Life — October 4, 1917 — page 40: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Good-by, Jim, Take Keer of Yourse’f.” Jim was going off to war—the neigh- borhood didn’t think much of him—but his father knew. And his father guessed the story to come. Yet these were all the words that came. Do you remember James Whitcomb Riley’s story poem. That was in the Civil War. And to-day, again, all over the land, fathers are saying to their sons, “Good-by, Jim, take keer of yourse’f.” Like all masters of literature, his people and his poems and his stories are for all time. JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY The great spirit has passed on. “There’s another good pal gone over the border.” The dearly beloved of all America’s grown folks who have stayed young, has passed away. From the little child that wrote, “I feel sort of alone until I read your poems,” to President Wilson who says, “I render my tribute of affection and appreciation to him,” this nation feels the great loss, But it turns with even more eagerness to the stories and ms he left behind him. More eagerly than ever does the small boy read “The Old Swimmin’ Hole,”—more gladly do the mother and father read “That Old Sweetheart of Mine.” The quiet strect in Indianapolis seems deserted and dead. Uncle Sam’s mail service no longer has to bend beneath the burden of 10,000 letters going to that quict house on the 7th of each October. James Whitcomb Riley has passed on, but his work is here for all his lovers. Perhaps you think you “don’t care for poctry”—yet you love James Whitcomb Riley. That's because his stories could only be told in verse—for he had a song in his heart—a song of all mankind. Unlike all other poets, he dealt with stories of every day—things in all our lives. There is in all his work no bitter word. He is swectness and light in these days of hatred and terror—a drink of fresh water to the thirsty and weary. ld knew his quality years ago. w, Lowell, and Holmes bowed to A Poor Boy in Indiana, The He wasa poor boy in Indiana—too full his genius." Mark Twain loved bis-"kind: ot fe and gentasforschooling. Hetraveled ress and sincerity and admired his art,” witha circus, he worked on @ railroad.on William Dean Howells wonders "at the a steamship. “He made his living ina passion for the homely things of life.” thousand ways—sntil one day—anepoch- nd George Ade says. that "Riley is the making day for this nation—he published only one who hobnobs with the LL.D. and amodest little poem in his home paper. the farm hand at the same moment.” Soon the world sat up and took notice— And now, to-day, President Wilson says, comb Riley became as much ““Irender my tributeof affection and ap- word as Santa Claus. preciation to James Whitcom® Riley. His Heirs Desire Only a Small Royalty 7 The heirs of James Whitcomb Riley came to us, as the publishers of 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, “He was the poet of hope and cheer mi He is the only writer whose birt a state holiday. By the t celebrated in Indiana, A: me the co works of J Whitcomb ¢ lover and friend of Nthie ley Daye be 74 ne you read this. Riley Day will be | / ian a ititey Day sil be eclebrgted in “qatameiatee Lay Your heart and your home if you send this coupon, examination and return The generosity of the Riley heirs and the resources /to you. at your expense, of Harper & Brothers give you a rare opportunity. Don't miss it T do not want it. the books I will remit $1.59 month for thirteen months. Life 10. Send the coupon without money for your 7 set on approval to-day. HARPER & BROTHERS / New York 1817-1917 Addressee J Nemec. ’ a Mark Twain, and said that they would be glad to reduce their toy- ,/ manne alty so that’ we could place the works of the People's Poct in the 7 BRTetts homes of all those who loved him—so we are able to make the books at a very low price—for the present—a price we can pass on to you. 7” Franhlia $3 JLT. Please send eye bound in rich cloth! in gold, fully for ten days for it if If 1 keep 1% added to price in Canada because of duty Proclamation Imperial German Honor List I, WILHELM, King of Prus: by the grace of God, and German Emperor, Guardian of Austria-Hungary and Bul- garia, Proprietor of Turkey, Protector of Belgium, Serbia, Armenia, Montenegro, Roumania and Northern France, etc., ete— For meritorious service to ME and MY Empire, in doing their utmost to prevent the Government and People of the United States from waging effective warfare against ME, do hereby gracious- ly bestow the following Honors: On the United States Senators named Order of the below the distinguished Iron Cross: OLLETTE of Wistonsin, 2 of Missou HOKE SMITH of Georgia, HARDWICK of Georgia, GORE of Oklahoma. r writing or publishing certain edi- torials designed to brin; favorable to ME and MY Empire, 1 be- stow furthermore the Order of the Red Eagle, first class, with laurel wreath, on WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST. I bestow the same Order of the sec- ond class on BERNARD RIDDER of the New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung. I bestow the Order of the Cross, for exceptional and never-to-be-forgotten services to ME and MY Dynasty, in con- nection with the movement for an im- mediate peace regardless of justice, right or humanity, on: DAVID STARR JORDAN, PINCHOT, N WALD, EASTMAN, F ERICK LYNCH, OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD. It is a need of my heart thus to give mark of im- about a peace loyal men and women a perial favor and atfection, WILHELM, 1. R. (per Tne Vietantes.) —The Cripple Creek Times and Victor Daily Record, MAXI MUMooMINNIE MUM “THE GOLD DUST TWINS” comicbooksieemay