Finding poetry James Whitcomb Riley

a sign riley created advertising own services sign painter

becoming increasingly belligerent toward father, riley moved out of family home , briefly had job painting houses before leaving greenfield in november 1870. recruited bible salesman , began working in nearby town of rushville, indiana. job provided little income , returned greenfield in march 1871 started apprenticeship painter. completed study , opened business in greenfield creating , maintaining signs. earliest known poems verses wrote clever advertisements customers.

riley began participating in local theater productions adelphians earn income, , during winter months, when demand painting declined, riley began writing poetry mailed brother living in indianapolis. brother acted agent , offered poems newspaper indianapolis mirror free. first poem featured on march 30, 1872 under pseudonym jay whit. riley wrote more twenty poems newspaper, including 1 featured on front page.

in july 1872, after becoming convinced sales provide more income sign painting, joined mccrillus company based in anderson, indiana. company sold patent medicines marketed in small traveling shows around indiana. riley joined act huckster, calling himself painter poet . traveled act, composing poetry , performing @ shows. after act sold tonics audience, employing dishonesty. during 1 stop, riley presented himself formerly blind painter had been cured tonic, using himself evidence encourage audience purchase product.

riley began sending poems brother again in february 1873. same time , several friends began advertisement company. men traveled around indiana creating large billboard-like signs on sides of buildings , barns , in high places visible distance. company financially successful, riley continually drawn poetry. in october traveled south bend took job @ stockford & blowney painting verses on signs month; short duration of job may have been due frequent drunkenness @ time.

in 1874, riley returned greenfield become writer full-time. in february submitted poem entitled @ last danbury news, connecticut newspaper. editors accepted poem, paid him it, , wrote him letter encouraging him submit more. riley found note , first payment inspiring. began submitting poems regularly editors, after newspaper shut down in 1875, riley left without paying publisher. began traveling , performing adelphians around central indiana earn income while searched new publisher. in august 1875 joined traveling tonic show run wizard oil company.

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