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 JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY 395 not well defined, but it was then that he wrote the Benjamin F. Johnson series. The Old Swimmin' Hole and 'Leven More Poems J one appearing each week in company with a letter pur- porting to be written by Johnson, an illiterate but intelligent old farmer with a strong vein of sentiment. This feature of the paper attracted much attention and the identity of the au- thor quickly became known. This series was afterwards pub- lished in a dainty booklet form and copies of the first edition of this first Biley book are now much prized. He has been heard to say that the sight of none of the later editions of his books, including his ** complete works,*' ever gave him the thrill of pleasure that this supplied. Meanwhile Mr. Biley 's personal acquaintance extended rap- idly among appreciative people. There is always a group of clever men about a newspaper and Indianapolis newspaper circles at that time included several of more than conmion ability. It was soon found that Mr. Biley had more talents than that of writing verse — that he was witty, full of a dry humor and possessed of an inimitable gift for story telling or reciting — in short, that he was a delightfully entertaining companion. It thus came about that he was made welcome in various circles. One of these was what might be called an in- formal club made up of a group of men who fell into the habit of dropping in, usually in the forenoons, to the private office of John C. New, then owner and publisher of the Joumalj where they held confab on all topics under the sun, humorous or serious, as the mood took them. It was rather a notable group. Mr. New, a keen-witted, clear-headed, widely-read man, was at that time prominent in public life and afterwards held several high government offices, including that of treas- urer of the United States. Among other members was the Bev. Myron W. Beed, a Presbyterian pastor of the city, a brilliant and gifted man, afterwards of national reputation; William Pinckney Fishback, one of the leading lawyers of the state and noted for his intellectual ability and caustic wit; Elijah W. Halford, editor of the Journal and afterwards President Harrison's private secretary. General Harrison himself, afterward President, occasionidly joined the circle. i