第3章

YourMOTHER。

ThisisaletterwrittenbymyfatherafterthepublicationofRichard"sstory"AWalkuptheAvenue。"Richardfrequentlyspokeofhisfatherashis"kindestandseverestcritic。"

PHILADELPHIA，July22nd，1890。

10。30P。M。

MYDEARBoy:

Youcandoit；youhavedoneit；itisallright。IhavereadAWalkuptheAvenue。Itisfarandawaythebestthingyouhaveeverdone——Fulloffinesubtlethought，ofrare，manlyfeeling。

IamnotafraidofDicktheauthor。He"sallright。Ishallonlybeafraid——whenIamafraid——thatDickthemanwillnotliveuptotheotherfellow，thathemayforgethowmuchthegoodLordhasgivenhim，andhowresponsibletothegoodLordandtohimselfheisandwillbeforit。Amanentrustedwithsuchtalentshouldcarryhimselfstraighterthanotherstowhomitisdenied。Hehasgreatdutiestodo；heowestributetothegiver。

Don"tlettheworld"stemptationsinanyofitsformscomebetweenyouandyourwork。Makeyourlifeworthyofyourtalent，andhumblybydayandbynightaskGodtohelpyoutodoit。

Iamveryproudofthiswork。Itisgoodwork，withbrain，bone，nerve，muscleinit。Itishuman，withhealthypulseandheartsomeglowinit。Remember，hereafter，youhavebyitputonthebarsagainstyourselfpreventingyoudoinganyworklessgood。Youhaveyourselfmadeyourrecord，youcan"tlowerit。Youcanonlybeatit。

Lovingly，DAD。

InthelatterpartofDecember，1890，RichardleftTheEveningSuntobecomethemanagingeditorofHarper"sWeekly。GeorgeWilliamCurtiswasthenitseditor，andatthistimenoperiodicalhadabroaderorgreaterinfluenceforthewelfareofthecountry。AsRichardwasthenbuttwenty-six，hisappointmenttohisneweditorialdutiescameasadistincthonor。ThetwoyearsthatRichardhadspentonTheEveningSunhadbeenprobablythehappiesthehadeverknown。HereallylovedNewYork，andatthistimeParisandLondonheldnosuchplaceinhisaffectionsastheydidinlateryears。Andindeedtherewassmallreasonwhytheseshouldnothavebeenhappyyearsforanyyoungman。Attwenty-sixRichardhadalreadyaccomplishedmuch，andhisnamehadbecomeafamiliaronenotonlytoNewYorkersbutthroughoutthecountry。Youthandhealthhehad，andmanyfriends，andatalentthatpromisedtocarryhimfarintheprofessionheloved。Hisnewpositionpaidhimasalaryconsiderablylargerthanhehadreceivedheretofore，andhenowdemandedandreceivedmuchhighertermsforhisstories。

AllofwhichwaswellforRichardbecauseashisincomegrewsogrewhistastes。Ihaveknownfewmenwhocaredlessformoneythandidmybrother，andIhaveknownfewwhocaredmoreforwhatitcouldbuyforhisfriendsandforhimself。Moneytohim，and，duringhislifehemadeverylargesumsofit，healwayschosetoregardasincomebutnevercapital。AbondorashareofstockmeanttohimwhatitwouldbringthatdayontheStockExchange。Therainydaywhichisthebugabooforthemostofus，neverseemedtoshowonhishorizon。Foramanwhoselivelihooddependedonthelastingqualityofhiscreativefacultieshehadaninfinitefaithinthefuture，andindeedhisownexperienceseemedtoshowthathewasjustifiedinthisbelief。Itcouldnothavebeenverylongafterhisstartasafictionwriterthathereceivedashighapriceforhisworkasanyofhiscontemporaries；

andjustprevioustohisdeath，morethantwentyyearslater，hesignedacontracttowritesixstoriesatafigurewhich，sofarasIknow，wasthehighesteverofferedanAmericanauthor。Inanycase，moneyorthelackofitcertainlynevercausedRichardanyworrimentduringtheearlydaysofwhichIwrite。Forwhathemadeheworkedextremelyhard，butthereputationandthespendingofthemoneythatthissamehardworkbroughthimcausedhiminfinitehappiness。Heenjoyedthereputationhehadwonandthefriendsthatsuchareputationhelpedhimtomake；heenjoyedentertainingandbeingentertained，andheenjoyedprettymuchallofthegoodthingsoflife。Andallofthisheenjoyedwiththenaive，almostboyishenthusiasmthatonlyonecouldtowhomithadallbeenmadepossibleattwenty-six。OfthesehappydaysBoothTarkingtonwroteatthetimeofmybrother"sdeath:

"TothecollegeboyoftheearlyninetiesRichardHardingDaviswasthe`beauidealofjeunessedoree，"asophisticatedheartofgold。Hewasofthatcollegeboy"sownage，butalreadyaneditor——alreadypublishingbooks!Hisstalwartgoodlookswereasfamiliartousaswerethoseofourownfootballcaptain；weknewhisfaceasweknewthefaceofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates，butweinfinitelypreferredDavis"s。WhentheWaldorfwaswondrouslycompleted，andwecutanexam。inCuneiformInscriptionsforanexcursiontoseetheworldatlunchinitsnewmagnificence，andRichardHardingDaviscameintothePalmRoom——then，oh，then，ourdaywasradiant!Thatwasthetopofourfortune；wecouldneverhavehopedforsomuch。Ofallthegreatpeopleofeverycontinent，thiswastheonewemostdesiredtosee。"

Richard"sintimatefriendsofthesedayswereCharlesDanaGibson，whoillustratedanumberofmybrother"sstories，RobertHowardRussell，AlbertLaMontagne，HelenBenedict，nowMrs。ThomasHastings，EthelBarrymore，MaudeAdams，E。H。

