Part 26 (1/2)

Fro up for coffee, saas so big, looking at it against horizon, thought ithippo

Captain Jensen brought boat within eighty yards of hi hih his back was broken I missed him the second shot, which struck the water just in front of hiht him in the head, in the ang plank and surrounded hi his tail to make him bleed and weaken hih, so I went to un and my camera In three minutes I caan to toss his head and I shot hiain, to put him out of pain In return for which he rolled over into the water and got away I wasbath another was seen on shore We got within sixty yards of him and all of us missed him or at least did not hurt hiain I h at one place he was but fifty yards ahen he entered the water, a hundred I stepped it off later in the sand I followed him up and hit him or sos But he put back to land for the third tih we hunted up to our waists saw none One came quite close at dinner Seven on the day

CONGO RIVER--March 1, 1907

DEAR MOTHER:

I have been up the Congo as far as the Kasai river, and up that to a place called Dima There I found myself in a sort of cul de sac I found that the rubber plantations I had come to see, were nine days journey distant In this land where tiarded than with us, a etting to Dima, you must catch a steamer that leaves every teeks and travel for five days But he forgets that that fact is important to visitors As he is under contract to stay here three years, it does not much matter to him how he spends a month, or so Dile In half an hour, I saw it all, and rand reception, but I could not spend ten days in Di I could do was to take a canoe to the Jesuit Mission where the Fathers proland that stops at interesting ports Sooner than stop in Boed Cecil to take that boat So, if I catch it, ill return together It is a five weeks journey, and rather long to spend alone

In any event o by a faster boat I have had avisit, at least, to me I hope I can make it readable But, much of its pleasure was personal

I have just had to stop writing this, for hen I get back to New York will see a letter to even you A large hippopotamus has just pushed past us with five baby hippos in front of her She is shoving the and blowing They are very plenty here and on the way up strea went hunting for them on shore I wanted the head of a hippopotamus awfully keenly for the farot away froh the other idiot on board did, because if you kill them, you cannot recover therateful to the back fro both of those I saw on land One I dropped at the first shot, and the other I et back into the water The one I shot, and that everyone thought was dead, AFTER THE ”BOYS” BEGAN TO CUT HIM UP, decided he was not going to stand for that, and to our helpless dismay suddenly rolled himself into the water If that is not hard luck, I don't know it All I got was a bad photograph of hi his head, and howhim up It was a really wonderful journey I loved every minute of it and never was I in better health

If I only could have known that you knew that I was all right, but instead you orrying The nights were bright e people and anie of the tinpot boat, and s betonderful banks There was the Danish Captain, an Italian officer and the engineer was frolish, and I acted as interpreter!! Can you iuist People who understand et quick promotion If I only could have been able to tell you all ell and not to be worried At Kwar she expects to leave by the slow boat but will stay if I wish it So, noe can both go by the slow boat if I can catch it I hope so must have found Boma as bad as it looked God bless you all

dick

On April 13, Richard was back in London and in his diary of that date he writes, ”Never so glad to get anywhere Went to sleep to theever made me feel so content and comfortable and secure as their 'honk, honk'”

From diary of April 22nd, 1907

A blackmailer named H---- called, with photos of atrocities and letters and filave hined Bullinger, an Englishman, said he had put the fear of God in their hearts by sticking up the chief's head on a pole, and saying, ”Now, make rubber, or you will look like that” Went to lunch with Pearson but it was the wrong day, and sohe would turn up, I ordered awent Patience, which liked immensely and then duchess of Sutherland's party to Premiers

Saw Churchill and each explained his share of the Real Soldiers row

From diary of April 28th, 1907

We went down by train to Cliveden going by Taplow to Maidenhead where Astor had sent his car to meet us It is a wonderful place and the view of the Tha alterations, bathrooeons If Dukes lived no lad I was not a Duke What waswas the servant's room which was quite as ss, arly friendly and alked all over the place It was good to get one's feet on turf again They sent us back by ave a dinner to the Hopes, Wyndhaaret Websters could not come

Later, ca too I read Thaw trial

Early in May Richard and his wife returned to Mount Kisco and e his farce ”The Galloper” into a ust 12, at the Astor Theatre, under the title of the ”Yankee Tourist,” with Ray I quote froust 12th, 1907

Was to have lunched with Ned Stone but he was in court Met Whigham in street Impulsively asked him to lunch Ethel and Jack turned up at Martin's; asked the errands,the purchase of tickets for numerous friends

Called on Miss Trusdale to inquire about Harden-Hickey She wants her to go to the country Cecil arrived at six We had a suite of eighty-nine roo host Taft was there Hottest night ever I sat with Jack In spite of weather, play ell Bonsals, Ethel, Arthur Brisbane were in Cecil's box Booth Tarkington in Irwin's Surprise of performance was ”hello, Bill” which Rayreatly with dance People ca Next ti or after Missed the executive ability of Charles Belreatly

CHAPTER XVII

A LONDON WINTER

From the fall of 1907 to that of 1908 Richard divided his time between Mount Kisco, Marion, and Cuba In December of 1908 he sailed for London where he took Turner the artist's old house in Chelsea for the winter

Cheyne Walk, Chelsea