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！
the Briton who takes his habits and customs and games and tea wherever he goes； no matter how benighted or remote the spot may be。
〃He was just as loyal to his code as is the Briton。 He carried his bath…tub； his immaculate linen； his evening clothes； his war equipmentin which he had the pride of a connoisseurwherever he went； and； what is more； he had the courage to use the evening clothes at times when their use was conspicuous。 He was the only man who wore a dinner coat in Vera Cruz； and each night； at his particular table in the crowded ‘Portales；' at the Hotel Diligencia； he was to be seen； as fresh and clean as though he were in a New York or London restaurant。
Each day he was up early to take the train out to the ‘gap；' across which came arrivals from Mexico City。 Sometimes a good ‘story' would come down； as when the long…heralded and long…expected arrival of Consul Silliman gave a first…page ‘feature' to all the American papers。
〃In the afternoon he would play water polo over at the navy aviation camp； and always at a certain time of the day his ‘striker' would bring him his horse and for an hour or more he would ride out along the beach roads within the American lines。〃
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
On June 15 Richard sailed on the Utah for New York； arriving there on the 22d。 For a few weeks after his return he remained at Mount Kisco completing his articles on the Mexican situation but at the outbreak of the Great War he at once started for Europe； sailing with his wife on August 4； the day war was declared between England and Germany。
On LusitaniaAugust 8； 1914。 DEAR CHAS：
We got off in a great rush； as the Cunard people received orders to sail so soon after the Government had told them to cancel all passengers； that no one expected to leave by her； and had secured passage on the Lorraine and St。 Paul。
They gave me a 〃regal〃 suite which at other times costs 1；000 and it is so darned regal that I hate to leave it。 I get sleepy walking from one end of it to the other； and we have open fires in each of the three rooms。 Generally when one goes to war it is in a transport or a troop train and the person of the least importance is the correspondent。 So； this way of going to war I like。 We now are a cruiser and are slowly being painted grey； and as soon as they got word England was at war all lights were put out and to find your way you light matches。 You can imagine the effect of this Ritz Carlton idea of a ship wrapped in darkness。 Gerald Morgan is on board； he is also accredited to The Tribune； and Frederick Palmer。 I do not expect to be allowed to see anything but will try to join a French army。 I will leave Bessie near London with Louise at some quiet place like Oxford or a village on the Thames。 We can 〃take〃 wireless； but not send it； so as no one is sending and as we don't care to expose our position； we get no news。 We are running far North and it is bitterly cold。 I think Peary will sue us for infringing his copyrights。
I will try to get in touch with Nora。 I am worried lest she cannot get at her money。 As British subjects no other thing should upset them。 Address me American Embassy； London。 I send such love to you both。 God bless you。 DICK。
Richard arrived in Liverpool August 13； and made arrangements for his wife to remain in London。 Unable to obtain credentials from the English authorities； he started for Brussels and arrived there in time to see the entry of the German troops； which he afterward described so graphically。 Indeed this article is considered by many to be one of the finest pieces of descriptive writing the Great War has produced。
For several days after Brussels had come under the control of the Germans Richard remained there and then decided to go to Paris as the siege of the French capital at the time seemed imminent。 He and his friend Gerald Morgan； who was acting as the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph； decided to drive to Hal and from there to continue on foot until they had reached the English or French armies where they knew they would be among friends。 At Hal they were stopped by the German officials and Morgan wisely returned to Brussels。 However； Richard having decided to continue on his way； was promptly seized by the Germans and held as an English spy。 For a few days he had a most exciting series of adventures with the German military authorities and his life was frequently in danger。 It was finally due to my brother's own strategy and the prompt action of our Ambassador to Belgium； Brand Whitlock； that he was returned to Brussels and received his official release。
On August 27； Richard left Brussels for Paris on a train carrying English prisoners and German wounded； and en route saw much of the burning and destruction of Louvain。
BRUSSELS； August 17； 1914。 DEAREST：
Write me soon and often！ All is well here so long as I know you are all right； so do not fail to tell me all； and keep me in touch。 If _I_ do not write much it is because letters do not get through always； and are read。 But you know I love you； and you know twice each day I pray for you and wish for you all the time。 I feel as though I had been gone a month。 Gerald Morgan and I got in last night； this is a splendid new hotel； for 2。50 I get a room and bath like yours on the 〃royal suite；〃 only bigger。 This morning the minister did everything he could for us。 There are about twenty Americans who want credentials。 They say they will take no Americans； but to our minister they said they would make exception in favor of three； so I guess the three will be John McCutcheon； Palmer and myself。 John and I； if anyone gets a pass； are sure。 With the passes we had； Gerald and I started out in a yellow motor； covered with flags of the Allies； and saw a great deal。 How I wished you were with me； you would so have loved it。 The country is absolutely beautiful。 We were stopped every quarter mile to show our passes and we got a working idea of how it will be。 Tonight I dined with Mr。 Whitlock； the minister； and John McCutcheon came in and Irving Cobb。 John and I will get together and go out。 All you need is a motor car and you can go pretty much everywhere； EXCEPT near where there is fighting。 So what I am to do to earn my wages I don't know。 I am now going to bed and I send my darlin' all love。 Today I sent you a wire。 If it got to you let me know。 Take such good care of yourself。 Remember me to Louise； and； WRITE ME。 All love； DEAR； DEAR one。 My wife and my sweetheart。
Your husband；
RICHARD。
The following is the last letter that got through。
BRUSSELS； August 21； 1914。 DEAREST ONE：
I cannot say much； as I doubt if this will be opened by you。 The German army came in and there was no fighting and I am very well。 I am only distressed at not being able to get letters from you； and not being able to send them。 I will write a long one； and hold it until I am sure of some way by which it can reach you。
YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD SAY。
Mrs。 Davis had waited in London to meet Richard on his return from the war； but a misunderstanding as to the date of his return； coupled with her strong sense of duty to his interests at home； gave occasion for the letter which follows：
LONDON； August 31； 1914。 DEAREST ONE：
Not since the Herald Square days have I had such a blow as when I drove up to 10 Clarges； and found you gone！ IT WAS NOBODY'S FAULT！ YOU WERE SO RIGHT to go； and I COULD NOT COME。 I am so distressed lest it was my cable saying I could not get back that decided you to go before the fifth。 But Ashford says it was not。 He tells me the cable came at THREE in the morning and that you had arranged to be called at six…thirty in order to leave for Scotland。 So； for sending that cable I need not blame myself too much。 I sent you so many messages I do not know which got through。 But I think it must have been one saying I could not return in time to see you before the fifth。 THEN； no trains were running。 The very NEXT DAY the Germans started a troop train； and I took it。 The reason I could not come by automobile was because I had a falling out with the 〃mad dogs〃 and they would not give me a pass。 So Evans； with whom I was to motor to Holland； got through Friday afternoon and sent the cable。 As soon as I reached Holland； I cabled I was coming and kept on telegraphing every step of the journey； which lasted three days。
I telegraphed last from Folkestone； even telling you what to have for my supper。 As you directed； Ashford opened the cables； and when I drove up； he was at the door in tears。 He had made a light in your rooms and； of course； as I looked up I thought you still were in them。 When they told me I was a day late； I cried； too。 It was the bitterest disappointment I ever knew。 I had taken the very first train out of Brussels； the one with the wounded； and for three days had been having one hell of a time。 But I kept thinking of seeing you； and hearing your dear voice。 So the trip did not matter。 I was only thinking of SEEING YOU； and thanking God I was shut of the dirty Germans。 We had nothing to eat； and we slept on the floor of the train； the Germans