Sothern，hisbrother，Sam，andArthurBrisbane。Noneofthislittlecirclewasmarriedatthetime，itsvariousmemberswereseldomapart，andtheyextractedanenormousamountoffunoutoflife。IhadrecentlysettledinNewYork，andwehadroomsat10EastTwenty-eighthStreet，wherewelivedverycomfortablyformanyyears。IndeedRicharddidnotleavethemuntilhismarriageinthesummerof1899。Theywereverypleasant，sunnyrooms，andinthesitting-room，whichRichardhadmadequiteattractive，wegavemanyteasandsupper-parties。ButofallthehappyincidentsIcanrecallattheTwenty-eighthStreethouse，theoneIremembermostdistinctlytookplaceinthehallwaythenightthatRichardreceivedthefirststatementandcheckforhisfirstbookofshortstories，andbeforethemoneyhadbeguntocomeinasfastasitdidafterward。Wewereonourwaytodinneratsomemodestresortwhenwesawandatoncerecognizedthelongenvelopeonthemantel。Richardguesseditwouldbeforonehundredandninetydollars，butwitharatherdoubtingheartI

raisedmyguesstothreehundred。Andwhen，withtremblingfingers，Richardhadfinallytornopentheenvelopeandfoundacheckforninehundredandodddollars，whatawilddancewedidaboutthehall-table，andwhatadinnerwehadthatnight!

Notatthemodestrestaurantasoriginallyintended，butatDelmonico"s!ItwasduringthesedaysthatSeymourHicksandhislovelywifeEllalineTerrissfirstvisitedAmerica，andtheyandRichardformedamutualattachmentthatlasteduntilhisdeath。

Richardhadalwaystakenanintenseinterestinthedrama，andatthetimehewasmanagingeditorofHarper"sWeeklyhadmadehisfirsteffortsasaplaywright。RobertHilliarddidaone-actversionofRichard"sshortstory，"HerFirstAppearance，"whichunderthetitleof"TheLittlestGirl"heplayedinvaudevilleformanyyears。E。H。SothernandRichardhadmanyschemesforwritingaplaytogether，buttheonlyactualresulttheyeverattainedwasaone-actversionSotherndidattheoldLyceumofmybrother"sstory，"TheDisreputableMr。Raegen。"Itwasanextremelytenseandabsorbingdrama，andSothernwasveryfineinthepartofRaegen，butfortheforty-fiveminutestheplayletlastedSothernhadtoholdthestagecontinuouslyalone，andasitprecededaplayoftheregulationlength，theeffortprovedtoomuchfortheactor"sstrength，andafterafewperformancesitwastakenoff。Althoughitwasseveralyearsafterthisthatmybrother"sfirstlongplaywasproducedheneverlostinterestinthecraftofplaywriting，andonlywaitedforthetimeandmeanstoreallydevotehimselftoit。

BOSTON，January22nd，1891。

DEARFAMILY:——

ThisisjusttosaythatIamaliveandsleepy，andthatmyheadisstillitsnormalsize，althoughIhaveatlastfoundonemaninBostonwhohasreadoneofmystories，andthatwasBarrymorefromNewYork。TheFairchilds"dinnerwasatremendousaffair，andIwasconqueredabsolutelybyMr。

Howells，whowentfar，faroutofhiswaytobeaskindandcharmingasanoldmancouldbe。YesterdayMrs。Whitmangaveateainherstudio。Ithoughtshemeanttohaveahalfdozenyoungpeopletodrinkacupwithher，andIsaunteredininthemostnonchalantmannertofindthatabouteverybodyhadbeenaskedtomeetme。Andeverybodycame，principallyowingtothe"HardingDavis"partofthenamefortheyallspokeofmotherandsoverydearlythatitmademeprettynearweep。

EverybodycamefromoldDr。Holmeswhonevergoesanyplace，toMrs。"Jack"Gardnerandallthedebutantes。"Iwasoninthatscene。"IntheeveningIwentwiththeFairchildstoMrs。JuliaWardHowe"stomeettheS——sbutmadeapointnottoashewastalkinglikeacadwhenIheardhimandMrs。

FairchildandIagreedtobetheonlypeopleinBostonwhohadnotclaspedhishand。TherewereonlyafewpeoplepresentandMrs。HowerecitedtheBattleHymnoftheRepublic，whichI

thoughtverycharacteristicofthecity。To-dayIposedagainandCumnocktookmeoverCambridgeandintoalloftheClubswhereImetsomeveryniceboysandfeltveryold。ThenwewenttoateaCushinggaveinhisroomsandtonightIgotoMrs。Deland"s。ButthemorningswiththeFairchildsarethebest。

DICK。

Inthespringof1891mymotherandsister，Nora，wentabroadforthesummer，andthefollowingnotewaswrittentoRichardjustbeforemymothersailed:

DEARDICK:

Thisisjusttogivemydearestlovetoyoumydarling。SomedayatseawhenIcannothearyounorseeyou，wheneveritisthatyougetit——nightormorning——youmaybesurethatwearealllovingandthinkingofyou。

KeepclosetotheLord。YourLordwhoneverhasrefusedtohearaprayerofyours。

JustthinkthatIhavekissedyouathousandtimes。

MOTHER。

FRANKLINSQUARE，NEWYORK。

June，1891。

DEARMOTHER:

YourlettersareagreatdelighttomebutIthinkyouaregoingentirelytooquickly。Youdonotfeelitnowbutyouaresimplyhurryingthroughthecoursesofyourlongdinnersorapidlythatwhendessertcomesyouwillnotbeuptoit。A

dayortwo"srestandlessgreedtoseemanythingswouldbemuchmorefunIshouldthink，andyouwillenjoythosedaysmoretolookbacktowhenyouwanderedaroundsomelittletownbyyourselvesandmadediscoveriesthanthoseyouspentdoingwhatyoufeelyououghttodo。ExcusethislecturebutIknowthatwhenIgottoParisIwantedtodonothingbutsitstillandreadandlet"sights"go——Youwillsoonlearnnottoduplicateandthatonecathedralwillanswerforadozen。AndIamdisappointedinyourmaddesiretogettoEdinborotogetlettersfromhome，asthoughyoucouldn"tgetlettersfrommeeverydayofyourlifeandasiftherewerenotenoughofyoutogethertokeepfromgettinghomesick。Iamashamedofyou。

