Adventures and Letters of Richard Harding Davis

school. During that year he had met most of the upper classmen, and the only difference was that he could now take an active instead of a friendl

he former he spoke at college meetings, and wrote long letters to the local papers decrying the custom. His stand against hazing was equally vehement, and he worked hand in hand with the fa

M, Febru

R D

much as the show. Poor Ruff was in agony all day. He supposed I'd get into the fight, and he knew he'd get in, too, sooner or later. If he did he'd be held and not be able to do anything, and then the next day be blamed by the whole college for interfering in a class matter. He hadn't any money to get into the show, and so wandered around outside in the rain in a great deal more excited state than I was. Howe went all over town after putting on his old clothes, in case of personal damage, in search of freshmen who were at home out of the wet. As I left the building a man grabbed me by my arm, and the rest, with the seniors gathered around; the only freshman present, who was half scared to death, clung as near to me as possible. I withdrew my arm and faced them. "If this means hazing," I said, "I'm not with you. There's not enough men here to haze me, but there's enough to thrash me, and I'd rather be thrashed than hazed." You see, I wanted them to understand exactly how I looked at it, and they wouldn't think I was simply hotheaded and stubborn. I was very cool about it all. They broke in with all sorts of explanations; hazing was the last thing they had thought of. No, indeed, Davis, old fellow, you're mistaken. I told them if that was so, all right, I was going home. I saw several of my friends in the crowd waiting for me, but as I di

fair, and they'd see it fair. Goodnough, Purnell and Douglas,

didn't intend any one to haze me. Then I said again, "This is the third time, will one of your men fight this fair? I can't fight twelve of you." Just then two officers who had called on some mill-hands, who are always dying for a fight, and a citizen to help them, burst into the crowd of students, shouldering them around like sheep until they got to me, when one of them put his

rray Stuart took me up to their rooms, and Ruff went off for beefsteak for my eye, and treated the crowd who had come to the rescue, at Dixon's, to beer. The next day was Saturday, and as there w

though, and waited. One of the seniors asked that the nominees should stand up, as they didn't know their names only their faces. As each man rose he was hissed and groaned down again. When I stood up the sophomores burst into a yell and clapped and stamped, yelling, "Davis! Davis! vote for D!" until I sat down. As I had already decided to nominate Tolman, I withdrew my name from the nominees, a movement which was received by loud cries of "No! No!" from the sophs. So, you see, Dad, I did as you said, as I thought was right, and came out well indeed. You see, I am now the hero of the hour, every one in town knows it, and

that my conduct has h

I

r my father pr

A. February

OLD

e that do it with all your might, and don't insist that either party shall too strictly observe t

A

belief that it was inadvisable to be a member of any fraternity. In a general way he did not like the idea of secrecy even in its mildest form, and then, as throughout his life, he refused to join any body that would in any way limit his complete indepe

th talents and character that he stood quite apart from the other collegians of his day. Prophets were as rare in the eighties as they have always been, before and since, and nobody could have foreseen that the name and work of Dick Davis would long before his untimely death, i

rest of us that no one of his fellow-editors of the Epitome or Burr needed to be considered in comparison with him. No less, in spite of his voluntary nonmembership in the fraternities of his day, was he a leader in the social activities of the University. The 'Arcadian Club' devoted in its beginnings to the 'pipes, books, beer and gingeralia' of Davis's song about it and the 'Mustard and Cheese' were his crea

the long run. After all these years it is good to find that Davis and what his

form a few clubs that held meetings, but no secrets. Perhaps the most successful of these were "The Mustard and Cheese," a dramatic club devoted to the presentation of farces and musical comedies, and The Arcadia Club, to the fortnightly meetin

R D

Saturday nights at 9 so as not to interfere with our work, and sing, read, eat and box until midnight. It is called the "Pipe and Bowl," and is meant to take the place that The Hasty Pudding, Hammer and Tongs and Mermaid do at other colleges. Two of us are to invite two outsiders in turn each meeting. We will hope to have Dad a member, honora

s greatest pleasure and interest during his three years at Lehigh. In addition to his editorial duties he wrote a very great part

as a mode of expression, I reprint two of the poems w

ENCEME

who has ended

I'm

'er the Junior

me

en showers

and bold

ask-'Is i

the

who has passed

me l

s high as any

obt

ernal. I

ldom me

ne I thin

s the

ams. have left forlo

wn awake 'till earl

eetings I'

ater with

b-bell's

my

diploma's within

you'll hear my maide

ugh withou

ss of er

ow of a p

ST

t is still

s from cur

ker's

anglin

ous minds

grinders

ers mar o

shuns our

es us to

lives and

a live

vement

ther

em to fe

ot note the

e from gr

ell, and kn

a walks

celebrated his nineteenth birthday, and rece

17th

EAR

red the story of Herder, who when he was old and weak and they br

me. Maybe, this year, or some other year, when I am not wi

ss you

OLD M

you dear

ADELPHIA

IA, April

EAR

good a boy that I could not wish you to change in any serious or great thing. You have made us very happy

ave even in youth been wise enough to choose the right road. You will find it not easy to keep upon it always, but remem

piness and God's loving care. May he bless you my son forever. I enclose a t

A

tention to such important subjects as political economy and our own labor problems, but they also show that he did not neglect football or the lighter social diversions. In a short space of time he had made many friends, was very busy going to dinners and dances, and had fallen in love with

ADEL

ary

R B

d publication be sure and get your article back. You must not destroy a

les you send. But I've had thirty years experience and I know how much that sort of success depends on th

o had lots of literary shrewdness both as writer and publisher-used to say for a young man or woman to rush into print was sure ruin to their lastin

lace among American authors, but I do not think you are going to do it by articles like that you sent to The Current. The qualities which I think will bring it to you, you don't seem to value at all. They are your dramatic eye. I

real success takes time, and patient, steady work. Read Boz's first sketches of "London Life" and compare them

test of your ability. That is, forgive me, nothing but nonsense. Whatever the article may be, you may write one infinitely superior to it next week or month. Just in proportion as you feel more deeply, or notice more keenly, and as y

hing. But only to remember that you have not yet conquered your art. You are a journeyman not a master workman, so if you don't s

ur

TH

nged his plans and decided to sail for Santiago de Cuba with his friend William W. Thurston, who as president of the Bethlehem Steel Company, was deeply interested in the iron mines of that region. Here and then it was that Richard first fell in love with Cuba-a love which in later years became almost an obsession with him. Throughout his life whenever it was possible, and sometimes when it seemed practically impossible, my brother would listen to the call of his beloved tropics and, casting aside all responsibilities, would set sail for Santiago. After all it wa