Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-24

brick and stone are the materials from which
the walls are built. The structure stands
in the center of the wooded grounds sur
rounding the authors home at Crawfords-
vile.
1t is nearly surrounded by a moat and
suggests simultaneously a medieval castle
and an Oriental mosque. The interior is one
great room. with the exception CT an en-
trance corridor and a mechanical apartment
in the rear. The immense study 4uom is
flooded by day with mellow light, which
enters only at the dome; at night is bril-
liant with a score of electric lamps of many
varieties. The ceiling of the dome is fres-
coed in limitation of ivory, the walls down
to the bookcases are finished in a silver
green, or, as General Wallace expresses
it, the color of the under side Of an olive
leaf. On the book shelves, filled with the
authors working library, sit busts of Ben
Hur, his sister, the Princess OF India and
Princess Irene, the heroine of the writer's
last romance. Numerous engravings, paint
ings, bits of s~tatuary and Oriental relics in
crease the artistic flavor of the room. Sew
eral of the paintings are the product of his
own brush. In the center of the room stands
a big mahogany table Uttered with letters,
books and manuscript. Large and small
rugs partially cover the cement floor.
The building is heated by a furnace in the
basement, which is kept going day and
night in winter. The basement comprises
several cemented damp proof rooms, in
Guiding wine cellar and a kitchen with a
stove for preparing hot collations to visit
ing friends.
In this structure sits General Wallace day
after day, hard at work on a new novel,
which he hopes will duplicate the success of
Ben Hur.''
The other morning I called upon the gem
eral. / found him in the studio sitting in
an armchair. in which he does all his liter
airy work, near the huge open fireplace,
and he welcomed me in his hearty fashion.
He was clad in a sack coat, with q belt
hanging loose. He is ruddy and straight, a
picture Of robust health, and yet is 70 years
of age.
In reply to questions, the general told the
story of his working day as follows:
Il begin to write at about 9 a. m. Keep
at work till noon. Resume about 1870 p. m.
and leave my studio about 4 o'clock. l then
exercise for two hours. I walk or ride
horseback, according to the weather. When
X rains ! put On a pair of heavy boots and
trudge five to seven miles across the coun-
try. ! usually ride a dozen miles. To this
habit of taking regular exercise / attribute
any good health. ] eat just what | want,
and as much as ] want. When night comes
l lie own and sleep like a child, never once
waking till morning. ! usually retire at $3.50
and rise at 1880, aiming to secure nine hours
sleep. l smoke at pleasure, a pipe or cigar,
but never a cigarette.
The amount OF work I produce in a day
varies greatly. Sometimes / write 400 and
sometimes 200 words. What | write today
in the rough tomorrow morning ! will re-
UiSa marianne ra1upiDu n IN tuputv unrbs
perhaps striking out all the days work and
beginning at the same point once more. That
constitutes my second copy. When the
proofs come from the publisher another re-
vision takes place. II consists chiefly of con-
densation and eXpurgaticn,"
He never writes sitting at a table. Instead
he sits in a reclining chair ana writes on a
l~apboard that rests on its arms, The sur
face of the cupboard is covered with chamois
skin. which keeps the paper from slipping.
In this manner General Wallace is always
comfortable.
On the wall of the studio / noticed a strik-
ing painting, On inquiry l learned 1t was a
portrait of the sultan OF Turkey, painted
by General Wallace himself after returning
from his frequent visits TO His Most Wor-
shipful Majesty" while ambassador of the
United States at Constantinoplc. 1t is the
only accurate portrait Of the sultan eXtant.
for he has forbidden the making and taking
Of .ikenesses Of his sacred person. With
great interest | studied the face. which was
sad, yet powerful aud fascinating. The sui
tan conceived an unparalleled regard for
General Wallace during the ~latter's four
years stay in Constantinople. He would
sometimes SEND for the American author TO
come to Yildiz palace in the middle OF the
night TO secure his opinion on some inn
portant question. Sometimes he would have
the general remain at the palace for a week
at a time, Thus Mr.. Wallace is probably
more intimately acquainted with the up
holder of the crescent than any foreigner
living.
When rising to leave / asked the general
what, 10 a word, he considered the secret Of
his success. In answer he said;
Work and as an author. the doing it my
self With my own hand, not by means OF a
typewriter or amanuensis or stenographer.
To work ! would add universal reading"