按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
y and soul of my friend and classmate。 He did not excel in studies or greatly； in athletics。 But in his own field； that of writing； he was so much better than the 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 creations。 In all his personal relationships he was the most amusing and stimulating of companions。 With garb and ways of unique picturesqueness； rarer even in college communities a generation ago than at present； it was inevitable that he sometimes got himself laughed at as well as with。 But what did it all matter； even then？ To…day it adds a glow of color to what would be in any case a vivid； deeply valued memory。
〃It is hard to foresee in youth what will come most sharply and permanently in the long run。 After all these years it is good to find that Davis and what his companionship gave one hold their place with the strongest influences of Lehigh。〃
But Richard was naturally gregarious and at heart had a great fondness for clubs and social gatherings。 Therefore； having refused the offer of several fraternities that did him the honor to ask him to become a member； it was necessary for him to 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 meetings of which he devoted much time and thought。 The following letter to his father will give some idea of the scope of the club； which； as in the case of 〃The Mustard and Cheese；〃 gained a permanent and important place in the social life of Lehigh。
DEAR DAD：
We have started the best sort of a club up here which I am anxious to tell you of。 It consists of a spread； net price of which will be about 30 cents each； every two or three weeks。 Only six fellows belong and those the best of the College。 Purnell； Haines and myself founded it。 I chose Charley； Purnell； Reeves； Haines and Howe。 We will meet 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； honorary； of course； when we can persuade him to give us a night off with his company。 We want to combine a literary feature and so will have selected readings to provoke discussions after the pipes are lit。 The men are very enthusiastic about it and want to invite Mr。 Allen and you and every one that they can make an honorary member of immediately。
It was first as an associate editor and afterward as editor…in…chief of the college paper； The Lehigh Burr； that Richard found his greatest pleasure and interest during his three years at Lehigh。 In addition to his editorial duties he wrote a very great part of every issue of the paper； and his contributions included short stories； reports of news events； editorials； and numerous poems。
As； after his life at college； Richard dropped verse as a mode of expression； I reprint two of the poems which show him in the lighter vein of those early days。
A COMMENCEMENT IDYL
〃I'm a Freshman who has ended his first year； But I'm new； And I do whate'er the Juniors； whom I fear； Bid me do。 Under sudden showers I thrive； To be bad and bold I strive； But they ask‘Is it alive？' So they do。
I'm a Sophomore who has passed off his exams； Let me loose！ With a mark as high as any other man's； As obtuse I'm fraternal。 I am Jolly。 I am seldom melancholy And to bone I think is folly； What's the use？
I'm a Junior whom exams。 have left forlorn； Flunked me dead； So I'll keep the town awake 'till early morn； Paint it red。 At class…meetings I'm a kicker； Take no water with my liquor； And a dumb…bell's not thicker Than my head。
I'm a Senior whose diploma's within reach； Eighty…four。 On Commencement Day you'll hear my maiden…speech； I will soar！ I got through without condition； I'm a mass of erudition； Do you know of a position！〃
OUR STREET
〃Our street is still and silent； Grass grows from curb to curb；
No baker's bells With jangling knells Our studious minds disturb。 No organ grinders ever call； No hucksters mar our peace； For traffic shuns our neighborhood And leaves us to our ease。
But now it lives and brightens； Assumes a livelier hue； The pavements wide； On either side； Would seem to feel it too。 You might not note the difference； The change from grave to gay； But I can tell； and know full well； Priscilla walks our way。〃
Shortly after his return to college Richard celebrated his nineteenth birthday； and received these letters from his father and mother：
April 17th； 1883。 MY DEAR BOY：
When I was thinking what I could give to you to…morrow； I remembered the story of Herder； who when he was old and weak and they brought him food and wine asked for 〃a great thought to quicken him。〃
So I have written some old sayings for you that have helped me。 Maybe； this year； or some other year； when I am not with you； they may give you； sometimes； comfort and strength。
God bless you my son
YOUR OLD MOTHER
who loves you dearlydearly。
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER PHILADELPHIA； April 17th； 1883。
MY DEAR BOY：
You are to be nineteen years old on Wednesday。 After two years more you will be a man。 You are so manly and good a boy that I could not wish you to change in any serious or great thing。 You have made us very happy through being what you have been； what you are。 You fill us with hope of your future virtue and usefulness。
To be good is the best thing of all； it counts for more than anything else in the world。 We are very grateful that you have even in youth been wise enough to choose the right road。 You will find it not easy to keep upon it always； but remember if you do get off struggle back to it。 I do not know but I think God loves the effort to do as well as the act done。
I congratulate you my dear son； on your new birthday。 I wish you health； happiness and God's loving care。 May he bless you my son forever。 I enclose a trifle for your pleasure。 My love to you always； but God bless you dear Dick。
DAD。
In the fall of 1885； Richard decided to leave Lehigh and go to John Hopkins University； where he took a special course in such studies as would best benefit him in the career which he had now carefully planned。 During this year in Baltimore Richard's letters show that he paid considerable attention 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 an entirely new set of maids and matrons。 Richard had already begun to send contributions to the magazines； and an occasional acceptance caused him the satisfaction common to all beginners。 It was in regard to one of these early contributions that my mother wrote Richard the following letter：
PHILADELPHIA
January 1887。 DEAR BOY：
What has become of The Current？ It has not come yet。 If it has suspended publication be sure and get your article back。 You must not destroy a single page you write。 You will find every idea of use to you hereafter。
Sometimes I am afraid you think I don't take interest enough in your immediate success now with the articles you send。 But I've had thirty years experience and I know how much that sort of success depends on the articles suiting the present needs of the magazine； and also on the mood of the editor when he reads it。
Besidesexcept for your own disappointmentI know it would be better if you would not publish under your own name for a little while。 Dr。 Hollandwho had lots of literary shrewdness both as writer and publisherused to say for a young man or woman to rush into print was sure ruin to their lasting fame。 They either compromised their reputations by inferior work or they made a great hit and never played up to it； afterwards； in public opinion。
Now my dear old man this sounds like awfully cold comfort。 But it is the wisest idea your mother has got。 I confess I have GREAT fa