Judge, 1917-11-03 · page 18 of 28
Judge — November 3, 1917 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **memorial advertisement** for James Whitcomb Riley, an American poet who had recently died. Riley was famous for writing sentimental children's poetry ("The Raggedy Man," "Little Orphant Annie"). The page uses **emotional nostalgia** to sell his complete works. The opening anecdote—a woman recalling how Riley kindly greeted her as a child—establishes him as a beloved cultural figure whose work shaped childhoods. The text claims his death leaves a void in children's lives that can only be filled by reading his poems. **The sales pitch**: Harper & Brothers is offering Riley's complete works at an unusually low price because his heirs voluntarily reduced royalties. This is presented as an act of generosity, not just commerce. The right column lists names and donations to "Judge's Trench Christmas Fund"—likely a WWI relief effort, situating this 1917 advertisement during wartime when such charitable appeals were common. The cartoon itself appears illustrative rather than satirical—simply depicting Riley as a gentle, grandfatherly figure interacting with children, reinforcing the sentimental sales message.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“How Do You Do, Mr. Riley?” “Onct when I was ist a little girl—only four years old—mother and I were down town and I saw you I broke away from mother, ran ‘How do you do, Mr. Riley?’ far away.” and said, not up to you I shall never forget the wonderful smile on your face when you turned and saw me, a tiny little tot. You bowed and spoke to me as though I were a queen, and when I told you I knew some “ Mr. Riley, is one of my finest memories. *most all of your child rh enjoyed them very much, you were as pleased a man-of-letters had complimented you. mes and if That, So wrote a grown-up little girl to James Whitcomb Riley. Are memories of the beautiful poems? children be able to say—‘*My mother read Riley when I was a child—and you giving your children the precious Will your me ‘The Raggedy Man’ and ‘Little Orphant Annie’ have rejoiced and comforted me all the days of my life.” JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY has passed on—and the grown-up world mourns. In the hearts of the little children is a void that cannot be filled—but that can be forgotten by the reading and rereading of these simple and childlike poems. No more does Uncle Sam's postman stagger under the weight of 10,000 letters—the tribute of the children of the world to their Uncle Sidney (James Whitcomb Riley) on his birthday. Riley has passed on but his work lives, You can read it to your children—and en- rich their lives and yours for all time. Those of us who have missed things in childhood missed learning to ride or to swim—feel that there is can never be made up. spirit sure hard to get later on. From the little girl who said she felt all alone without him to the President of the United States, who pays him tribute, Riley is in all hearts—big and little. Even more is this so with things of the The child whose imagination has been enriched by the beauty and charmy of Riley, carries a treasure to old age—a trea- / = of A ne tong LS ~ ie lack that children’s Riley is the poet—little children and big called ¢ ones — sometimes grocen-u ps. His Heirs Desire Only a Small Royalty The Heirs of James Whitcomb Riley came to us, as the publishers of Mark Twain, and said that they would be glad to reduce their royalty so that we could place the works of james Whitcomb Riley in the homes of all those who loved him. So we are able to make this complete set of all Riley’s works—con- g over 1000 titles and a biographical