Part 13 (1/2)

After some not very eventful or pleasant days at Caracas, Richard sailed for ho letter:

March 26th--On board S S Caracas

DEAR CHAS:

Off the coast of God's country Hurrah! H---- did not co of our departure when he arrived at the Station tre all over and in need of a shave But in the meanwhile the consul at Caracas picked Griscom and myself up in the street and took us in to see Crespo who received us with nity and politeness

So we met him after all and helped the story out that much

There is not lad to set hness of this trip cannot squelch my joy It seems to me as if years had passed since we left and to think we are only three days off froood to be possible Soether at Laurent's I will tell you the long story of how Somers and Gris came to be decorated with the Order of the Bust of Bolivar the Liberator of Venezuela of the 4th class but at present I will only say that there is a third class of the order still co to Kelly in Brooklyn It was a ht to have had anyway having the third class of another order already, and THEIR GETTING NOTHING, or our all getting the 4th or 5th class and of course I choose that they should get so and so they did and for my aimable unselfishness in the hted when Soot his for he was happier over it than I have ever seen hi about it I consider it the handsoion of Honor and I have becoton and Napoleon that I ah for the third class with its star and collar

The boys are especially glad because we have organized a Traveller's Club of New York of which we expect great things and they consider that it starts off well in having three of the n order We forht of the Pacific Ocean and its object is to give each other dinners and to present a club medal to people who have been nice to and who have helped n parts It is s one wants to do for people who help you and this will be as good as any Meible to any ibility for membershi+p is determined by certain distances which a h the idea really is to keep it right down to our own crowd and make each man justify the s worth while I am President Bonsal is vice president Russell treasurer and Griscom Secretary Somerset is the solitary member You and Sam and Helen and Elizabeth Bisland are at present the only honorary old medals to the two chaps who crossed Asia on bicycles, to Willie Chanler and James Creelman, but that does not make them members It only shoe as a club think they have done a sporting act I hope you like the idea We have gone over it for a month and considered it in every way and I think we are all well enough known to nize what they did whether it was for any of us personally or for the public as explorers On this trip for instance ould probably send the club medals in silver to Admiral Meade, to Kelly, to Royas the Venezuelan Minister for the orders to the Governor of Belize, to the consul at La Guayra and to one of the phonograph chaps In the same way if you would want to send a medal to any man or woman prince or doctor who had been kind, courteous, hospitable or of official service to you you would just send in a request to the committee Write me soon and with lots of love dick

In April, 1895, Richard was back in New York, at work on his South and Central A letters, having a good time with his old friends

NEW YORK, April 27, 1895

DEAR CHAS:

I read in the paper the other ra a relief expedition, and would bring him out of the wilderness in safety At twelve I sent another reading, ”Natives fro seen Davis Relief Expeditionary Force crossing Central Park, all well

Robert Howard Russell” At two I got hold of Russell, and we telegraphed ”Relief reached Eighty-fifth street; natives peacefully inclined, awaiting rear column, led by Griscom; save your ammunition and provisions” Just before the curtain fell we sent another, reading: ”If you can hold the audience at bay for another hour, we guarantee to rescue yourself and co you all back to the coast in safety Do not become disheartened” Then we started for Harlee and another colored ers and robes of gold and high turbans and sashes stuck full of swords I woreboots, with cartridge belts full of bues over my shoulder and around the waist Russell had ins Griscom was in one of my coats of many pockets, a helmet and boots We all carried revolvers, canteens and rifles We sent George in with a note saying ere outside the zareba and could not rescue hiuns As soon as they saw George they rushed out and brought us all in Dreas on the stage, so we trae hands and members of the company The old man heard his cue just as I ee he could not say anything, and the curtain went doithout any one knohat the plot was about When John came off, I walked up to him, followed by the other four and the entire company, and said: ”Mr Drew, I presume,” and he said: ”Mr Davis, I believe I am saved!” Helen Benedict happened to be in Maude Ada-roohted as John would have been had he been quite sure ere not going on the stage or into a box We left theht us to stay and protect theot a supper ready in Russell's rooms, at which Helen, Ethel Barrymore, John and Mrs Drew, Maude Adams and Griscom were present

dick

NEW YORK, November, 1895

DEAR MOTHER:--

The china cups have arrived all right and are a beautiful addition to my collection and to my room, in which Daphne still holds first place

What do you think Sir Henry sent reen velvet box about as big as two bricks laid side by side with a heavy glass top with bevelled edges and theon a white satin bed, bound doith silver--and a large gold plate with the inscription ”To Richard Harding Davis with the warory Brewster--1895”-- You have no idea how pretty it is, Bailey, Banks and Biddleso sweet and thoughtful and it has attracted so many people that I have had it locked up-- No Burden jewel robbers here-- My friend, the Russian O---- lady still pursuesseriously, she frightens me-- I am afraid she will move in at any moment-- She has asked me to spend the summer with her at Paris and Monte Carlo, and at her country place in Norfolk and bos in the meantime

She has just sentall over it and at anythe bell and order her trunks taken up stairs-- I aht I dined with Helen and Maude Ada with her I want the for us after dinner and then went off to see Yvette Guilbert at a ”sacred concert” to study her methods I went to N----'s box to hear Melba and we chatted to the accore, wore fur, pearls, white satin and violets It was a pink silk box Then I went down to a reception at Mrs De Koven's and found it was a play Everybody was seated already so I squatted down on the floor in front of Mrs De Koven and a tall woown cut like a japanese woman's-- It was very dark where the audience was, so I could not see her face but when the pantomirabbed Mrs De Koven and told her to present lish-- ”It is not comfortable on the floor is it?”

and I said, ”I have been at your feet for three years now, so I am quite used to it”--for which I was much applauded-- Afterwards I told some one to tell her in French that I had written a book about Paris and about her and that I was going to mark it and send it and before the woman could translate, Guilbert said, ”No, send me the Van Bippere book”-- So we asked her what she et told me to meet you and to read your Van Bippere Book, you are Mr Davis, are you not?”-- So after that I owned the place and refused to meet Mrs Vanderbilt

Yvette has offered to teach , unless O---- scares ot my 2,000 check and have paid all ht they were, so that's all right

Do come over mother, as soon as you can and ill ood talk Give my bestest love to Dad and Nora Hoould she like Yvette for a sister-in-law? John Hare has sent un the story of the ”Servants' Ball” and got well into it

and lots of love

dick

The following letter ritten to me at Florence The novel referred to was ”Soldiers of Fortune,” which eventually proved the most successful book, commercially, my brother ever wrote Mrs Hicks, to wholish actress Ellaline Terriss, the wife of Seymour Hicks Somerset is Somers Somerset, the son of Lady Henry Somerset, and the Froher of the old Lyceum Theatre