r four days we were cut off from the world； and in that time； five days in all； we covered the entire island pretty thoroughly It was one of the most interesting trips I ever took and Cecil enjoyed it as much as I did。 The island is a curious mixture of palm and pines； one minute it looks like Venezuela and the next like Florida and Lakewood。 It is divided into two parties of Americans； the 〃moderates〃 and the 〃revolutionists。〃 The Cubans are very few and are all employed by the Americans； who own nine…tenths of the Island。 Of course； they all want the U。 S。 to take it； they differ only as to how to persuade the senators to do it。 I had to change all my opinions about the situation。 I thought it was owned by land speculators who did not live there； nor wish to live there； but instead I found every one I met had built a home and was cultivating the land。 We gave each land company a turn at me； and we had to admire orange groves and pineapples； grapefruit and coffee until we cried for help。 With all this was the most romantic history of the island before the 〃gringos〃 came。 It was a famous place for pirates and buried treasures and slave pens。 It was a sort of clearing house for slaves where they were fattened。 I do not believe people take much interest in or know anything about it； but I am going to try and make an interesting story of it for Collier。 It was queer to be so completely cut off from the world。 There was a wireless but they would not let me use it。 It is not yet opened to the public。 I talked to every one I met and saw much that was pathetic and human。 It was the first pioneer settlement Cecil had ever seen and the American making the ways straight is very curious。 He certainly does not adorn whatever he touches。 But never have I met so many enthusiastics and such pride in locality。 To…night we reach the Hotel Louvre； thank heaven！ where I can get Spanish food again； and not American ginger bread； and； 〃the pie like mother used to make。〃 We now are on a wretched Spanish tug boat with every one； myself included； very seasick and babies howling and roosters crowing。 But soon that will be over； and； after a short ride of thirty miles through a beautiful part of the island； we will be in Havana in time for a fine dinner； with ice。 What next we will do I am not sure。 After living in that beautiful palace of Morgan's； it just needed five days of the 〃Pinero's〃 to make us enjoy life at a hotel If we can make connections； I think I will go over to Santo Domingo； and study up that subject； too。 But； even if we go no where else the trip to the I。 of P。 was alone well worth our long journey。 I don't know when I have seen anything as curious； and as complicated a political existence。 Love to all of you dear ones。
DICK。
HAVANAApril 9； 1906。 ARTHUR BARTLETT MAURICE； ESQ。 MY DEAR MAURICE：
I have just read about myself； in the April Bookman； which I would be very ungrateful if I did not write and tell you how much it pleased me。 That sounds as though what pleased me was； obviously； that what you said was so kind。 But what I really mean； and that for which I thank you； was your picking out things that I myself liked； and that I would like to think others liked。 I know that the men make 〃breaks；〃 and am sorry for it； but； I forget to be sorry when you please me by pointing out the good qualities in 〃Laquerre；〃 and the bull terrier。 Nothing ever hurt me so much as the line used by many reviewers of 〃Macklin〃 that 〃Mr。 Davis' hero is a cad； and Mr。 Davis cannot see it。〃 Macklin I always thought was the best thing I ever did； and it was the one over which I took the most time and care。 Its failure was what as Maggie Cline used to say； 〃drove me into this business〃 of play writing。 All that ever was said of it was that it was 〃A book to read on railroad trains and in a hammock。〃 That was the verdict as delivered to me by Romeike from 300 reviewers； and it drove me to farces。 So； I was especially glad when you liked 〃Royal Macklin。〃 I tried to make a 〃hero〃 who was vain； theatrical； boasting and selfconscious； but； still likable。 But； I did not succeed in making him of interest； and it always has hurt me。 Also； your liking the 〃Derelict〃 and the 〃Fever Ship〃 gave me much pleasure。 You see what I mean； it was your selecting the things upon which I had worked； and with which I had made every effort； that has both encouraged and delighted me。 Being entirely unprejudiced； I think it is a fine article； and as soon as I stamp this； I will read it over again。 So； thank you very much； indeed； for to say what you did seriously； over your own name； took a lot of courage； and for that daring； and for liking the same things I do； I thank you many times。
Sincerely yours；
RICHARD HARDING DAVIS。
In reading this over； I find all I seem to have done in it is to complain because no one； but yourself and myself liked 〃Macklin。〃 What I wanted to say is； that I am very grateful for the article； for the appreciation； although I don't deserve it； and for your temerity in saying so many kind things。 Nothing that has been written about what I have written has ever pleased me so much。
