The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-26

The Youths Companion"
Chance or good fortune has it's influence
in determining careers. The bit OF chance
into the pathway of European leisure and
study came through the friendship of
Messrs. Nicolay and Hay. who were the
private secretaries to President Lincoln
when Mr.. Howells was first stirred with an
ambition to go to Europe. The latter ap-
piled for the consulate of Munich. He
was then well-informed coun-
try youth. His father was the
MIR. HowelIs learned the trade of q printer
in his fathers office. Some of his first
articles were set at the case. His father
gave him q good common-school education.
and q tendency in the direction of the
study, of Languages, He first ao-
auired o good knowledge of Latin.
and then learned the rudiments OF
and German. and picked mp a good reading
knowledge of Spanish. 1t was his knowL
edge of German which turned his mind in
the direction of the consulate at Munich.
If he had succeeded in obtaining that APP
polntment the German life would un-
doubtedly have had q great influence upon
his career. He certainly would have made
q different writer If he had been finished
off in the German school instead OF the
Italian. where the fortune of politics sent
him.
When he arrived in Washington to push
his application for Munich he had the SYM
pathetic support Of the two secretaries Of
Lincoln. They knew OF him and his news
him. The President. however, gave the
Munich appointment to some one else, aud
told his secretaries that their friend Mr.
HOwells could have the consulate at Rome.
This was early in the history of the war
of the rebellion. In looking up this
consulate, Mr.. Howells found that its fees
were only $500 q year. He was then
unmarried, with very modest ideas and q
but he did not think he could live on that
amount of money, so be appealed again to
bis friends In the White House. They Sc
/ cured for him the consulate at Venice,
which was then worth $3.50 q year. and as
Southern privateers were at that time be-
coming objects of interest in foreign ports.
Messrs. Nicolay and Hay were able to OBJ
tain the increase of the paw of this post to
$500 q year. Tbs magnificent sum more
than satisfied Mr.. Howells. He accepted
the post with JOY. and the following
year his wife met him in Paris, where they
were married. He remained at this post
for four years, and during that time ac-
Italian language. His hook, "Venitian
Days," written as the result of his life in
Venice. is to-day the guide-book OF every
American tourist who visits that CITY, and
by Mr.. Howeiis. 1t has a steady sale. and
will probably continue to sell as long az
Venice stands and tourists are to be found
to visit the city by the sea.
HIS PERSONALITY.
Mr.. Howells 10 in the neighborhood of
fifty years Of age. In talking with him
you give him the beneft of being ON the
right side of fifty, NO matter what his bi.
ography may say. He is of medium height
and is quite stout. round and contented
looking. His face is round. Nearly all the
lines of his figure are curved. His hands
are fat and dimpled. His round face has
the look of refinement. experience of the
world. the ~good-natured indifference and
the cynically happy disbelief of a diple-
mate of experience and high position. His
eyes are o dark gray and deeply set. His
forehead 10 broad and high, covered nearly
to his eyebrows with iron-gray hair.
combed down In What might be called q
bang, If there were not a semblance of o
parting to destroy the character of such q
definition. An iron-gray mustache shades
his firm lined mouth. The nose - straight
and not large. His chin is smooth shaver
and forceful. His voice Is very agreeable.
There are certain notes of cOntentment in
the tones Of his voice which argue that Mr..
Howells is satisfied with his career and
with the success he has made IN life.
the Cosmopolitan Magazine he occupies a
small den in the Madison-square Bank
Building, whore there 10 room for n huge
desk, a stuffed leather chair for Mr. How
ellis. and for three or four chairs for the
literary aspirants who come in trembling
to submit 10 his judgment the samples Of
spring poetry, essays and stories which
come in endless procession 10 every recog-
nized publication. Sketches of proposed
illustrations, standing carelessly about.
relieve the %plainness of the Office. which 10
rigidiy business looking, much like the
corner OF the average managing editor OF Q
daily newspaper.
IL has been my pleasure and good fortune
to interview many men prominent in poll.
tics, financial circles and the world of sci
ence, art and literature. 1t has been my
experience that the most contented men
are those outside the world OF politics and
finance. A success in q professional career
seems TO bring greater happiness than in
any other. Mr.. Howells 10 one of the bess