The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-19
FOUR WARM CHUMS
THEY DROPPED THE SWORD AND
TOOK UP THE PEN.

Left West Point to Become Distinguished
In the World of Letters-Walker, Hardy
Savage and Captain King-A Distinguish
ed Group Of Litterateurs.
Especial Correspondence.l
NEW YORK, May IA year or two
after the close of the civil war there en-
tered the new class at West Point Military
academy four young men coming from
different parts Of the country, all of whom
were destined to make popular regulations,
although in fields Of energy entirely differ
ent from that one which West Point is
supposed to prepare young men for. After
acquaintance ripened into friendship, as 1t
does between different members of college
classes, congenial groups sooner or later
getting into association, these young men
found themselves in intimate companion
ship. Their quarters were in the turret-
like part Of the barracks building upon the
same floor, and the rooms Of these four
were adjoining They were then full Of
enthusiasm for army life.
One Of them became distinguished
among his mates as a mathematician of
high order, and it was evident before he
had finished his first year at West Point
that he would take very high standing in
his class, perhaps the first in mathematics.
Another developed especial capacity for
tactics and was very fond Of studying the
strategy and science Of war. A third was
amost energetic young fellow, conspicuous
for no particular thing, yet standing well
in all, and soon came to the leadership Of
his class not in scholarship, but in his in
1uence among the men. The fourth was
student of history and literature, and he
looked forward to the time when he might
&c assigned to duty upon the plains, hav-
ing some original notions as to the man.
ner in which the army should deal with
the Indians.
Today these four men are friends, hav-
ing kept up the acquaintance since they
left West Point, and, strangely enough,
they are all distinguished for successful
work not as army officers, but as writers
or men having TO do with the publication
of writing. They are not in the army, but
they are earning more money than they
could hope to do as army officers, some of
them receiving yearly income larger than
the senior major general Of the United
States army does in salary. These
four West Pointers, who are not now of
the army, are John Brisben Walker, AL
pheus S. Hardy, Colonel Richard Savage
and Captain Charles King, or Charley
King, as he is known to his friends.
Mr.. Walker is perhaps better known as
the editor and publisher of one of the lead
ing magazines than as writer, although
after he left the army he was for some
years a newspaper writer and managing
editor at one time Of the now traditional
Washington Chronicle. He took hold of
that was almost moribund, and
after an expenditure of some $500, 600 Sc
cured for it a circulation Of over goo, 600
copies and a renlunerative income. Mr..
Walker is now erecting, almost within
stones throw of Woolfert's Roost, the
homo of Washington Irving, a great build
ing fashioned in imitation of the senate
wing of the capitol in Washington. Here
his magazine will be made. Even the edito-
rial offices are to be removed from New
York city to it.
Mr.. Walkers associate editor is his old
West Point chum and lifelong friend, Pro-
fessor Hardy. After Hardy was graduated
from West Point it was thought by his in
structors and his associates that he might
become conspicuous as an engineer, or, if
he chose teaching, as an instructor and per-
haps writer upon mathematics. He did
write one work upon one of the most diff
cult branches of mathematics which
brought him great repute among mathe
maticians He became professor of math-
ematics in Dartmouth college, and while
holding that post he surprised his friends
and delighted cultured public by an IN
expected novel, but Yet a Woman"
The surprise to his friends was caused by
the revelation that this mathematician had
also remarkable powers as romancer and
teller of delightful tales. The public, not
knowing of his mathematical powers, sim
ply recognized in this book the advent of a
new writer from whom almost anything
IN romantic literature might reasonably
be expected Mr.. Hardy followed this first
novel a year or two later with another,
and he has written some charming poetry.
Captain King saw much service upon
he plains, as he hoped when a student to
10, but in consequence Of Ill health he was
compelled to give up active life in the I,
army and at first, perhaps more to occupy
lis time than to crafty a literary ambi-
ion, he wrote stories of army life. They !
we're instantly popular, and Of late he has |
,eceived the highest praise from one of the |
most famous and successful OF living gen.
rails, himself a successful writer. Lord |
Nolseley, who has said that Captain Kings |
description of charge at the battle of 1
gettysburg is one of the most graphic and |
perfect OF battle pen pictures. Captain /
Kings earnings from his stories are large, 1
md military men who have read his writ I
ngs believe that il may be his lot 70 write /
he really great story of the civil war.
The fourth of this group, Colonel Rich
I'D Savage, has not long laid aside the |
word TO take up the pen. His first story, |
Ny Official Wife," while it lacked per- /
laps literary grace, was thrilling tale Of |
dventure and intrigue and had an enor-
nous sale. 1t brought his name to the |
ront Of the writers of that sort of litera-
ure. He has since produced with rapidity
lmost equal to Dumas novels of adven-
ure, which find ready sale
These four men are the most distin-
uished group of litterateurs who have ever
ONE from West Point. Fenimore Cooper
5 an officer in the American navy OBJ
aimed many of the incidents afterward
Torked into his famous sea tales, and Cap
Ain Mahan, graduate OF the Naval aca6-
my, has written two very profound works
pom the ssa power in the making OF his
Dry, which have caused the ablest men OF
urope to give him rank among the most
rilliant writer's of philosophical history.
Z. J. EDWARDS.
A Great Gain.
rHo .---- ,oo 49,, .1, |