ButthatisallthescoldingIhavetodoforIdonotknowwhathasgivenmemorepleasurethanyourlettersandNora"sespecially。Theytellmethebestnewsintheworldandthatis，thatyouareallgettingasmuchhappinessoutofitasI

haveprayedyouwould。ImaygooverinSeptembermyself。

ButIwouldonlygotoLondon。Now，thenforHomenews。

Ihavesoldthe"ReporterWhoMadeHimselfKing"toMcClure"sfor$300。tobepublishedinthesyndicateinAugust。Ihavefinished"HerFirstAppearance"andGibsonisdoingtheillustrations，three。Igot$175。forit。

IamnowatworkonastoryaboutArthurCumnock，Harvard"sfootballcaptainwhowastheheroofClassDay。ItwillcomeoutthisweekandwillmatchLieut。Grant"schance。InJulyIbeginastorycalledthe"Traveller"sTale"whichwillbeusedintheNovemberHarper。Thatisall_I_amdoing。

Sofarthenoticesof"Gallegher"havebeenverygood，ImeantheEnglishones。

IwentuptoClassDayonFridayandspentthedaywithMissFairchildandMissHowellsandwithMr。H。forchaperone。Heisgettingoldandsaysheneverdeservedthefusstheymadeoverhim。Wehadaprettyperfectdayalthoughitthreatenedrainmostofthetime。Wewanderedaroundfromonespreadtoanothermeetingbeautifullydressedgirlseverywhereand"lions"andcelebrities。ThenthefightfortherosesaroundthetreewasveryinterestingandpicturesqueandarenalikeandthebestofallwassittinginthebroadwindowseatsofthedormitorieswithaGirlortwo，generally"a"girlandlisteningtothegleeclubsingandwatchingthelanternsandthecrowdsofpeopleasbeautifulasRedferncouldmakethem。

HalfofSeabrightwasburntdownlastweekbutnotmyhalf，althoughthefiredestroyedallthestoresandfishermen"shousesandstoppedonlyonehouseawayfromPannachi"s，whereIwillputup。IamverywellandcontentandlookforwardtomuchpleasurethissummeratSeabrightandmuchwork。IfindIhaveseldombeensohappyaswhenworkinghardandfastasIhavebeenforcedtodotheselasttwoweeksandsoIwillkeepitup。Notinsuchawayastohurtmebutjustenoughtokeepmehappy。

DICK。

NEWYORK，August1891。

FromThePallMallBudgetGazette。

"TheAmericansaresaying，bytheway，thattheyhavediscoveredaRudyardKiplingoftheirown。ThisisMr。

RichardHardingDavis，avolumeofwhosestorieshasbeenpublishedthisweekbyMr。Osgood。Mr。Davisisonlytwenty-six，wasforsometimeonthestaffoftheNewYorkEveningSun。HeisnowtheeditorofHarper"sWeekly。"

Thatisme。IhavealsoamotherandsisterwhooncewenttoLondonandwhatdoyouthinktheyfirstwenttosee，inLondon，mindyou。Theygotintoafourwheelerandtheysaid"cabbydriveasfastasyoucan，"notknowingthatfourwheelersnevergofasterthanadeadmarch——"to——"wheredoyouthink？St。Paul"s，theTemple，theAbbey，theirlodgings，theHousesofParliament——thePavilionMusicHall——theTower——notononeofthese——"TothePostOffice。"Thatiswhatmymotherandsisterdid!Afterthiswhentheyhintthattheywouldliketogoagainandsay"thesemuffinsarenotEnglishmuffins"and"doyourememberthelittleInnatChester，ah，thosewerehappydays，"Iwillsay，"AnddoyourememberthePostOfficeinEdinburghandLondon。WehavenonesuchinAmerica。"AndastheyonlygoabroadtogetletterstheywillhereaftergotoRittenhouseSquareandIwillwriteletterstothemfromLondon。AllthisshowsthatasimplehurriedlywrittenletterfromRichardHardingDavisisofmorevaluethanalltheshowplacesofLondon。ItmakesmequitePROUD。Andsodoesthis:

"`Gallegher"isasgoodasanythingofBretHarte"s，althoughitisinMr。Davis"sownvein，notintheborrowedveinofBretHarteoranybodyelse。`TheCynicalMissCatherwaight"

isverygood，too，and`Mr。Raegen"isstillbetter。"

Butontheotherhand，itmakesmetired，andsodoesthis:

"`TheOtherWoman"isastorywhichoffendsgoodtasteinmorethanoneway。Itisablundertohavewrittenit，agreaterblundertohavepublishedit，andagreaterblunderSTILLtohaverepublishedit。"

IsupposenowthatDadhascrossedwithPrinceGeorgeandNorahasseentheEmperor，thatyouwillbeproudtoo。ButyouwillbeprouderofyourdarlingboyCharles，eventhoughhedoesgetwipedoutatSeabrightnextweekandyouwillbeevenprouderwhenhewritesgreatstoriesforTheEveningSun。

RICHARD。

ThePlayers，16GramercyPark。

24th，1891。

DEARFAMILY:

Ihadagreatdayatthegameandgoingthereandcomingback。

Imetagreatmanyoldfootballmenandalmostallofthemspokeofthe"OutoftheGame"story。Cumnock，Camp，Poe，Terryandlotsmorewhosenamesmeannothingtoyou，soignorantareyou，werethereandwehadlongtalks。

IwenttoseeClevelandyesterdayaboutathingofwhichI

havethoughtmuchandtalkedlessandthatwasgoingintopoliticsinthiscountry。Tosayhediscouragedmeinsodoingwouldbesayingtherainiswet。Heseemedtothinkbreakingstonesasameansofgettingfameandfortunewasquickerandmoregenteel。IalsosawherandtheBABY。SheexplainedwhyshehadnotwrittenyouandalsoincidentallywhysheHADwrittenChilds。IdonotknowaswhatClevelandsaidmademuchimpressionuponme——althoughIfoundoutwhatI

couldexpectfromhim——thatisnothingherebutapparentlyaplaceabroadifIwantedit。ButhethoughtCongresswasperfectlyfeasiblebutthegreatestfollytogothere。

