The morning call., 1894-10-29

stories. For four and half years L lived
in the country and made study OF the
people,"
Respecting the subject for his next book
the general politely but hrmly refused 10
supply any information.
II write slowly" he said in explanation
"Most people VINO write books nowadays
dash them off in few months. Ii | made
my subject public Others might use 1t first,
and then when by book was ready might
be accused of plagiarism"
1t was some question about his book
GA Fall God" that made the author of
"Ben Hur' become more personal and less
literary in bis recollectiOns. "MOst of that
book was written before ] started into
Mexico. In that day | was regarded as a
filiDuster. Before the CoDfederacy col
lapsed Grant sent me on a secret service
to find out if Mexico would arrest
the rebels who might rush across the from
tier. L discovered that she would and was
then engaged to supply arms. In that
way Mexico was enabled to nut forces in
the field and finally catch MaxmiliaD-
then you remember he was shot" 1t was
the Federal soldier in General Wallace
that made the latter statement. He al
luded 10 having been the main factor that
led TO the shooting of MaXimiliaD more
calmly. and prosaically than he had de-
Scribed getting vines from a well.
just as the death of the unfortunate
Emperor was reached in the generals
story an old companion-in-arms entered
the room. Don't you remember me?
We fought together at Shiloh" said the
eX-solder, evidently eager for recognition.
mo; your face has escaped my memory"
replied the author. slowly scanning mis-
features; but l am glad TO meet you. very
glad," and he shook the man warmly by
the hand and made him take seat. Then
the two soldiers began to talk about
Shiloh.
II have been severely criticized for my
conduct there" said General Wallace, a
shade of sadness coming over his slow.
grave manner. Let them critlclZr, said
the commandments, enthusiastically :;
your soldiers knew better"
Yes. / have yet to meet the man in
my division who was not on my side in
the 6ght," replied the general, with a
smile of genuine pleasure at the enthu-
siasm. Newspapers, however, even up
TO to-day, blame me for nos Fastening
more over those almost impossible roacs.
| read an article on the subject in one of
your California papers not long ago. 1t Is
not often stated that when ] demanded a
court of inquiry they refused it. Officers
were sent round TO make inquiries, but the
testimony of the officers who were with
me was not taken In the record"
'Shiloh was terrible BATTLE" said the
old soldier. You are right" replied the
author OF ben Hur. Il we'll remember
while it was raging my horse had to cross
a little stream. The sound of the running
water made me remember how parched
my tongue was. and ! dismounted and
scooped up a handful to drink. What
was my horror TO find that the water was
so tinged with blood that it was deeu
crimson"
A regularity of General Wallace's was
shown in the drift the conversation took
after this CHASTITY little incident had been
told. The companion in arms, who had at
last succeeded in making himself recog-
niZed, began 10 talk about his OVID pangs
of thirst in the battle, and then flew off
at a tangent to his personal health
and that of the author of ben Hur." The
famous writer made no attempt to divert
the conyersatio into other channels. BE
consented to let it be guided entirely by
the man with whom he was talking; just
as be had let the conversation during the
preceding hour be guided by his other
visitors.
Il am suffering from very severe
cold. 1t is in my head, and is very annoy
ing. Too much glorious climate already
Not at all. This is not California cold,
It's an Oregon cold, an importation direct
from Salem. Ii to-day is sample of the
California climate. L think it would be diff
flcult to take cold here"