Woman of the Century/Susan Arnold Elston Wallace

WALLACE, Mrs. Susan Arnold Elston, author, born in Crawfordsville, Ind., 25th December, 1830. Her maiden name was Susan Arnold Elston. She was an active, intelligent girl, and received a good education in the schools of her native town and New York. In 1852 she became the wife of Gen. Lewis Wallace, now amous as the author of "Ben Hur." During the Civil War she saw much of camp-life and war in general. They made their home in Crawfordsville, where General Wal- lace practiced law after the war. From 1878 to 1881 he was governor of New Mexico, and Mrs. Wallace passed those years in that Territory. From 1881 to 1885 she was with him in Turkey, where he was serving as United States minister. They were popular in that oriental land, and Mrs. Wallace was permitted to see more of the life of oriental women than any other woman before her had seen. General Wallace was the intimate friend of the Sultan. During their residence in the orient they gathered from travel and observation much of the material for their books In 1885 they returned to their home in Crawfordsville. where General Wallace resumed the practice of law and wrote his famous books. Mrs. Wallace has been a frequent contributor to newspapers and magazines for many years, contributing stories and poems. Her most widely known poem is "The Patter of Little Feet." Her published books are "The Storied Sea" (Boston. 1884): "Ginevra, or the Old Oak Chest" (New York, 1887); "The Land of the Pueblos," with other papers, (1888), and "The Repose in Egypt" (1888). She gives a good deal of attention to charitable movements, and her home is a literary and social center.