DICK。

CHAPTERV

FIRSTTRAVELARTICLES

ForRichardthesefirstyearsinNewYorkwerefilledtooverflowingwithmanyvariedinterests，quiteenoughtosatisfymostyoungmenoftwenty-seven。Hehadcomeandseenandtoadegree，sofarasthelimitationofhisworkwouldpermit，hadconqueredNewYork，butRichardthoroughlyrealizedthatNewYorkwasnotonlyaverysmallpartoftheworldbutofhisowncountry，andthattowriteabouthisownpeopleandhisowncountryandotherpeopleandotherlandshemuststarthistravelsatanearlyage，andgoontravellinguntiltheend。Andforthetwenty-fiveyearsthatfollowedthatwaswhatRicharddid。EvenwhenhewasnotonhistravelsbutworkingonanoveloraplayatMarionorlateronatMountKisco，sofarasitwaspossiblehekeptintouchwitheventsthatwerehappeningandthefriendsthathehadmadeallovertheglobe。HesubscribedtomostoftheEnglishandFrenchillustratedperiodicalsandtooneLondondailynewspaperwhicheverydayhereadwiththesameinterestthathereadhalfadozenNewYorknewspapersandtheinterestwasalwaysthatofthetrainededitoratwork。Richardwasnotonlyphysicallyrestlessbuthismindpracticallyneverrelaxed。Whenothers，tiredafterahardday"sworkorplay，woulddevotetheeveningtocardsorbilliardsorchatter，Richardwouldwritelettersorporeoversomestrangeforeignmagazine，consultmaps，makenotes，orreadthestoriesofhiscontemporaries。HepracticallyreadeveryAmericanmagazinefromcovertocover——advertisementswereadelighttohim，andthefindingofanewwritergavehimasmuchpleasureasifhehadbeenthefictioneditorwhohadacceptedthefirststorybytheembryogenius。Theofficialorgansofourarmyandnavyhefoundofparticularinterest。NotonlydidhethusfollowthemovementsofhisfriendsinthesebranchesoftheservicebutifhereadofacasewhereinhethoughtasailororasoldierhadbeendoneaninjusticehewouldpromptlytakethematterupwiththeauthoritiesatWashington，andtheresultsheobtainedwereoftennotonlyextremelygratifyingtothewrongedpartybutcausedRichardnoendofpleasure。

Accordingtomybrother"sarrangementwiththeHarpers，hewastodevoteacertainnumberofmonthsofeveryyeartotheeditingofTheWeekly，andtheremaindertotravelandthewritingofhisexperiencesforHarper"sMonthly。HestartedonthefirstofthesetripsinJanuary，1892，andtheresultwasaseriesofarticleswhichafterwardappearedunderthetitleof"TheWestfromaCarWindow。"

January，1892。

(SomeplaceinTexas)

IleftSt。Louislastnight，Wednesday，andwenttobedandsleptfortwelvehours。To-dayhasbeenmosttryingandI

shallbeverygladtogetondrylandagain。ThesnowhasceasedalthoughthepaperssaythisisthecoldestsnaptheyhavehadinSanAntoniointenyears。ItmighthavewaitedamonthformeIthink。Ithasbeenamostdrearytripfromacarwindowpointofview。Nowthatthesnowhasgone，thereismudandiceandpinetreesandcoloredpeople，butnocowboysasyet。TheytalknothingbutChiliandwarandtheymakesuchfunnymistakes。WehaveaG。A。R。excursiononthetrain，consistingofonefatandprosperousG。A。R。，therestoftheexcursionhavingbackedoutonaccountofGarzawhothesalientwarriorsimagineasaroaringlionseekingwhomhemaydevour。Oneoldchapwithwhitehaircameonboardatadesolatestationandaskedfor"theboysinblue"andwasverymuchdisgustedwhenhefoundthat"thatgrasshopperGarza"hadscaredthemaway——Hehadtrampedfivemilesthroughthemudtogreetapossiblecomradeandwasmuchchagrined。Theexcursionshookhandswithhimandtheytookadrinktogether。

Theexcursiontellsmeheisaglassmanufacturer，anownerofaslatequarryandthebestembalmerofbodiesinthecountry。

Hesayshecankeepthemfouryearsanddoesso"forspecimens"thosethatareleftonhishandsandothershepurchasesfromthemorgue。HehasasonwhoisanactorandhefillsmefullofthemostharrowingtalesofIndianwarfareandthedetailsoftheundertakingbusiness。HeisSOfunnyaboutthelatterthatIweepwithlaughterandhecannotseewhy——JoeJeffersonandIwenttoamatineeonWednesdayandsawRobsonin"ShestoopstoConquer。"ThehousewasabsolutelypackedandwhenJoecameintheboxtheyyelledandapplaudedandhenoddedtotheminthemostfatherly，friendlywayasthoughtosay"Howareyou，Idon"tjustrememberyournamebutI"mgladtoseeyou——"ItwassomuchsweeterthanifhehadgotupandbowedasIwouldhavedone。

SANANTONIO

IknewmoreaboutTexasthantheTexansandwhentheytoldmeIwouldfindsummerhereIsmiledknowingly——ThatisallthesmilingIhavedone——DidyoueverseeastagesetforagardenorwoodscenebydaylightorConeyIslandinMarch——thatiswhattheglorious，beautifulbakingcityofSanAntonioislike。Thereismudandmudandmud——incans，inthegardensoftheMexicansandsnowaroundthepalmsandpalmettos——Doesthesunshineanywhere？Arepeopleeverwarm——Itisraw，uglyandmuddy，theMexicansaremerelydirtyandnotpicturesque。Iamgreatlydisappointed。ButI

havesetmyteethhardandIwillgoonandseeitthroughtothebitterend——ButIwillnotwriteanythingforpublicationuntilIcantakeamorecheerfulviewofit。IalreadyhavereachedthestagewhereIadmitthelaughisonme——ButthereisstillLondontolookforwardtoandthismaygetbetterwhenthesuncomesout——Iwenttothefortto-dayandwasmostcourteouslyreceived。ButtheytoldmeIshouldgoontoLaredo，ifIexpectedtoseeanycampaigning——ThereisnofightingnorisanyexpectedbuttheysaytheywillgivemeahorseandIcanridearoundthechaparralaslongasIwant。

