I cannot tell you how touched and moved I was by the three initials in the book。 It was a genuine and complete surprise and when I came across it while I was examining the letterpress with critical approbation and with no idea of what was to come； it left me quite breathless It was so sweet of you You understand me and I understand you and you know how much that counts to me I think the book is awfully pretty and in such good taste It is quite a delight to the eye and I am much more keen about it than over any of my own I have sent it to some of my friends but I have not read it yet myself； as I am waiting until I get on the boat where I shall not be disturbed Then I shall write you again It was awfully good of you； and I am so pleased to have it to give away。 I never had anything to show people when they asked for one of your other books and this comes in such an unquestionable form With lots of love。
DICK。
NEW YORK； 1893。 DEAR MOTHER：
I got your nice letter and one from Dad。 Both calling me many adjectives pleasing to hear although they do not happen to fit。 So you are in a third edition are you？ These YOUNG writers are crowding me to the wall。 I feel thrills of pride when I see us sitting cheek by jowl on the news…stands。 Lots of love。
In February； 1894； Richard was forced by a severe attack of sciatica to give up temporarily the gayeties of New York and for a cure he naturally chose our home in Philadelphia； where he remained for many weeks。 Although unable to leave his bed； he continued to do a considerable amount of work； including the novelette 〃The Princess Aline；〃 in the writing of which I believe my brother took more pleasure than in that of any story or novel he ever wrote。 The future Empress of Russia was the heroine of the tale； and that she eventually read the story and was apparently delighted with it caused Richard much human happiness。
PHILADELPHIA。
March 5th。 DEAR CHAS：
I am getting rapidly better owing to regular hours and light literature and home comforts。 I am not blue as I was and my morbidness has gone and I only get depressed at times。 I am still however feeling tired and I think I will take quite a rest before I venture across the seas。 But across them I will come no matter if all the nerves on earth jump and pull。 Still； I think it wiser for all concerned that I get thoroughly well so that when I do come I won't have to be cutting back home again as I did last time。 We are young yet and the world's wide and there's a new farce comedy written every minute and I have a great many things to do myself so I intend to get strong and then do them。 I enclose two poems。 I am going to have them printed for my particular pals later。 I am writing one to all of you folks over there。
DICK。
TAKE ME BACK TO BROADWAY； WHERE THE ORCHIDS GROW
WITH APOLOGIES TO THE WESTERN DIALECT POETS
〃I have wandered up and down somewhat in many different lands I have been to Fort Worth； Texas； and I've tramped through Jersey sands； I have seen Pike's Peak by Moonlight； and I've visited the Fair And to save enumeration I've been nearly everywhere。 But no matter where I rested and no matter where I'd go； I have longed to be on Broadway
Where the Orchids Grow。
Some people love the lilies fair that hide in mossy dells Some folks are fond of new mown hay； before the rainy spells But give to me the orchids rare that hang in Thorley's store； And in Fleischman's at the Hoffman； and in half a dozen more And when I see them far from home they make my heart's blood glow For they take me back to Broadway
Where the Orchids Grow。
Let Paris boast of boulevards where one can sit and drink There is no such chance on Broadway； at the Brower House； ‘I don't think。' And where else are there fair soubrettes in pipe clayed tennis shoes； And boys in silken sashes promenading by in twos Oh you can boast of any street of which you're proud to know But give me sleepy Broadway
Where the Orchids Grow。
Let poets sing of chiming bells and gently lowing kine I like the clanging cable cars like fire engines in line And I never miss the sunset and for moonlight never sigh When ‘Swept by Ocean Breezes。' flashes out against the sky。 And when the Tenderloin awakes； and open theatres glow I want to be on Broadway
Where the Orchids Grow。〃
A VOUS； JOHN DREW
〃John Drew； I am your debtor For a very pleasant letter And a lot of cabinet photos Of the ‘Butterflies' and you And I think it very kind That you kept me so in mind And pitied me in exile So I do； John Drew。
2
John Drew； 'twixt you and me Precious little I can see Of that good there is in Solitude That poets say they view。 For _I_ hate to be in bed With a candle at my head Sitting vis a vis with Conscience。 So would you； John Drew。
3
John Drew； then promise me That as soon as I am free I may sit in the first entrance
As Lamb always lets me do。 And watch you fume and fret While the innocent soubrette Takes the centre of the stage a Way from you； John Drew。〃
