MARION, May 28th, 1899.
[DEAR MOTHER:]
You sent me such a good letter about the visit of the
three selected chorus girls. But what was best, was about
your wishing to see me. Of course, you know that I feel that
too. I would have it so that we all lived here, so that Dad
could fish, and Nora and Cecil could discuss life, and you and
I could just take walks and chat. But because that cannot be,
we are no further away than we ever were and when the pain to
see you comes, I don't let it hurt and I don't kill it either
for it is the sweetest pain I can feel. If sons will go off
and marry, or be war-correspondents, or managers, it does not
mean that Home is any the less Home. You can't wipe out
history by changing the name of a boulevard, as somebody said
of the French, and if I were able to be in two places at once,
I know in which two places I would be here with Cecil at
Marion, and at Home in the Library with you and Dad and The
Evening Telegraph, and Nora and Van Bibber. You will never
know how much I love you
all and you must never give up trying to comprehend it. God
bless you and keep you, and my love to you every minute and
always.
DICK.
Late in January, 1900, Richard and his wife started on
their first great adventure together to the Boer War.
Arriving at Cape Town, Richard left his wife there and, acting
as correspondent with the British forces for the New York
Herald and London Mail, saw the relief of
Ladysmith.
After this he returned to Cape Town, with the intention of
joining Lord Roberts in his advance on Pretoria. But on
arriving at Cape Town he learned that Lord Roberts did not
intend to move for three weeks, and so decided to say farewell
to the British army and to return to London in a leisurely and
sightseeing fashion along the east coast. It was after they
were well started on this return voyage that Richard conceived
the idea of leaving the ship at Durban, going to Pretoria,
and, as he expressed it, "watch the Boers fighting the same
men I had just seen fighting them."
