Tribute to James Whitcomb Riley
Writers who have made us smile with fresh and simple pleasure have always a peculiar hold upon our tenderness and affection; but at periods when the world, too greatly troubled, forgets the way to smile, the return to such a writer is restorative as a draught of pristine purity from a virgin mountain spring. Our humorists are loved, if they be kind and gentle, for a beneficent influence which heals us of our tragedies, and the humor of James Whitcomb Riley, clothed in winning artistic form, has not only "added to the gayety of Nations," but has helped to keep a sad world sweet and sound and sane.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1927, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 96 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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