The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-12
THE MAN WHO WROTE BEN-HUR.
All the Pretty Girls in Town Go to See Him
at the Indiana Headquarters.

All the Pretty Girls IN Town Go to Soc Him
at the Indiana Headquarters.
MinSeap Lis s ecai In New York World.
Just at the top of the stairs which lead
gallery above Is the headquarters of the
Indiana delegation. There are two large
rooms in the suite. opening one
into another by an interior door, and
Naturally every friend of Harrison,
whether he is from Maine or California,
goes there. Three women who are in at
tendance pin Harrison badge on the iapels
of the visitors coats. That accounts for
some of the visitors.
1t does not explain, however, how every
woman In Minneapolis who has read the
newspaper asks before she gives thought
TO the Republican statesmen of her conn
trymeD. to be taken I'D, followed up or d.
rected TO the Indiana rooms. Red-cheeked
maidens from Vermont spectacled,
thoughtful girls from Massachusetts,
demure damsels from far-OH Oregon,
viyacious b,ack-eyed bellies from Nir-
ginia and handsome Creoles from Louisi-
ana, girls, girls, girls from everywhere In
this big broad Nation trip Rayly after each
other up the marble steps accompanied By
equally eager mothers, and every one of
them says to the first mild-mannered man
with q badge she meets: Please intro
duce me to Gen. Lew Wallace" They
know he is here, and he, in their eyes far
outshines all the notabilities in this gath
ering Of notable men.
The gentleman who wrote 'Ben-Hur'
must he delightful" they soy.
Tbey pross forward with parted lips to
catch peep at him and perhaps hear his
voice.
In the room to the right az they enter
stands all day man OF perhaps sixty years.
The first thing you notice about him 10 his
shaggy gray eyebrows. which hang
like thatch over his pleasant
dark eyes. Esxt You notice his
eyes themsersrs. which are keen
ana bright and Inexpressioly soft and win
ming. lie wears light SLOUGH hat, pulled
so tar down over his forehead that 10 pear
ly conceals that portion of his countenance.
His skin Is as brown as berry, az il he
had been used to blowing in the sun. and
his hair which behind falls ovor full
ronnd cerebellnm. Is streaked with gray.
That Is Gen. Lew Wallace. 10 one who
does not look at him TO find the snthor of
q book which 10 dear to thousands of
women's hearts, he is simply q pleasant
vigorous old gentleman. who covers up too
much OF his head with his hat TO leave any
visible clew TO his occupation or mental
gifts To tho women who are introduced
TO him he becomes at once the object of
persopsl alteration.
Once In a long while be takes of his hat
and then you can see his large, noble head.
set upon q round sinewy neck. But whether
his hat is on or of, his voice Is never silent
He talks and talks in q musical voice
which charms the ear with it's cadences.
General" said little virginia girl to
him to-day. 81 think your chariot race Is
the most thrilling thing in the world. but
vhy did you make Ben Hur wreck the car
of the poor Romani'
''Oh. that poor chariot racel' answered
the General. softly; every body likes it.
and every body critlclses It. Really did
the best could with the little story. Please
excuse it's imperfections."
lie said this 30 humbly and gently that
he gave to his simple words tie meaning
of a soft apology for having afflicted the
world with that chapter,
Every woman who comes to see him says
something TO him about "Ben-Hur."
lie has been here now two DAYS. thir.
teen hours a day" said John K Gowdy
chairman of tue Republican committee Of
Indiana. If women could vote shonld
send immediately for tho President He
overshadows every body else and every
thing else around here in the minds of the
fair SEX"
Has every woman in Indiana read Ben
Hurf" one Of the indianapolis women hero
was asked.
Don't ask such q question" she said.
which limits our dear Generals greatness
to ono little state. Every woman In Ameri-
ca, sir. has read Ben Hur.'"