The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-17
AN EDITOR AND HIS HOUSE.
Mr.. Story, of the Chirago Times, Building a
House Which He Cannot Occupy.

House Which He Cannot Occupy.
Letter in Pittsburg Dispatch.
Mr.. Story very seldom comes to the Office
now, but gives orders every day in an inco-
herent sort OF manner, and labors under the
delusion that he is still at the helm. But
Trude has a power of attorney from Mr..
Story, as well as his wife, and is the actual
manager, while Mr.. Patterson, the business
man looks after the finances, and Mr.. bennett.
as managing editor, conducts the remainder
OF the concern.
The other day Mr.. Story came down to the
office, and his wife lett him there while she
went to do some shopping. He jumped up
pretty soon with his old-time vigor and re-
marked that he would walk home. One of
the clerks was sent to follow him, and dis
covered the old man p%lunging along in the
wrong direction. Under the pretense that
he was wanted at the Office on some import
ant business the clerk coaxed him back, and
be was detained or one Pretext and another
until his wife returned.
He goes to the telephone at his house some
times and calls upon Mr.. Dennett to give him
some instructions, out usually before the lat
ter gentleman reaches the place he has for
gotten what he wanted to say.
Recently he has taken a notion that some
one wants to poison him, and Benny Lamb,
his wife's nephew, a bright boy to whom he
has taken a great liking, goes to his house
three times a day to feed hun, as he will re-
ceive food from no other hands.
Nearly every day he rides down to see the
new house and quarrel with his architect.
He has had four OF them since the house was
commenced, and were not the man in charge
at present gifted with infinite patience he
would have resigned long ago. Each visit
developed some new whim on the owners
part, and alterations are ordered accordingly.
The bill for extras in changing the construc-
ton has so far this year, it is said, amounted
to over 5000 600.
Not long ago Mr.. Story caughtex-Congress
man Farwell down there looking over the
palace. and took great delight in showing him
around and pointing out the features of the
structure.
This is the dr%awing-room," he said; 'this
Here is the billiard-room, and there is the
chapel
What in HI do you want of a c~napel?'
asked Charley Farwell.
Il guess l need a chapel as much as a bill
liard-room," quietly observed Mr.. Story.
Il guess you do" solemnly responded the
eX-Congressman.
Every cent of the profits of the Times goes
into the new house. The property has been
mortgaged, salaries have been reduced, and
correspondents cut off to meet the outlay. The
work OF construction is slow, but the con-
tractors bills amount to So 900 monthly,
and the old man does not seem to care for
lAAO BubNA 90 AOIS as bAiO OIli0lhH EOGo ODs
Nearly ali the old staff have resigned and
taken positions upon other papers, their
places being filled by new and cheaper men.
What will become of the Times and the
house when Mr.. Story dies is a frequent topic
OF discussion in journalistic circles. Some
years ago, before the house was commenced,
and the owner had no thought but it's per-
petuation as a to his ability and
enterprise, he made a will, under the condi-
tiOns of which, after his death, the paper was
to be run under his name, and be managed
by a board OF trustees, consisting of Melville
w. Fuller, a prominent Democratic lawyer;
J. Sterling Morton, OF Nebraska, and Franc
B. Wilkie, at that time the managing editor
and Fidus Achates OF the Eneas Story.
These trustees were to be perpetual and have
power to fill vacancies in the board. The
profits of the paper were to lie divided be-
tween the heirs, but the most of them were
to be spent in making it the finest newspa-
per in the world. Since then. however,
Story has fallen out with Wilkie and with
Fuller, and has made another will, it is said,
leaving the property to mis- wife and Benny
Lamb, his wife's nephew, who goes down
every day to feed him.
When the old man dies, and at the present
rate of decay he cannot last long, the will,
whatever it may be, will undoubtedly be
contested by some relatives who live over in
Michigan, for they are watching things very
closely. and are already gathering evidence
to use in such an emergency.
Mrs. Story is a young woman, handsome
and accomplished, who has a high social am
bition, and is watching the progress of the
new house with anxious eyes. Her friends
say that she expects to live there some time,
and retain the control of the Times after her
husbands death. Mr.. Story is snow in Phila-
delphia receiving treatment.