R。 H。 D。
In the spring of 1906 while Richard was on a visit to Providence； R。 I。； Henry W。 Savage produced a play by Jesse Lynch Williams and my brother was asked to assist at rehearsals； a pastime in which he found an enormous amount of pleasure。 The 〃McCloy〃 mentioned in the following letter was the city editor of The Evening Sun when my brother first joined the staff of that paper as a reporter。
NEW YORK； May 4；1906。 DEAR NORA：
I left Providence Tuesday night and came on to New York yesterday。 Savage and Williams and all were very nice about the help they said I had given them； and I had as much fun as though it had been a success I had made myself； and I didn't have to make a speech； either。
Yesterday I spent in the newspaper offices gathering material from their envelopes on Winston Churchill； M。 P。 who is to be one of my real Soldiers of Fortune。 He will make a splendid one； in four wars； twice made a question； before he was 21 years old； in Parliament； and a leader in BOTH parties before he was 36。 In the newspaper offices they had a lot of fun with me。 When I came into the city room of The Eve。 Sun； McCloy was at his desk in his shirt spiking copy。 He just raised his eyes and went on with his blue pencil。 I said 〃There's nothing in that story； sir； the man will get well； and the woman is his wife。〃
〃Make two sticks of it；〃 said McCloy； 〃and then go back to the Jefferson police court。〃
When I sat down at my old desk； and began to write the copy boy came and stood beside me and when I had finished the first page； snatched it。 I had to explain I was only taking notes。
At The Journal； Sam Chamberlain who used to pay me 500 a story； touched me on the shoulder as I was scribbling down notes； and said 〃Hearst says to take you back at 17 a week。〃 I said 〃I'm worth 18 and I can't come for less。〃 So he brought up the business manager and had a long wrangle with him as to whether I should get 18。 The business manager； a Jew gentleman； didn't know me from Adam； and seriously tried to save the paper a dollar a week。 When the reporters and typewriter girls began to laugh； he got very mad。 It was very funny how soothing was the noise of the presses； and the bells and typewriters and men yelling 〃Copy！〃 and 〃Damn the boy！〃 I could write better than if I had been in the silence of the farm。 It was like being able to sleep as soon as the screw starts。
DICK。
CHAPTER XVI THE CONGO
During the winter of 1907 the world rang with the reports of the atrocities in the Congo； and Robert J。 Collier； of Collier's Weekly； asked Richard to go to the Congo and make an investigation。 I do not believe that my brother was ever in much sympathy with the commission； as he did not feel that he could afford the time that a thorough investigation demanded。 However； with his wife he sailed for Liverpool on January 5； 1907； and three weeks later started for Africa。 Regarding this trip； in addition to the letters he wrote to his family； I also quote from a diary which he had just started and which he conscientiously continued until his death。
From diary of January 24th； 1907。 Last day in London。 Margaret Frazer offered me gun from a Captain Jenkins of Nigeria。 Instead bought Winchester repeating； hoping； if need it； get one coast。 Lunched Savoy…Lynch； Mrs。 Lynch； her sistervery beautiful girl。 In afternoon Sam Sothern and Margaret came in to say 〃Good bye。〃 Dined at Anthony Hope'sBarrie and Mrs。 Barrie and Jim Whigham。 Mrs。 Barrie looking very well； Barrie not so well。 As silent as ever； only talked once during dinner when he told us about the first of his series of cricket matches between authors and artists。 Did not have eleven authors； so going along road picked up utter strangers one a soldier in front of embracing two girls。 Said he would come if girls came tooall put in brake。 Mrs。 Barrie said the Llewellen Davis' were the originals for the Darlings and their children in Peter Pan。 They played a strange game of billiards suggested by Barrie who won as no one else knew the rules and they claimed he invented them to suit his case。 Sat up until three writing and packing。 The dinner was best have had this trip in London。
Compagnie Belge Maritime Du Congo。
S。 S。 February 11th； 1907。
To…morrow； we will be in Banana； which is the first port in the Congo。 When I remember how far away the Congo seemed from New York and London； it is impossible to believe we are less than a day from it。 I am so very glad I came。 The people who have lived here for years agree about it in no one fact； so； it is a go…as…you…please for any one so far as accurate information is concerned； and I am as likely to be right as any one else。 It has been a pleasant trip and for us will not be over until some days； for at Matadi； which is up the river； we will probably live on the steamer as the shore does not sound attractive。 Then I shall probably go on up the river and after a month or six weeks come back again。 At Boma I am to see the Governor； one of the inspectors on board is to introduce me