IwillwriteyoufromLaredo，whereIgoto-morrow，Saturday——

DICK。

AtLaredoRichardleftthebeatentrackofthetraveller，andwithTrooperTyler，whoactedashisguide，joinedCaptainHardieinhissearchforGarza。Thefamousrevolutionistwassupposedtobeinhidingthissideoftheborder，andtheMexicanGovernmenthadaskedtheUnitedStatestofindhimandreturnhimtotheofficialsofhisowncountry。

InCamp，February2nd。

DEARMOTHER:——

WehavestoppedbythesideofatrailforawhileandIwilltakethechanceitgivesmetotellyouwhatIhavebeendoing。AfterTylerandIreturnedtocamp，wehadadayofrestbeforeCaptainHardiearrived。Heisayoung，red-moustached，pointed-beardedchapwithlightblueeyes，roughwithlivingintheWestbutmostkindheartedandenthusiastic。HetreatsmeasthoughIwerehissonwhichisratherabsurdasheisonlyuptomyshoulder。ItissohotI

cannotmakethewordsgostraightandyoumustnotmindifI

wander。Wearehuggingafenceforalltheshadethereisandthehorsesandmenhaveallcrawledtothedarksideofitandaresleepingorswearingatthesun。Itisabouttwoo"clockandwehavebeenridingsincehalf-pastseven。IhavehadafirstratetimebutIdonotseethattherehasbeenmuchinittointerestanyonebutmyselfandwhereHarperBrothersorthe"gentlereader"comesin，IamafraidIcannotsee，andifIcannotseeitIfearhewillbeinabadway。IthaspleasedandinterestedmetoseehowIcouldgetalongunderdifficultcircumstancesandwithsomuchdiscomfortbutasI

sayIwasnotsentoutheretoimprovemytemperormyhealthortomakememorecontentwithmygoodthingsintheEast。

Ifwecouldhaveafightorsomethingthatwouldexcuseandmakeaclimaxforallthismarchingandreconnoiteringanddiscomfortthestorywouldhaveasuitablefinaleandaraisond"etre。However，ImaygetsomethingoutofitifonlytoabusetheGovernmentfortheirstupidityinchasingajackrabbitwithabrassbandorbypraisingthemenfordoingtheirdutywhentheyknowthereisnodutytobedone。Thiscountryismoreliketheoceanthananythingelseanddrivesonecrazywithitsmonotonyanddesolation。AndtothinkwewenttowarwithMexicoforit——To-dayismytenthdaywiththetroopsinthecampandinthefieldandIwillleavethemassoonasthisscoutisoverwhichwillbeinthreedaysatthemost。ThenI

willgotoCorpusChristiandfromtheretotheranchesbutI

willwaituntilIgetbaths，haircutsandadinnerandcoolthingstodrink——OnethinghaspleasedmeverymuchandthatisthatI，withTylerandtheMexicanScoutmadethesecondbestridingrecordofthetroopsincetheyhavebeeninthefieldthiswinter。Theothersrode115milesin32hours，fourofthemunderthefirstSergeant，afterrevolutionists，andwemade110milesin33hours。Therestofthedetachmentmade90milesandourhavingtheextrathirtytoourcreditwasanaccident。Onthe31stHardiesentoutthescoutandtwotroopers，ofwhichTylerwasone，togetatrailandasI

hadbeenrestingandloafingforthreedays，Iwentoutwiththem。Weleftateightafterbreakfastandreturnedatseven，havingmadethirtymiles。Whenwegotinwefoundthatadetachmentwasgoingoutoninformationsentinwhilewewereout。Tylerwasinitandsowegotfreshhorsesandputoutatnineo"clockbymoonlight。Thatwastokeepthepeopleintheranchfromknowingweweregoingout。Werodeuntilhalf-pastthreeinthemorningandthencampedatthesideoftheroaduntilhalf——pastsix，whenwerodeonuntilfiveintheafternoon。ThemenwhowerewatchingtoseemegiveupgrewmoreandmoreinterestedasthemilesrolledoutandtheFirstSergeantwasveryfearfulforhisrecordforwhichhehasbeenrecommendedforthecertificateofmerit。TheCaptainwasverymuchpleasedandallthemencameandspoketome。ItmusthavebeenagoodrideforTylerwhoisafifthyearmanwassotiredthathepaidamantodohissentryduty。WesleptatCaptainHunter"scampthatlastnightandwebothcameonthismorning，ridingthirtymilesuptotwoo"clockto-day。Fromherewegoonintothebrushagain。Iamveryproudofthatridingrecordandofmybeardwhichisfine。I

willfinishthiswhenwegetnearapost-office。

DICK。

February4th——WerodefortymilesthroughthebrushbutsawnothingofGarza，whowassupposedtobeinit。Butwecaptured3revolutionists，oneofwhomranawaybutthescoutgothim。Hardie，Tyler，whoishisorderly，andthescoutandItooktheminbecausetherestofthecolumnwaslaggingintherearandtheLieutenantgotballyhoolyforit。TylerdisarmedoneandItookawaytheotherchapsthings。Thenwetookafourthinandletthemallgoforwantofevidenceandaftersomeoftheranchmenhadidentifiedthem。

CORPUSCHRISTI，February6。

Weendedourscoutyesterday，andcampedatCaptainHunter"slastnight——MothercannowresthersoulinpeaceasIhavedonewithscoutingsandhavereplacedthefreeandeasybeltandrevolverfortheblacksilksuspendersandthefirebadgeofcivilization。Iamstillcoveredwith11daysdirtbutwillgetlotsofgoodthingstoeatanddrinkandsmokeatCorpusChristitonight，whereIwillstayfortwodays。I

amwritingthisonthecarandarangerisshootingsplintersoutofthetelegraphpolesfromthewindowinfrontandhasaNewYorkdrummerinastateofabsolutenervousprostration。

