had significant success in efforts. when traveling 1 of league s meetings in new york city year, riley struck bell s palsy. recovered after 3 weeks, remained secluded hide effects of sickness believed caused alcohol addiction. made attempt stop drinking alcohol of minister, again returned old habit.

after recovering, riley remained briefly in new york participate in show @ chickering hall edgar nye, samuel clemens, , several others. riley introduced james russell lowell before performance, , lowell gave riley glowing endorsement crowd. riley s poetry brought both tears , laughter according new york sun. critic edmund clarence stedman, 1 of foremost literary critics of era, present , wrote riley s dialect poems finest had ever heard, in homely dramatis [sic] persona s heart laid open subtle indirect, absolutely sure , tender poetry. result of new york performance, name , picture carried in major eastern papers , became known throughout united states. sales of boss girl increased, resulting in fifth , largest printing, , riley began achieve widespread fame sought.

clemens disliked being upstaged riley, , thereafter attempted avoid future joint performances him. according 1 review, clemens shriveled bitter patch of melancholy in fierce light of mr. riley s humour.

after returning home tour in 1888, riley finished compiling third book, titled old-fashioned roses. arranged appeal british readers, included few of dialect poems , consisted of sonnets. book reprinted many poems riley had published, included new ones wrote book, including days gone by, little white hearse, , serenade. book riley s favorite because included finest works , published prestigious longmans, green publishers in high quality binding , print.

in late 1888 finished work on fourth book, pipes o pan @ zekesbury released great acclaim in united states. based on fictional town in indiana, riley presented many stories , poems citizens , way of life. received mixed reviews among literary critics wrote of riley s stories not of same quality poetry. book popular public , went through numerous reprints.

riley becoming wealthy books , touring, earning $20,000 in 1888. no longer needed job @ journal, , left job near end of year. newspaper had served earn him fame , had published hundreds of articles, stories, , poems.