R。 H。 D。
In the summer of 1894 Richard went to London for a purely social visit； but while he was there President Carnot was assassinated； and he went to Paris to write the 〃story〃 of the funeral and of the election of the new President。
VERSAILLES； June 24； 1894。
I am out here to see the election of the new President。 I jumped on the mail coach and came off in a hurry without any breakfast； but I had a pretty drive out； and the guard and I talked of London。 The palace is closed and no one is admitted except by card； so I have seen only the outside of it。 It is most interesting。 There is not a ribbon or a badge； not a banner or a band。 The town is as quiet as always； and there are not 200 people gathered at the gate through which the deputies pass。 Compared to an election convention in Chicago； it is most interesting。 How lively it is inside of the chamber where the thing is going on I cannot say。 I shall not wait to hear the result； but will return on the coach。
Nothing could be more curious than the apparent indifference of the people of Paris to the assassination of the President。 Two days after he died there was not a single flag at half mast among the private residences。 The Government buildings； the hotels and the stores were all that advertised their grief。 I shall have an interesting story to write of it for the Parisian series。 Dana Gibson and I will wait until after the funeral and then go to Andorra。 If he does not go； I may go alone； but perhaps I shall go back to London at once。 This has been an interesting time here； but only because it is so different from what one would expect。 It reads like a burlesque to note the expressions of condolence from all over the world； and to mark the self…satisfaction of the French at attracting so much sympathy； and their absolute indifference to the death of Carnot。 It is most curious。 We have an ideal time。 Never before have I had such jolly dinners； with such good talk and such amusing companions。
DICK。
LONDON； July 15； 1894。 DEAR MOTHER：
Mr。 Irving gave a supper last night to Mme。 Bernhardt and Mme。 Rejane。 There were about twenty people； and we ate in the Beefsteak Room of the Lyceum Theater； which is so called after the old Beefsteak Club which formerly met there。 I had a most delightful time； and talked to all the French women and to Miss Terry； who sent her love to Dad。 She said； 〃I did not SEE him this last visit； that is； I saw him but I did not see him。〃 Her daughter is a very sweet girl； and the picture Miss Terry made on her knees looking up at Bernhardt and Rejane when they chattered in French was wonderful。 Neither she nor Irving could speak a word of French； and whenever any one else tried； the crowd all stood in a circle and applauded and guyed them。 After it was over； at about three in the morning； Miss Terry offered me a lift home in her open carriage； so she and her daughter and I rode through the empty streets in the gray light for miles and miles； as； of course； I did not get out of such company any sooner than I had to do。 They had taken Irving's robe of cardinal red and made it into cloaks； and they looked very odd and eerie with their yellow hair and red capes； and talking as fast as they could。
DICK。
CHAPTER VIII
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
About January 1； 1895； Richard accompanied by his friends Somers Somerset and Lloyd C。 Griscom； afterward our minister to Tokio and ambassador to Brazil and Italy； started out on a leisurely trip of South and Central America。 With no very definite itinerary； they sailed from New Orleans； bent on having a good time； and as many adventures as possible； which Richard was to describe in a series of articles。 These appeared later on in a volume entitled 〃Three Gringos in Venezuela。〃
January； 1895。 DEAR FAM：
On board Breakwater at anchor。 You will be pleased to hear that I am writing this in a fine state of perspiration in spite of the fact that I have light weight flannels； no underclothes and all the windows open。 It is going to storm and then it will be cooler。 We have had a bully time so far although the tough time is still to come； that will be going from Puerto Cortez to Tegucigalpa。 At Belize the Governor treated us charmingly and gave us orderlies and launches and lunches and advice and me a fine subject for a short story。 For nothing has struck me as so sad lately as did Sir Anthony Moloney K。 C。 M。 G。 watching us go off laughing and joking in his gilded barge to wherever we pleased and leaving him standing alone on his lawn with some papers to sign and then a dinner tete…a…tete with his Secretary and so on to the end of his life。 It was pathetic to hear him listen to all the gossip from the outside world and to see how we pleased him when we told him we
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