Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-18
" ALLACE
is DEAD
FAMOUS AMERICAN AUTHOR OF
BEN HuR" sUccUMRs TO
ILLNESS.
HAD A VARIED CAREER

Civil Wars and Was Close Friend
Of Four Presidents-story Of the
Writing Of "Ben Hur."
Charlottesville, Ind, Feb. 16.--Sur-
rounded by his family. General Lew
Wallace, author of "Ben Hur," died at
his homo here last night
The health of General Wallace had
been waning for several years. For
months 1t has been known that his
vigorous constitution could not with
stand the ravages of wasting dis
ease. For more than year he had
been unable properly to assimilate
food.
At no time had ne ever confessed
his belief that the end was near, and
his rugged constitution and remark
able vitality have been responsible for
prolonging his life several months.
Something more than year ago
Gen. Wallace went to New York and
consulted some Of the most eminent
specialists of the country, but he had
little encouragement. He believed he
was suffering from chronic indigestion
but 1t became kown that his disease
was cancer of the stomach. During
the last few weeks he has been en-
gagged on his autobiography, but a
week ago he was compelled to aban-
den his work. He did not concede,
however. that he was going to die. AS
late as Monday he spoke of going to
his farm as soon as spring opened,
and predicted that he would get well.
Has Had Varied Career.
Gen. Lew Wallace was 7s years old,
author of 'Ben Hur." "The Fair God"
and "The Prince Of India" a gallant
soldier in the Mexican and the civil
wars, a member Of the diplomatic
corps to two nations and charming
American gentleman.
But his fame will rest upon book.
The names of ben Hur'' and Lew
Wallace are inseparable. The first is
known in almost every American
household and with it is connected that
Of its author.
Lew Wallace was "Hoosier" first,
last, and all the time. He was born
in Brookyille, Ind, in 1927. In the
state he practiced law, tried his hand
at painting, became soldier, and, the
war over, went back home to his
books, his forests, and his writings
Under an Indiana tree Ben Hur" was
begun and seven years later was fin
| ished.
Its ideas, forming as the work went
on, made the author a convert to
Christianity
While Gen. Wallace was stationed at
the sultan's court, 1881 to 1885, he
gathered the materials for 1.-THE
Prince of India" While governor of
New Mexico, in 1s7S-18S1. the basis
for "The Fair God" was laid.
"Ben-Hur" Leads to appointment.
It was the writing of Ben Hur" that
made General Lew Wallace minister
| to Turkey This is how it occurred
as told by the general:
President Garfield and I had been
| friends for years, and when he was
elected president he sent for me. Our
relations were such that he usually
called me Lew, or Wallace. AS / en-.
tered his room he said that he was
anxious to have me in the diplomatic
service, and that he thought OF max.
ing me minister. to Uruguay or, Para.
quay.
81 replied that knew but little of
South America, and did not think
| that my going there would help either
| the governments or myself. He then
replied that he would send me to Con.
stantinople on condition that would
write book during my stay. Said he:
I9"I want you to give the world another
nnuoI onnd q tPan.pnr'o
But, Mr.. President said 1, if am
minister to Turkey I shall have pre-
cious little leisure to write books. My
time will be taken up in diplomatic
work
"'That matter will arrange ITSELF
said President Garfield. If you will
take the appointment we will see that
you have plenty of time
We'll, I thought it over and decided
to go, and shortly afterward received
my commission, with the words and
initials 'Ben-Hur. ]. A. G. in the
| lower left hand cornes.. I then sailed
for Europe, and when I reached there
received cable saying that Garfield
had been shot.
How "Ben-Hur" Was Written.
Gen. Wallace's work on "Ben-Hur'
lasted seven years. He started the
book as a novelette,, but became more
interested in 1t as he went on with
his studies of Christ. One of the re-
markable things about 1t is its vivid
pictures of Palestine notwithstanding
1T was published before Gen. Wallace
had visited that country. Gen. Wal
lace once said:
II doubt if any novel has ever had
more careful studies for its background
and life than those made for Ben Hur.'
| knew that tho novel would be criti-
cised b. men who had devoted their
life to biblical lore. and l studied
Palestine through maps and books.
read everything in the way of travel,
scientific investigation, and geogra-
ply had scores of maps and worked
I L = <S.., 49,. Z