The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-02
INDIANA AUTHORS.
The mdianians Who Have Contributed to
the Literature Of the World.
written for the Indianapolis Journal.

or calf, of Indiana poetry and Indiana fiction
not to include the Revised Statutes and the ag-
ricultural and geological reports-could have
been confined in an oldfashioned carpet-bag
The bag could then have been brought together
with small squeezing, the key thrown away and
save for the worth of few more than half dozen
volumes, the world would have been little poorer
in knowledge had the key never been found and
the treasures remained unreleased During the
past twelve or fourteen years Indiana book
makers have been busy, and the names
of our authors have gone over all the
land. There are now collectors of In
diana books and department in
the city library set apart for works by Indiana
authors is rapidly swelling TO great proportions.
The State library now contains the collection of
the late Daniel Hough, of Wayne county, the
largest general collection of Indiana books,
pamphlets and papers in the State. The cata-
logue describing it names I,517 different works
General W. II. H. Terrell, of this eitv. Adiutant-
general during the war, has probably the largest
and best collection of Indiana historical works in
the State, while General Charles Cruft. who
died recently at Terre Haute, left historical
library little inferior to it. In beginning this
article it was the intention of the writer to write
one short chapter on Indiana books and Indiana
authors. He has discovered at the threshold of
his contemplated work sufficient material in
sight to demand at least three chapters In this
one it will be his duty to briefly mention the
novels that have been brought out by our au-
thors by those now living in the State or
those who have at some time
dwelt with It will be little more
than a catatalogue, and the information will per-
haps be meager and inconsequential but such
as it is it will be more than has to the knowl-
edge OF the writer, ever before been given ON the
subject
General Lewis Wallace's first novel, 1.-THE Fair
God, the Last of the 'Tzins: a Tale of the Con-
quest of Mexico, issued in 1875, may be set at
the head or the list of Indiana novels. Upon it,
appearance the eyes of the entire literary world
IN America were turned toward the new star
that mad risen In indiana, an unexpected part of
the literary heaven 1t was General Walaees
first book and was published with great diff
dence and after long hesitation. some Of the
chapters of the book having been written for
dozen ears or more. The editor of the Literary
World pronounced it the greatest novel of the
century-the greatest since Scotts ''Ivanh0e"
1t stood III the full literary sense as the greatest
American novel No comparison can be made
between THE Fair God" and ''Uncle Toms
Cabin" The latter of itself is not remarkable
work, but is great on account of its presentation
in fiction of the stupendous iniquity of
human slavery. Six years later the
novel of Ben Hur" was issued
1t is said that the manuscript
of this novel sent to Harper was looked over by
the literary reader and critic, who returning it
to one of the Harpers, expressed the opinion that
it would not do to publish it. Mr.. Harper took
the manuscript, read it, and then gave orders to
publish an edition of LOCO as an experiment
This trial edition was n fancy 16mo. volume,
and was eagerly snapped up The book is now
in its sixth edition, which, as the Harper edi-
tons, unlike those of some other publishers are
very large, shows gratifying appreciation ofthe
work, which is not one that will be sought by the
multitude. In Ben Hur' the chariot race the
galleys, the leprosy. the arrest OF Ben Hur. the
meeting of John and Christ, have all evoked the
praise of the foremost men ofletters Of the coun-
try, most Of whom pronounce Ben Hur' as ex-
ceiling The Fair God General Wallace has
also written a play. Com modus." which has
never been published
In the year 1856 appeared Life Sketches from
Common Paths, " by Mrs. Julia L. Dumont, of We
way. The stories in this volume are remarkable,
notwithstanding the unpretention shown in the
title for their simple beauty. Mrs. Dumont
tshe was the mother of the late General Ebenezer
Dumont OF this city, was one of the brightest
women this State ever produced and the first
female story writer Indiana ever had
In 1889 was published the novel Prom Dawn
to Daylight or, the Simple Story of Western
Home. by o Ministers Wife" The authorship
of this book was charged upon Mrs Euniee w
Beecher, the wife Of Henry Ward Beecher, a
IOfIIef ItStutlD Oh ltUltslist afSntt1blS per
soma. We're under fictitious names taken from
Lawrenceburg and Indianapolis and as many of
them figured in the novel in nneomplimentary
situations, and as they and thei! friends showed,
not only that but not in accordance with truth
the little book raised transitory stir in those
two localities-and nowhere else
Maurice Thompson. of Charlottesville, has
not only made fame but some money by his
writings. His first venture was little book of
Sketches 'Hoosier MesGics," which has been
followed by 1.-The Witchery of Archery" fby
himself and brother VIII Fl. Thompson 1.-THE
Tallahassee Girl The Second Choice and
''Songs of Fair Weather" the last book of
poems issued last fall, which has been highly
praised by Aldrich and Howels.
The first book to give Rev Edward EggestOn
his reputation as writer as the Hoosier School
master. Besides being a writer on religious
topics and contributor to various literary pc
ri0dieals, he has also written the Circuit Rider,
The End of the World, The Hoosier Schoolboy,
Roxy Mr. Blakes Walking-stick Mystery of Me-
tropolisville and Sehoolmasters Stories for Boys
and Girls. In conjunction with Lille Eggleston
Seelye he has written Montezuma and the Con-
quest of Mexico, Poeahontas, Tecumseh and the
Shawnee Prophet. and other stories for boys and
girls. A sketch OF this writer may be found in
Bungays Traits of Representative Men. His
brother, George Gary Eggleston, who is claimed
as an Indianian. has written a number of stories
attractive to the youth of the land. and of
wholesome tone. These are Big Brother, Cap
tain Sam, Signal Boys, Wreck of the Red Bird,
Red Eagle. How 20 Educate 10ufSeu now TO
Make Living, A Man of Honor, A Rebels Rec
elections, etc.
The most voluminous writer of fiction for the
youth of the present day is Mrs. Isabella
H. Alden, who writes under the pseudonym
of "Pansy." She long a resident of
Greensburg, but is now living in the vicinity of
Boston. Mass. Her stories are all pure, ineuleat-
ing good morals The following is the list, so
far as the writer has been able to obtain, Of the
names of the works, which are IN great demand
at our city library: 'Panses," Berries White
Pigeon, and Other Stories" THE Diamond
Bracelet" christmas Time Cunning Work
men, Daisy and Grandpa "Docia's journal,
Ester Red" Three People," Julia Ried"
'The Kings Daughter, Wise and Otherwise"
-Four Girls at Chatauqua,T "Grandpa's Oar
hngs, THE Chatauqua Girls at Home" "Heien
Lester" ''Nannie's Experiment" Household
Puzzles Jessie Wells Little Minnie Tip
Lewis and His Lamp Robbie and the Stars"
..p-.t..ras f.nln Rnhh1s .irn ..-rha Randalnhs