The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-09

result of the Blown Up story and Mr..
Lewis shifted around 10 Lansing where
one winter he was engaged to act As a legis-
lative correspondent for a Detroit paper.
Next Mr. Lewis went to Detroit, where
he became a reporter for the same paper he
had served at Lansing. For the next three
years he did general work. making a spe-
cialty of the police beat. But it was not
as a reporter that young Lewis became
known TO the outside world, but as a spe-
cial writer. While doing police he met
Abiiah JOY. the eccentric, kind hearted. big
handed doorman at the Central station
house An Hour az the Central With Ri
lah' was NJ. Quad first bit in the special
line. il ran for some years and was very
widely copied. At this time Lewis was get
ting 50 a week, but was afterward raised
20 Sil. NJ. Quad remained with this paper
for upward Of % years working necessarily.
During all these labOrious years the pa
per that - made famous paid him very
low wages aud at the very last would not
make good an offer from one Of the largest
New York daiies. and so Mr. Lewis de-
oided 10 90 east His salary was 800 a
week This position be held for a year aud
a half, when he looked for a new field.
lie is now on the staff Of the American
Press ASSOCIATION.
lie is a man Of large charities and quick
human impulses. lie goes into the tene-
ment houses, never failing 10 have candies
and pennies 600 his pockets for the children,
and listening t0 the sad stories Of the poor
women, if he finds any of them short dol
lar or TWO on the rent, lac chips in his share.
lie is especially fond Of the sights aud
scenes along Water street, in New York, the
great quarter for .eafaring men.
His literary work begins early In the
morning. is continued tin noon, when be
stops for luncheon, aud after that be makes
trip through New York TO some point Of
interest After dinner he writes for an
hour or two more aud then is finished for
the day. He has little grandchild. who
often sits boz bis lap as be works. scarcely
disturbing him lu his composition His
manuscripts runs about 20 words to a page
and is as clear a. copper print.
He Uses lead pencil and for corrections
Arubber, ~ that there are no interliuea-
tious. marks OF scratches boo bis work lie
frequently writes 81. or 80 pages without n
break or "a halt. such is bis marvellous lu-
ency of expression. Ills study j. a long
narrow room ou the top foor Of his Brook
lIu home. j. IS very plainly furnished,
having boo it only the necessary articles for
his work. On tbe wall behind him is a
large tract chart Of thc world, used ia writ
Ing bis sea stories.
Charles b. Lewis i- indeel "a wonderful
YET modest man, and in all the so active
years Of his labor am satisfied that the
real facts as 60 bis personality literary hab-
d., ETC., such a- are given here. never have
been penned. Hr does not vauut himself for
DIS ability or bis industry Ire speaks Of
these gifts a. "a matter of fact. lie consid-
crs his genius, although be- does not use
that word as an inheritance. and that on
thi- account bee Is merely fulfilling his duty
in doing the extraordinary work that falls
from biz pen. JOIN HuBElT GEEusEr.