WCP4917

[1]¹

Extract from a chapter on James Whitcomb Riley², in "The Hoosiers" by Meredith Nicholson³ (Macmillan Co. 1900)

"He had in his younger days something of Artemus Ward⁴'s fondness for a hoax, and he wrote "Leonaine" in imitation of Poe⁵'s manner, with so marked success that several critics of discernment received the poem and the story of its discovery in an old school reader, in good faith."

("Riley was born in 1849, the very year of Poe's death. It was thus probably about or ^soon after 1870 that the "hoax" occurred[.])

[1]¹ [p. 13]

Broadstone, Dorset

Feby. 8th, 1904

Dear Mr. Marriott:

I send you now all the facts I at present possess as to the alleged imitation Poe poem. Mr. Law (who is himself a writer & poet) sent me a long letter about Riley, who is personally known to him; the essential points of which I give. He has also sent me a book on "Hoosiers"—as the natives of Indiana are termed—from which I send an extract.—I also send a cutting from "The Star" which please return. Mr. Law went twice to the B. M. Library to look at the account in Riley, but both times found "all the volumes engaged." Till we have the alleged proof that Riley wrote "Leonainie", it seems to me quite as probable that he found it, and on the suggestion of a [2] [p. 14] friend made use of it to gain a reputation. If he could write that in his "younger days", as stated in Nicholson's book, we ought to find in his Collected works, many other poems showing an equal command of poetic language, an equally musical rhythm, and beautiful forms of verse. Till some competent and quite independent critic gives us the result of such an examination, or till quite conclusive proof is given that Riley did write "Leonainie"—

I decline to accept him as the author. Unfortunately I know not how to get the 9th Vol. of his works.

Yours very truly,

(signed) Alfred R. Wallace.

P.S. What is your opinion on the alleged facts so far?

I am sorry to find I stupidly spelt "Leonaine" wrong. In my brother's copy I now find it is "Leonainie", which of course makes it a 4 syllable word as the metre requires whereas "Leonaine" may be only three.

(signed) A. R. W.

The other differences noted by the "Star" writer are I think better in my version than in Riley's.

(signed) A. R. W.

Extract from a chapter on James Whitcomb Riley, in "The Hoosiers" by Meredith Nicholson (Macmillan Co., 1900).

"He had in his younger days something of Artemus Ward's fondness for a hoax, and he wrote "Leonaine" in imitation of Poe's manner, with so marked success that several critics of discernment received the poem and the story of its discovery in an old school reader, in good faith."

(Riley was born in 1849, the very year of Poe's death. It was then probably about or soon after 1870 that the "hoax" occurred).

Extract from Mr. Law's Letter (2nd)

"A literary friend who was a great admirer of Poe said to Riley if he could only write something like Poe his name and fortune would be secured. So deliberately Riley set to work on a Poe poem, and Leonainie was the result. It was copied into a feigned MSS. and "discovered" opportunely without exciting any suspicion towards Riley. After it had run the gauntlet of Poe critics and [3] [p. 15] been pronounced genuine if not canonical Riley proved the authorship. This drew attention to his own works, and he has never since lacked for praise and pudding."