ImettheRangerslastnightaswecameintocampandfindthemquitethemostinterestingthingsyet。TheyarejustwhatIexpectedtofindhereandhavenotdisappointedme。

Everythingelseiseitherwhatweknowittobeandknowallaboutorelseisdisappointinglycommonplace。ImeanweknowcertainthingsarepicturesqueandIfindthemsobuttheyhavebeen"done"todeathandnewmaterialseemssoscarce。I

amsometimesveryfearfulofthesuccessoftheletters——

However，theRangersIsimplyloved。TheyweregentlevoicedanddidnotswearasthesoldiersdoandsomeofthemwereashandsomemenasIeversawandSOBIG。Andsuchchildren。

TheyshowedmealltheirtricksattherequestoftheAdjutantGeneral，wholooksuponthemashisspecialproperty。Theyshotfourshotsintoatreewitharevolver，goingatfullgallop，hitamarkwithbothhandsatonce，shotwiththepistolupsidedownandtheCaptainputeightshotsintoaboardwithaWinchester，whileIwasputtingtwointothefieldaroundit。WegotalongverywellindeedandtheywerequitekeenformetogobackandchaseGarza。Theyaresuretheyhavehimnow。IgavetheCaptainpermissiontoputfourshotsintomywhitehelmet。Heonlyputtwoandtherestofthecompanythinkingtheirreputationswereatstakewhippedouttheirgunsandsnatcheduptheirriflesandblazedawayuntiltheydancedthehatallovertheranch。Thenremorseovercamethemandtheyproposedtakingupacollectiontogetmeasombrero，whichIstopped。SoNora"shatisgonebutIamgoingtogetanotherandsavemyselffromsunstrokeagain。ThelastpartoftheridewasenlivenedbythepresenceofthreeMexicanmurderershandcuffedandchainedwithironbandsaroundtheneck，thatisTexascivilizationisn"tit——

IhavehadmydinnerandafinedinneritwaswithfreshfishandduckandoystersandsegarswhichIhavenothadforaweek。IamfinishingthisatConstantine"sandwillbeherefortwodaystowritethingsandwillthengoontoKing"sranchandfromtheretoSanAntonio，whereIwillalsorestaweek。Iwilljustaboutgetthroughmyscheduleinthetenweeksatthisrate。Ihadagoodtimeinthebushandamenjoyingitverymuchthoughitislonelynowandthen——

Still，itisveryinterestingandifthestoriesamounttoanythingIwillbepleasedbutIamconstantlywonderinghowonearthChasstooditashedid。HeisaherotomeforI

havesomehopeofgettingbackandhehadnot——Heisasport——HowIwillsleeptonight——arealbedandsheetsandpajamas，afterthegroundandthesameclothesforelevendays。

oflove。

DICK。

WhileRichardwastravellingintheWest，hissecondvolumeofshortstories，"VanBibberandOthers，"waspublished。Thevolumewasdedicatedtomyfather，whowroteRichardthefollowingletter:

PHILADELPHIA，February15，1892。

MYDEAROWNDICK:

IhavenotbeenthecompleteletterwriterIshouldhavebeen，asItoldyouonSaturday，butIknowyouwillunderstand。Yourtwogoodletterscamethisevening，onetoMammaandonetoNora。Theywereagooddealtousall，most，ofcourse，toyourdearmotherandsister，whohaveafond，foolishfancyorloveforyou——strange——isn"tit？

Yes，dearboy，Ilikedthenewstoryvery，verymuch。Itwasinyourbestbookandinfinespirit，andIliked，too，thededicationofthebook——itsmeaninganditsmanner。Iamgladtobeassociatedwithmydearboyandwithhisworkeveninthatbriefway。Youmaynotyetthoughtaboutitafterthisfashion，butIhavethoughtagooddealaboutit。Reportscometomeofyoufrommanysources，andtheyareallgood，andtheyallreflecthonoruponme——UponmeasI"mgettingreadytosalutetheworld，asourFrenchfriendssay。ItisverypleasanttomeasIthinkitovertofeelandtoknowthatmyboyhashonoredmyname，thathehasdonesomethinggoodandusefulintheworldandfortheworld。Ihavesomethingmorethanprideinyou。Iamgratefultoyou。Ifthisisalittleprosie，dearoldfellow，forgiveit。ItislateatnightandIamalittletired，andbeingtiredstupid。

YousawTheAtlanticnoticeofyourwork。IwishyoucouldhaveheardNoraontheauthorofit，whowouldnothavebeenhappyinhismindifhehadunhappilyheardher。ShewentforthatHeathenChineelikeawildcat。Nodisrespecttoher，but，allthesame，likeawildcat。Tomeitwasinteresting。

Ididnotagreewithit，buthereandthereIsawtheflashoftruthevenintheadversepraise。Ishouldhavehadmorerespectfortheauthor"sopinionifhehadlikedthatvitalspeck，Raegen。Ifhecouldnotseethedivine，humansparkinthat——aflashfromCalvary，whatistheuseofconsideringhim？Mygreatestprideinyou，thatwhichhasaddedsomesweetnessandjoytomylife，hasbeentherecognitionthatsomethingofthedivineelementwasgivenyou，andthatyourvoicerangoutsweetandpureatatimewhenothervoicesweresoundingthefascinationsofimpurity。That，likeChrist，youtaughthumanity。Don"tbeafraidofbeingthought"fresh，"feartobethought"knowing。"Lifeisn"tmuchworthatbest，——itisworthnothingatallunlesssomegoodbedoneinit——themore，thebetter。Don"tmakeittooseriouseither。Enjoyitasyougo，butafterafashionthatwillbringnoreproachtoyourmanhood。Don"tbeafraidtopreachthetruthandaboveallthereligionofhumanity。Goodnight，dearboy。I"malittletiredtonight。

