The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-27
WANTS A NEW PLOT
Leon Lewis, Famous Novelist,
Coming to Wichita
TO SEE VIM. MAT THEWS0N
And Secure Material For New
Tales of the West.
70 SEE VIM. MATTHEWS0N

Leon Lewis. Of New York City. che emf
nent story writer, who has PROBABLY writ
ten as many good stories of western life
as any other writer. Is coming TO Wichita
10 visit William Matthewson. the original
Buffalo Bill He IS not 50 Old yet but
that he can write stories and he viii prob
ably visit Mr.. 8Iatthewson for the purpose
OF getting a plot for a new story.
a few weeks ago when o. H. Bentley
was in New York City, he met Leon
Lewis. and during the conversation he in
formed Mr. Bentley that re had read in
the Wichita Eagle, or from a clipping
therefrom, the account Of Bill Matthe Nson
killing the buffalo at the stock yards. He
said he read the account with much pleas
ure. that It was well written and that he
was going on a visit 10 Cherokee county.
Kansas. this summer and would visit
Wichita and hunt up BIZ MattheBson and
have talk with him.
Mr.. Bentley gives a very interesting ac-
count Of his meeting with the celebrated
novelist. He says that upon a recent trip
TO New York, while stopping al the Ban
croft House, at the corner Of Twenty
and Broadway, his attention was attracted
by a man Of a very sGldierly bearing,
whose constant companion was a little
boy, a lad about Il years Of age. The
man was about 70 years OF age, his mus
tache was large and grizzled and ne wore
q s-ouch hat and locked very much Ike
a plainsman. The lad was his SON Leon
Lewis occupies a most unique position in
literature. Years ago ne and Harriet
Lewis, his wife, were the main story
writer's Of the New York Ledger when
that periodical was al its zenith, as a
family story paper. Many story readers
here have perhaps read the Girl Hermit,
or the Wild Man Of Huron" which was
written by Mr.. Lewis years ago, in the
New York Ledger. Tbs was one Of many
stories OF like character. Mr.. Bentley rad
several conversations and talks with Ma
jor Lewis, and the major showed him
contract which he had with Robert Bon
ner, signed by himself and wife, in which
they agreed to write fifty serial stories
each, a 5000 per story. This contract
they filed and received their pay n ac-
cordance with its terms. They afterwards
wrote their stories together, the major
writing one chapter, his wife writing the
next chapter, and the major writing the
third, and so on. The astonishing fact
was made known that the novelist has
earned more than 100000 by his peg He
Is now engaged in writing short serial
stories for the New York Journal, his
latest story being the adventures Of Andree
and his party. while on their balloon vey-
age.
Mr. Lewis informed Mr.. Bentley that
for ten or fiftsen years that he was writ
ing stories for the New York Ledger. he
always made Buffalo Bill his hero. II was
his custom 10 get his heroine into some
desperate strait, freed by wolves or sur
rounded by hostile Indians, and then have
Buffalo Bill dash TO the rescue. Leon
Lewis and Ned Buntline made Buffalo
Bill famous. Mr.. Lewis Is acquainted with
many Of the noted VIaiasmel, General
Miles, Custer and Sheridan during their
lives, and other distinguished men Of the
border He Is fun Of interesting reminis-
cences OF the plains, and anecdotes cover
ing the lives and actions Of many Of the
border heroes. having known them person.
ally.
Mrs. Harriet Lewis died several years
ago, but her name and that 81 Leon Lewis
IS attached to about fifty Of the most read
zble and interesting Of The BeadLs and
Munroe dime novels, as well as 10 s5ne OF
the most readable stories Of he New York
Ledger. Mr.. Lewis belongs to the Captain
King. Ned Buntline and Major Henry In
man class Of story writers, class Which
IS fast passing away. Should he carry out
his Intention OF visiting Mr.. Matthewson,
there Is no doubt but that he viii De vel
repaid for his trip to Wicaita.