Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
VIII M. INGALLS, Write q NoynI9

NEW YORK, Feb. 9-Tn recent inter
view Senator Ingalls, for the first time adj
mitted that he had been at work for some
years upon a political novel. A report had
spread abroad some three or four years ago
that the senator was busily engaged upon
piece Of fiction, but while he did not then
absolutely deny the report he would not
admit it's truth. lie now says that he spent
such leisure time as he could command for
nearly two years in the writing of polit-
lcal romance, or romance in which na-
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 Il
year, as he proposes to rewrita it as soon as
his senatorial term is over. lie can enter
upon the task with far more enthusiasm
and confidence than usually accompany
the writer of fiction who 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, buG 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 in
public life, and which is not an eccentric
ity, but the suggestion of originality of
intellect. If MIR. ingalls, writes fiction as
well as he tells anecdotes his book will be
a very great success. Notwithstanding
his reputation for ac6rbity 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 rs q story
teller among friends. He has the capacity
to describe an individual with single
picturesque sentence. His sense of humor
is very great, and many of his speeches
which read SO bitter were, when uttered,
accompanied by 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
zen. One writer OF fiction, James K.
Paulding, was called to 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 II. Benton quilted the SEN
ate after q service CT thirty years he sought
solace in his declining days by writing his
memoirs, and the work has become a
standard in our literature. Henry A. Wise,
the eccentric but able politician of Vir-
GINA. 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 ''i5unset" Cox
was book Of "reminiscences called Union,
Disuuion, Reunion" And William H.
Seward, after a life OF political activity
covering nearly forty years, went to the
delightful repose Of his home in Auburn.
n. Y, and wrote nost interesting volume.
If Mr. ingalls, saw fit TO write book en-
titled, for instance, "Politics as | Have
Found It," he would be sure to furnish
something which had not only value IS 4
Renaissance and a discussion, but would
also possess the finest literary charm. 1t
is quite likely, however, that in his novel
political incidents will be introduced which
will give him abundant opportunity to say
those delightful and incisive things which
have made his repute as q senator
E. J. EDWARDS.