Withgreatlove，DAD。

ANADARKO-February26th，1892。

DEARFAMILY:——

IcouldnotwriteyoubeforeasIhavebeentravelingfrompillarstoposts，(ajoke)，inastage，nightandday。IwenttoFortRenofromOklahomaCitywheretheydrovemecrazyalmostwithtownlotsandlotsitesandhomesteadholdings。

Itwasallrawandmean，andgreedyformoneyandamanismuchbetteroffineverywayinatenementonSecondAvenuethanthe"ownerofhisownhome"inoneofthesemushroomcities——SoIthink。IwenttoFortRenobystageanditseemedtomethatIwasreallyintheWestforthefirsttime——

TheresthasbeenasmuchliketheoiltownsaroundPittsburghasanythingelse。Butheretherearerollingprairielandswithmillionsofprairiedogsanddeepcanonsandbluffsofredclaythatstandoutasclearasarazorhollowedandcarvedawaybythewaterlongago。AndthegrassisashighasastirrupandthetreesveryplentifulaftertheplainsofTexas。ThemenatFortRenowerethebestIhavemet，indeedIamjustalittletiredoftryingtotalkofthingsofinteresttotheSecondLieutenant"sintellect。ButIhadtoleavetherebecauseIhadmissedthebeefissueandhadtoseeitandasitwasduehereIpushedon。Thispostisverybeautifulbutthemenareveryyoungandcivilappointmentsmainly，whichmeansthattheyhavenotbeentoWestPointbuthadfathersandhavefriendswithinfluenceandtheyarefresh。ButthesceneryaroundthepostisdelightfullywildandbigandthereisanIndiancampatthefootofthehillonwhichthefortisstuck。Mother，insteadofgoingtoEurope，shouldcomehereandseeherIndians。Onlyifshedidshewouldbringadozenormoreofthechildrenbackwithher。

TheyarethebrightestspotinmytripandIspendthemorningsandafternoonstryingtogetthemtoplaywithme。

Theyareveryshyandprettyandbeautifullybarbaricandwearthemostgorgeoustrappings。Thewomen，theolderones，aretheugliestwomenIeversaw。Butthemenarefine。Ineversawsuchcolorastheygivetothelandscapeandonealwaysthinkstheyhavedressedupjusttopleaseyou。IhavespentmostofmytimeandmoneyinbuyingthingsfromthembuttheyareverydearbecausetheIndianstakelongtomakethemanddonotliketopartwiththem。IhavehadroughtimeslatelybutIthinkIwouldbecontenttoremaininthewestsixmonthsifIcould。ItisthenecessityofleavingplacesI

likeandpushingontoplacesIdon"t，Idislike。Renowasfinewithabandandlotsoffinefellows。Thispostisnotsoqueerbuttheyaresoyoung——Itmakesagreatbitofcolorthoughwiththeyellowcapesofthecavalryandthesoldierswig——wagingredandwhiteflagsatothersoldierseightmilesawayonothermountainsandtheIndiansinyellowbuckskinandblanketsandtheirfacespaintedtoo。Iwenttothebeefissueto-day——itwasnotaprettysightandmostbarbarousandcruel。IalsowenttoacouncilatwhichthechiefswereprotestingagainstthecuttingdownoftheirrationswhichisCommissionerMorgan"sdoingandwhichitisexpectedwillleadtowar——WewentinoutofcuriosityandwithoutknowingitwasaCouncilandwereverymuchashamedwhenoneoftheChiefsroseandsaidhewasgladtoseetheofficerspresentastheywerethebestfriendstheIndianshadandtheonlymentheycouldrespectintimesofpeaceasafriend，orintimesofwarasanenemy。Atwhichwetookoffourhatsandsatitthrough。Mother"sbloodwouldriseifshecouldhearthestoriestheytell，andtheyaresodignifiedandpolite。TheyhaveanIndiantroophere，liketheonedescribedinTheWeekly，whichyoushouldreadandtheCaptaintoldthemIwasagreatChieffromtheEast，whereatallthesoldierswhowereofnoblelineageclaimedtheirprivilegeofshakinghandswithme，whichhadademoralizingeffectupontheformationandthewhiteprivateswereeitherconvulsedwithmirthorredwithindignation。Butyoucannottreatthemlikewhitemenwhodonotknowtheirancestors——Dad"sletterwasthebestIhaveevergotfromhimandhehadalwaysbetterwritewhenheistired。Iwillalwayskeepit。

DICK。

DENVER——March7，1892。

DEARFAMILY:

IarrivedinDenverFridaynightandrealizedthatIwasinacityagainwherethemoreyouorderpeopleaboutthemoretheydoforyou，beingcivilizedandsounderstandingthatyoumeantotipthem。Ifoundmyfirstletteronthenewsstandandwasverymuchpleasedwithit，andwiththewaytheyputitout。TheproofwasperfectandiftherehadbeenmorepicturesIwouldhavebeenentirelysatisfied，asitwasIwasverymuchpleased。Mybaggagehadnotcome，socoveredwithmudanddustandstrawfromthestagesandgenerallydisreputableIwenttoseeaburlesque，andsaid"Frontrow，endseat，"justasnaturallyasthoughI

wasineveningdressandhighhat——andthenIsankintoabeautifuldeepvelvetchairandsawAmazonmarchesandladiesintightsandheardtheoldoldjokesandtheoldoldsongsweknowsowellandsingsobadly。ThenextmorningIwentformymailandtheentirepostofficecameouttoseemegetit。