sketch of —at a very low price—for the present—a price ¢ can pass on to you. We have planned a fitting form for these books— beautifully made—the easy-to-read, comfortable sort of books that James Whitcomb Riley would have liked This set is full of luxurious and beautiful illustrations by Howard Chandler Christy and Ethel Franklin Betts— some in full color—some in two colors, and some in black and white The limited edition of Riley’s complete works is sold from $125 to $1750 a set. Yet you_can have your set for less than one-fifth the lowest price made before. The generosity of the Riley heirs and the resources of Harper and Brothers give you a rare opportunity Don’t miss it Send the coupon without money for your set on approval to-day HARPER & BROTHERS HE PLETE KS OF JAMES, me. COMPLETE WORKS OF JAMES, WHITCOMB witTCOMB RILEY RILEY * * ‘OMPLETE WORKS OF JAMES WHITCOMB WHITCOMB RILEY RILEY KS OF JAMES, WHITCOMB WHITCOMB wHITOOMB RILEY 1817-1917 NEW YORK mArPeR ‘8 BROTHERS: me COMPLETE WORKS, JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY WHITCOMB: stamped RILEY RILEY - JUDGE | Judge’s Trench Christmas Fund HE following additional to Jupce’s Trench Ch come from thirty-six states, wide interest taken in this plan to send kits of desirable articles to American soldiers 4 the front in France istmas Fung and show the Anderson, Miss E., Sebago Lake, Allen, Miss Ell Peace Dale, RI Andrews, Mr. T. S., Milwaukee, Wis Barry, Miss M. 1, St. Low Bliss, Miss H. B., Omaha. Burns, Miss Nell, Lebanon, Bushnell, Mr. Ed, Norwich, C . St. Louis, Mo Maine nn Botsford, Miss Anna, Brown, Mrs. S. A., Wau! Mr. A. W.. Boerner, Mrs. N. M., Beatly, Mrs. A. J. Alp Bowen, Mr. Jamies, Shubert, Nebr Bull, Mrs H.R, Christ, Mis Cobb, Mr. sion: Thu was arriv form ones tried unab aver: them for U alll fe meal All (Tex Cleveland, Mr. J. W., New York, N-¥ Carter, Mr. F. Hf, Ashland, Ore Me W alter N Calgary, Davis, Miss HP ian, Miss Davisson, Mr. . Clinton, Ind EI Mr. L. Chapin, € n, Ind Miss C. D., Charles City, lowa more, Mr. H. T., Detroit, Mich Edison, Mr, Thomas A., Orange, Flint, Miss A. E. a Barbara, Cal. Fox, Mrs. M. L., Spol Wash 7 Fitzgerald, Miss G. G., Oakland, Cal French, Mr. Philip, Boston, Mass M Frey, Mr. C. P.. Utica, N.Y t x an, Miss B., Nowata, OkL ‘ox, Miss Beth, Germania, low have French, Miss E. M., Sherwood Park, Yor surps who expe West N.Y Fowler, Mrs. Jal “blo 100 | off U gale M.. Indianapol M.. Box goo, Holliston, Mass Mrs J. W.. Arlington, Md Henderson Hardin, N Hoext, Hunt, M.T, Ailanta. ¢ M. A.. Rome, Iowa Me. H.C. Pittsburgh. Hatter, Mr. R. D., Philadelpt Hepton, Mrs. L. R.. New H. nson, Mr. & Mrs. Mel town nes, Mr. K. C., Versaill Jontan. Men Mire Rk c nile Johnston, Ae A. Texa blow: Johnson, Mrs. N. C., South Wi An Johnson, Miss C. M", South sho Medicine | King over | beadt with was | fully on th Th silin . Dover, NH Korbel, Miss Louise, Petaluma, Cal Koking, Mr. H. F.. Cincinnati, Ohio Licbmann, Mrs. Adolph, Lenox, Mass Langridge, Mr. H. E., Cimarron, N. M La Zeandeur, M V.. Somerset, Wis Levy, Mr. 1. So. Norwalk, Conn. Lawson, Mr. PX, Boston, Mass Manning, Frances \., Trenton, N. J McQuay, Mrs. J. S.. Sinkin, McKeany, Miss Mo. Medh c Maag, Miss M. HL, Baltimore, Md Moore, Miss M. L ago. Hi McGregor, i River, M. MacVea, Mi i Miller, Miss F., Nolley, Mr. Samuel I Nesbit, Richard, Robert Evanston, Ill Overstreet, Mr. 1 Oliver, Mr. E Miss GE Mr. & Mrs. W. J., Alph 1. Mrs. G. W., Redlands, Cai Quigley, Mr. C. A. Salt Lake Ci Richardson, Dr. JH. CI Stecle, Mr. M. B...Adams, N.Y Smoot, Mrs. C. E.. Richmond, Ky ing. Mrs.. Oakland, Cal. Smith, Mr. W. E.. Brighton, Mass Slemmer. Mr. W_O., Ft. 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