The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-05
Will Mr. ingalls, Write a Novel;

NEW YORK, Feb. in a recent inter
view Senator Ingalls, for the first time ad-
mitted that he had been at work for some
years upon political novel report had
spread abroad some three or four years ago
that the senator was busily engaged upon
a piece of fiction, but while he did not then
absolutely deny the report he would not
admit its truth. He now says that he spent
such leisure time as he could command for
nearly two years in the writing of polit-
ical romance, or a romance In which ma
tional politics played an incidental part.
But TO his deep sorrow the manuscript was
destroyed when his house was burned.
The senator intimates, however, that we
shall be likely to have the novel within
year, as he proposes to rewrite it as soon as
his senatorial term is over. he can enter
upon the task with far more enthusiasm
and confidence than usually accompany
the writer of fiction VINO is making his
first effort. For Mr. ingalls, himself says
that he has already been offered very
large sum for the manuscript by two pub
fishers. but as he has very keen business
head he is going TO wait until his story IS
completed before he closes any bargain.
A story by John James ingalls, is bound
to have the peculiar individual flavor
which has made him SO distinguished III
public life, and which is not an eccentric
ity, but the suggestion of originality OF
intellect. If Mr.. ingalls, writes fiction as
we'll as he tells anecdotes his book will be
a very great success. Notwithstanding
his reputation for acerbity and his capa-
| city for saying things that cut like dag
/ ger thrust, Mr.. ingalls, Is really one of the
most delightful of men in private life, and
/ no congressman since the days OF Tom
| Corwin has been or is his equal as a story
| teller among friends. He has the capacity
i to describe an individual with a single
| picturesque sentence. His sense of humor
| is very great, and many OF mis- speeches
which read so bitter were, when uttered,
| accompanied by a manner which suggest
| ed to those who heard them that the sena-
| tor was really in humorous vein, and
was enjoying his speech and its effect with
! a sly suggestion of mischief For this rea-
son he made no personal enemies in the
| senate.
Very many men have gone from public
| life TO their libraries and taken up the
| pen. One writer of fiction, James h
| Paulding was called 70 the cabinet OF
| president after he had made name with
| his novels George William Curtis, who
wrote two novels In his early manhood,
| has been several times invited TO take
| prominent political Office, but has declined.
| When Thomas a. Benton quilted the sen
ate after service of thirty years he sought
solace in his declining days by writing his
memoirs, and the work has become a
standard in our literature. Henry & Wise,
| the eccentric but able politician of Viz
| ginia. also wrote some interesting memoirs
| Mr. Blaine's Twenty Years IN Congress"
| Is well known. One Of the last Of the
| literary works of the late Sunset" Cox
was book of "reminiscences called Union,
| Disunion, Reunion" And William II
| Seward. after life Of political activity
| covering nearly forty years. went 70 the
| delightful repose of his home in Auburn.
| y. Z, and wrote most interesting volume.
II MI ingalls, saw Il 70 write book en-
| titled, for instance, Politics as | Have
Found It." BE would be sure 10 furnish
something which had not only value as a
"reminiscences and discussion. but would
also possess the finest literary charm Il
is quite likely, however, that IA his novel
political incidents vii be introduced which
viii give him abundant opportunity 70 say
those delightful and iEcisive things which
have E.sde ais repute as e senator
l. J. EDvAEpa