Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-26
UNDER A BEECH TREE
1T WAS THERE LEW WALLACE
WROTE "BEN-HUR."

Home OF the Soldier, NOvelt0t 0D0
Diplomat In Crawfordsville, Ina.
His Library studiO-H0w General
Wallnce Came ia Write "Ben-Hur."
Charlottesville. Ind. the home OF
General Lew Wallace. the world ia
nous author of "Ben-H ur." Ia n city Of
about 10000 inhabitants and Is forty.
four miles from Indianapolis. Near the
center Of the town is n grove OF veneer.
able beeches and Gins. In this beauti-
full grove is the home associated for
many yeazp past with the labors Of the
distinguished, soldier, novelist, diplo-
mat and poet. Under one of the most
stately of these old trees the greater
part Of "Ben-Hur' was written.
The grounds of the Wallace estate
comprise about seven acres. and n ro-
nance is connected with the story OF
the location OF the authors home In
this romantic spot. In 1852. when he
was twenty-five years of age. General
Wallace married Miss Susan Arnold
Elston, daughter of one OF Crawfords-
ville's leading citizens. Major Elston.
whose home was in the center of n
park of forty to fifty acres of forest
trees. Major Elston had several dauch-
tiers, and one of them married Colonel
Henry s. Lane. United States senator
from Indiana during the war. AS the
children left the parental roof they es-
tablished their individual homes i'll diff
ferent parts of the large grove. For
years it was the custom OF the daugh
tiers to call every morning at the old
home on the mother, a lady Of strong
and beautiful character.
Some years ago General Wallace
erected on his estate the building
which constitutes it's most noteworthy
feature, his library and studio. 1t In
one of the most elaborate and artis-
tically furnished literary workshops In
the United States, and the general was
several years In planning and erecting
it. Casual passersby might mistake 1t
for either a church or museum. 1t
partakes of the character of library,
studio. museum. art gallery and work
shop. Its portico Is pure Greek, the
main portion of the structure Is By
zantine and the tower Is ROmanesque.
The interior is one large room, flooded
with light from the glass dome. The
bookshelves surrounding the apart
ment contain a library of much value,
and above them the walls are hung
with paintings and engravings, while
statuary and oriental relics increase
the artistic appearance of the scene.
Here are many of the souvenirs and
objects of virtu acquired by the au-
thor in the course of his career.
Not only have General Wallace's
books been money makers for author
@l.nt,. n tfx.f
has been source of revenue quite ex-
ceptiOnal in the case OF a literary man.
General Wallace was averse To the
idea when the proposition of putting
Ben Hur" ON the stage was first
preached to him. He was afraid In
Producing sacred scenes before the
footlights would border on irreverence.
IL not indeed cross the bounds. This
fear has not been realized The drama
tization of the famous novel has been
one of the most pronounced OF recent
stage successes. 1t was estimated not
long ago that the royalties of the au-
thor brought him ut least $4,000 a
year from this play.
1t was n conversation with Colonel
Robert q. Ingersoll that induced Cen
eral Wallace to write the story OF
Christ and his times. which gave him
his greatest fame and which has been
published I'm many different languages
and sold I'm all parts of the world. The
conversation with Ingersoll. SO far
from making the author confirmed
skeptic. set him to thinking on reii-
gious subjects. He had not given them
deep study before. but his research
and reflection turned him from a doubt
er to a firm believer in God and Christ.
He had already begun short story
based on the meeting OF the wise men
and the birth OF Christ. He determined
to remodel this story and make il an
elaborate work. The research he made
In connection with the subject togeth-
er with the actual composition OF the
story. consumed five years.
1t was "Ben-Hur'' which made Cen
eral Wallace minister To Turkey. When
President Garfield appointed him to
this post he told him TO take enough
time from his duties as minister to
write another book dealing with the
orient The result was THE Prince OF
India" which. though not such n re
markable success as 'Ben-Hur" has
had a very large sale.
- The Voice of Experience.