Ittookmeuntilsevenintheeveningtofinishit，andIdonotknowthatitwilleverbeanswered。Thebestofitwasthatyouwereallpleasedwithmyletters。Thatputmymindatrest。ThentherewasnewsofdeathsandmarriagesandengagementsandthesamepeopledoingthesamethingstheydidwhenIwentaway。IdidnotintendtopresentanylettersasIwasgoingawaythatnighttoCreede，butIfoundIcouldnotgetanymoneyunlesssomeoneidentifiedmesoIpresentedonetoaMr。Jeromewhoallthebankerssaidtheywouldbeonlytoohappytooblige。Afteronehasbeenvariouslytakenforadrummer，photographerandhasbeenofferedsomuchalineto"writeup"boomingtowns，itisarelieftogetbacktoaplacewherepeopleknowyou——ItoldMr。JeromeIhadaletterofintroductionandthatIwasMr。Davisandheshookhandsandthenlookedattheletterandsaid"GoodHeavensareyouthatMr。Davis"andthenrushedoffandbroughtbacktheentireestablishmentbrokers，bankersandmineownersandtheyallsataroundandtoldmefunnystoriesandplannedmorethingsformetodoandeatthanIcoulddisposeofinamonth。

IamnowenroutetoCreede。CreedewhenyoufirstseeitinprintlookslikecreedebutafteryouhavebeeninDenverorColoradoevenforonedayitreadslikeCREEDE。Allthemenonthiscarthinktheyaregoingtomaketheirfortunes，andtowardthatendtheyhaveonnewbootsandflannelshirts，andsomeofthemseeingmybeautifulclothingandcarefularraycameoverandconfidedtomethattheywerereallynotsotoughastheylookedandhadneverwornaflannelshirtbefore。ThiscaristypicalofwhattheytoldmeIwouldfindatCreede。Therearerichmineownerswhoarepointedoutbytheconductorasthefifthpartownerofthe"PotLuck"mine，anddudesinastrakanfurcoatsovertopbootsandnewflannelshirts，andhardenedoldtimerswiththeirbeddingandtinpans，whohaveprospectedalloverthestateandwomenwhoaresmokinganddrinking。

IfeelawfullyselfishwheneverIlookoutofthecarwindow。

SwitzerlandwhichIhaveneverseenisaspotonthemapcomparedtothis。Themountainsgoupwithsnowononesideandblackrowsoftreesandrocksontheother，andthecloudsseempackeddownbetweenthem。ThesunonthesnowandthepeakspeeringabovethecloudsisallnewtomeandsoverybeautifulthatIwouldliketobuyamountainandcallitaftermybestgirl。IwillfinishthiswhenIgettoCreede。

Iexpecttomakemyfortunethere。

DICK。

CREEDE，March7。

AyoungmaninasweaterandtopbootsmetmeatthedepotandsaidthatIwasMr。DavisandthathewasayoungmanwhoselifeIhadwrittenin"Therewas90and9。"HewasfromBuffaloandwaseditingapaperinCreede。HesaidIwastostopwithhim——Creedeisbuiltofnewpineboardsandliesbetweentwoimmensemountainscoveredwithpinesandsnow。

ThetownisbuiltinthegulleyandwhenthespringfreshetscomewillbeasecondJohnstown。Faber，theyoungman，tookmetotheGrubStateCabinwhereIfoundtwomostamusingdudesandthoroughbredsportsfromBoston，Harvardmenlivinginacabintenbyeightwithfourbunksandastove，twobanjosandHOPE。Theyownnumeroussilvermines，lots，andshares，butIdonotbelievetheyhavefivedollarsincashamongstthem。TheyhavealargepictureofmyselfforoneoftheORNAMENTSandaregreatgoodfellows。WesatupinourbunksuntiltwothismorningtalkingandareplanningtogotoAfricaandMexicoandAsiaMinortogether——Lotsoflove。

DICK。

Veryhappyindeedtobebackinhisbelovedtown，RichardreturnedtoNewYorklateinMarch，1892，andresumedhiseditorialduties。Butonthisoccasionhisstaywasofparticularlyshortduration，andinMay，hestartedforhislong-wished-forvisittoLondon。Theseasontherewasnotyetinfullswing，andafterspendingafewdaysintown，journeyedtoOxford，wherehesettleddowntoamusehimselfandcollectmaterialforhisfirstarticlesonEnglishlifeashefoundit。InwritingofthisvisittoOxford，H。J。

Whigham，oneofRichard"soldestfriends，andwhoafterwardservedwithhiminseveralcampaigns，said:

"WhenwefirstmetRichardHardingDavishewasliving，toallpracticalpurposes，thelifeofanundergraduateatBalliolCollege，Oxford。Anyoneatallconversantwiththecustomsofuniversities，especiallywiththeidiosyncrasiesofOxford，knowsthatforapersonwhoisnotanundergraduatetosharethelifeofundergraduatesonequalterms，totakepartintheiradventures，tobeadmittedtotheirconfidenceismoredifficultthanitisforthecameltopassthroughtheeyeofaneedleorfortherichmantoenterheaven。ItwascharacteristicofDavisthatalthoughhewasafewyearsolderthantheaverageuniversity"man"andcamefromastrangecountryand，moreover，hadnoofficialreasonforbeingatOxfordatall，hewasacceptedasoneofthemselvesbytheBalliolundergraduates，infact，livedinBalliolforatleastacollegeterm，andhappeningtofallinwithasomewhatenterprisinggenerationofBalliolmenhetooktheleadinseveralescapadeswhichhavebeenwrittenintoOxfordhistory。

Thereisinthemakeupofthebesttypeofcollegeundergraduateawonderfulspiritofadventure，anunprejudicedviewoflife，analmostQuixoticfeelingforromance，adisdainofsordidormaterialisticmotives，whichtogethermaketheyearsspentatagreatuniversitythemostgoldenoftheaverageman"scareer。ThesecharacteristicsDaviswasfortunateenoughtoretainthroughalltheyearsofhislife。

ThesamespiritthattookhimoutwithabandofOxfordyouthstobreakdownanironbarriersetbyaninsolentlandowneracrossthenavigablewatersofShakespeare"sAvoncarriedhim，inafteryears，tothebattlefieldswhereGreecefoughtagainsttheyokeofTurkey，totheinsurrectocampsofCuba，tothedarkhorrorsoftheCongo，toManchuria，wheregallantJapanbeatbacktheoverwhelmingpowerofRussia，toBelgium，wherehesawthelegionsofGermanytramplingovertheprostratebodiesofasmallpeople。RomancewasneverdeadwhileDaviswasalive。"