The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-19

Friends ait Richmond. Several of the colleges
here mentioned have, in the past, presented az
good courses of study and have been as well
ratronized as the State University at Blooming
ton.
In the matter of literature Indiana has geners
ally been regarded as laggard. But it might
oe difficult to say upon what rational ground
such an opinion is based. True enough, the
primitive Hoosier library consisted of only
Bible, hymn book and Pilgrims Progress It
IS also true that the conditions present in our
state were not favorable to the early develop
ment OF literature; but even the logcabin was
not without its poet aud its philosopher.
1t is an odd fact that the first remarkable
thing accomplished in our republic of letters
was IN the outof the-way department of iuris-
prudence Judge Isaac Blackboard who was
raised to the Supreme Bench of Indiana in the
next year after the admission of the State into
the Union. gave to the world eight volumes of
Reports so phenomenal in their excellence that.
until to-day, not only in Indiana, not only in the
United States. but in every country where the
English language is spoken, they are cited with
confidence by the abest jurists. Judge David
Mcdonald has also added to the reputation of
the State by his legal writings. In the depart
ment of theology the Biblical Biography, by DR..
I. G. Beharrel, the Bible Hand book and the
History of Indiana Methodism, by Dr. F. G.
Holiday. the miscellaneous writings of DR..
Joseph F. Tuttle of Wabash College, and the
doctrinal essays of the Rev. T. A. Goodwin, may
well be cited as able works. In historical litera,
ture mention should be made of billions History
of Indiana, Woollen's Biographical aud Histor-
ical Sketches of Indiana and William Ell.
Barnes's History of the Thirty ninth Congress.
Many of the local histories of our counties and
towns are worthy of special mention. The part
borne by Indiana in the civil war has been pre-
served in documentary form by General Terrell,
In his work, entitled Indiana in tho War
and by L. L. Scribner in the Roll of Honor.
Another meritorious book is the Indiana Sol
Inn INV ota ~ 30 4 ca
of the Wabash Valley gives good picture Of
pioneer life and manners.
In the department of prose fiction our leading
name is that of Lew Wallace His two stories,
Ben Hur and The Fair God, have given him
front rank among American writer's of fiction.
At the name of Edward Eggeston-a Hoosie.
native and to the manner born-all that s
quaint and humorous in the life of our primitive
people rises before us. The best of his books is
The Hooser Schoolmaster, and the next best
The End of the World. The Mystery of
Metropolisville has to lean good deal on the
fame of its predecessors. The prose works Of
Maurice Thompson, such as the Hooser Mosaics,
the Witchery of Archery, and his sketches, are
as superior in their kind as are his poems. Both
are deservedly national in their reputation. His
works are a kind of fctionela. unlike anything
else-breezy. original and charming John Hay,
the essayist, Is an Indianian, and his reputation
as literary man belongs of right to our State.
In the department of poetry, Mary Louisa
Chltwood did much for the reputation of Indiana.
The poetical talents of Maurice Thompson are
of a very high order. Mrs. Sarah T. Bolton and
Mrs. Emma Jordan are both well known as In
diana poets of no mean rank. Judge Horace
Biddle and Prof e. e. Edwards have contribute
ed many poems to the current literature of our
times Mrs. Rebecca S. Nichols has published
meritorlous volume entitled "Songs of the Heart
and Hearthstone" Mrs Gertrude Garrison is
an able writer, both in prose and verse. Joaquin
Miller is himself a native lndianan. In the de-
partment of humorous and dialectc poetry.
James Whitcomb Riley has of late years rapidly
risen to national distinction. In his power to
reproduce all that is quaintest and most touch
ing in the lfe thought and emotion which ara
native to this part of the world, and therefore,
most beautiful, Riley is to-day, and is likely to
remain. without peer or rival. He is genuine
Robert Burns of the Wabash valley.
Indiana has produced number of scientific
men who, by their writings have done and are
doing a large work for the fame Of the State and
the whole country. Daniel Kirkwood of the
State University at Bloomington, has, by his re-
searches in astronomy, made his name well
known both in America and Europe. In the de-
partment OF fresh-water ichthyology President
David s. Jordan, of the same institution, is per-
haps the greatest specialist and authority of our
times In botanical research, Professor John
NJ. Coulter, of Wabash College, is almost equally
eminent Many others might be mentioned with
praise, but the limits of this article forbid
Among the public men who, by their geniss
and devotion, have contributed to the renown OF
ly proud, may first be mentioned most of the
early Governors Gen. William H. Harrison
was man of great force of character aud ster-
ling integrity. Jennings, Noble, Wallace ana
Whitcomb were worthy occupants of our guber-
material chair Joseph A. Wright and Henry S.
Lane were, in public and private life, both at
home and abroad, eminent representatives of
this great Commonwealth. Hendricks and Colfax
both have risen by undisputed merit to the second
Office in the gift of the people. The tremendous
Morton, standing at the helm in the times of our
great trial, is historic figure belonging to the
same group with Lincoln and Stanton, and
Grant Voorhees, and Harrison, and Mcdonald
have upheld our fame in the Senate in manner
worthy of themselves and the State which has
honored them; and Albert @. Porter, who has
recently laid down the cares of Office to write
history of Indiana, has shown himself in every
relation Of life to be a true type Of the eminent
civilian.
This communication has already doubtless,
extended to too great length. In the compost
ton of such sketch ten thousand facts and fam
cies arise on every hand calling out to the
writer Hear mel On the whole l rejoice in the
history and record of Indiana. and am glad to be
able to send to all the readers or the Christian
Advocate to all the friends Of freedom and prog
ress, to all the lovers of man, and woman, and
child message of peace and greeting from the
good and generous State which has given me
birth, and home, and hope.