DES ETATS-UNIS
59 Rue Galilee,
Paris, April 1st, 1897.
[DEAR FAMILY:]
I got over here to-day after the heaviest weather I ever
tackled on this channel. Stephen Crane came with me. I gave
him a lunchon Wednesday. Anthony Hope, McCarthy, Harold
Frederic and Barrie came. Sir Evelyn Wood instead of coming
was detained at the war office and sent instead a lance
Sergeant on horseback with a huge envelope marked "On Her
Majesty's Service," which was to be delivered into my hands —
The entire Savoy was upset and it was generally supposed that
war had been declared and that I was being ordered to the
front — The whole hotel hung over us until I had receipted for
the package and the soldier had saluted and clanked away. I
gave Crane the letter as a souvenir. I also saw Seymour
Hicks' first night and recognized 15 American songs in it.
The London Times offered me the position of
correspondent on the Greek frontier. Every one in London thought
it an enormous compliment and Harold Frederic, Ralph, Ballard
Smith and the rest were very envious. I told them I could not
go, but I was glad to have had the compliment paid me. Barrie
has made out a scenario of the "Soldiers" for dramatic
purposes and has asked the Haymarket management to consider
it. So, that I guess that it must be good —
So, I also guess I had better finish it — I leave for Florence
to night. I am having a fine, fine time and I am so glad you
are all well.
Lots of love,
DICK.
Of the many happy days we have spent together, I do not
believe there were any much more happy than the three weeks
Richard remained with me. It was his first long visit to
Italy and from the day of his arrival he loved the old town
and its people who gave him a most friendly welcome. He had
come at a time when Florence was at its best, its narrow
quaint streets filled with sunshine and thronged with idling
natives and the scurrying tourists that always came with the
first days of spring. The Cascine and the pink-walled roads
of the environs were ablaze with wild roses and here, after
his rather strenuous experience in Cuba, Richard gave himself
up to long days of happy idleness. Together we took voyages
of discovery to many of the little walled and forgotten towns
where the tourists seldom set foot. Once we even wandered so
far as Monte Carlo, where my brother tried very hard to break
the bank and did not succeed. But the Richard Harding Davis
luck did not fail him completely and I remember I greatly
envied him the huge pile of gold and notes that represented
his winnings and which we did our very best to spend before we
left the land of the Prince of Monaco. However, having had
his first taste of war, Richard felt that he must leave the
peace and content of Florence to see how the Greeks, with whom
he had much sympathy, were faring with their enemies the
Turks. As it happened, this expedition proved but a short
interruption,
and in less than a month he was once more back with
his new-found friends in Florence.
