after recovering, riley remained briefly in new york to participate in a show at chickering hall with edgar nye, samuel clemens, and several others. riley was introduced by james russell lowell before his performance, and lowell gave riley a glowing endorsement to the crowd. his poetry brought both tears and laughter according to "the new york sun". critic edmund clarence stedman, one of the foremost literary critics of the era, was present and wrote that riley's dialect poems were the finest he had ever heard, "in which a homely dramatis persona's heart is laid open by subtle indirect, absolutely sure and tender" poetry. as a result of his new york performance, his name and picture were carried in all the major eastern papers, and he quickly became well known throughout the united states. sales of "the boss girl" increased, resulting in the fifth and largest printing, and riley finally began to achieve the widespread fame he sought.