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e began at ten this morning and we stopped at six。 They say it takes five years to see Rome； but when I let the rapid…fire guide escape； he said he had to compliment me； we climbed more stairways and hills than there are in all New York and Westchester County； and there is just one idea in my mind； and that is that you and I must see this sacred place together。 On all this trip I have wanted YOU； but NEVER so as today。 And I particularly inquired about the milk。 It is said to be excellent。 So we will come here； and you； with all your love of what is fine and beautiful； will be very happy； and Hope will learn Italian； and to know what is best in art； and statues and churches。 I have seen 2900 churches； and all of them built by Michael Angelo and decorated by Raphael； and it was so wonderful I cried。 I bought candles and prayers； and I am afraid Christian Science had a dull day。 Tomorrow we start at nine； and go to high mass at St。 Peter's； and then into the country to the catacombs； where the early Christians hid from the Romans。 It is not what you would call an English Christmas； but it is so beautiful and wonderful that you BOTH ARE VERY NEAR。
I sent you a cable； the second one； because it is not sure they are forwarded； and I hung up a stocking for Hope。 One of the peasant women made in Salonica。 I am bringing it with me。 And the cat is on my windowstill looking out on the Romans。 The green leaf I got in the forum； where Mark Antony made his speech over Caesar's body。 It is the plant that gave Pericles the idea of the Corinthian column。 You remember。 It was growing under a tile some one had laid over itand the yellow flower was on my table at dinner； so I send it； that we may know on Christmas Eve we dined together。
Good…night； now； and God bless you。 I am off to bed now； in a bed with sheets。 The first in six days。 How I LOVE you； and LOVE you。 Such good wishes I send you； and such love to you both。 May the good Lord bless you as he has blessed mewith the best of women； with the best of daughters。 I am a proud husband and a proud father； and soon I will be a HAPPY husband and a HAPPY father。
Good…night； dear heart。
RICHARD。
PARIS； December 28th； 1915。 DEAR OLD MAN：
Hurrah for the Dictator！ He has been a great good friend to me。 I will know to…day about whether I can go back to the French front。 If not I will try the Belgians and then London； and home。 I spent Christmas day in Rome in the catacombs。 I could not wear my heart upon my sleeve for duchesses to peck at。 It is just as you say； Dad and Mother made the day so dear and beautiful。 I did not know how glad I would be to be back here for while the trip East led to no news value； to me personally it was interesting。 But I am terribly tired after the last nine days； sleeping on sofas； decks； a different deck each night and writing all the time and such poor stuff。 But； oh！ when I saw Paris I knew how glad I was！ WHAT a beautiful place； what a kind courteous people。 We will all be here some day。 Tell Dai she must be my interpreter。 All love to her； and you； and good luck to the syndicate。 YOUR syndicate。 I have not heard from mine for six weeks。 They have not sent me a single clipping of anything； so I don't know whether anything got through or not； and I have nothing to show these people here that might encourage them to send me out again。 They certainly have made it hard hoeing。 Tell Guvey his letter about the toys was a great success here； and copied into several papers。
Goodbye； and God bless you； and good luck to you。
DICK。
PARIS； December 31st； 1915。 DEAR OLD MAN：
To wish you and Dai a Happy New Year。 It will mean a lot to us when we can get together； and take it together； good and bad。 I am awfully pleased over the novel coming out by the Harper's and； in landing so much for me out of The Dictator。 You have started the New Year for me splendidly。 I expect I will be back around the first of February。 I am now trying to 〃get back；〃 but； I need more time。 I can only put the trip down to the wrong side of the ledger。 Personally； I got a lot out of it； but I am not sent over here to improve my knowledge of Europe； but to furnish news and stories and that has not happened。
I am constantly running against folks who knew you in Florence； and I regret to say most of them are in business at the Chatham bar。 What a story they make； the M's and the like； who know Paris only from the cocktail side。 One of our attaches told me to…day he had been lunching for the last 18 months at the grill room of the Chatham； where the 〃mixed grill〃 was as good as in New York。 He had no knowledge of any other place to eat。 The Hotel de l'Empire is a terrible tragedy。 They are so poor； that I believe it is my eight francs a day keeps them going； nothing else is in sight。 But； it is the exception。 Never did a people take a war as the French take this worst of all wars。 They really are the most splendid of people。 I only wish I could have had one of them for a grandfather or grandmother。 Bessie writes that Hope is growing wonderfully and beautifully； and I am sick for a sight of her； and for you。 Good night and God bless you and the happiest of New Years to you both。
Your loving brother；
DICK。
These postcards are 〃originals〃 painted by students of the Beaux…Arts to keep alive； and to keep those students in the trenches。 They are for Dai。
PARIS； December 31； 1915。 DEAREST ONE：
The old year； the dear； old year that brought us Hope； is very near the end。 I am not going to watch him go。 I have drunk to the New Year and to my wife and daughter； and before there is 〃a new step on the floor； and a new face at the door；〃 I will be asleep。 Of all my many years； the old year； that is so soon to pass away； has been the best； for it has brought you to me with a closer tie； has added to the love I have for every breath you breathe； for your laugh and your smile； and deep concern； that comes if you think your worthless husband is worried； or cross； or dismayed。 Each year I love you more； for I know you more； and to know more of the lovely soul you are； is to love more。 Just now we are in a hard place。 I am sure you cannot comprehend how her father； her 〃Dad〃 and your husband can keep away。 Neither do I understand。
But； for both your sakes； I want； before I own up that this adventure has been a failure； to try and pull something out of the wreck。 If the government says I CAN； then I still may be able to do something。 If it says； 〃NO；〃 then it's Home； boys； Home； and that's where I want to be。 It's home； boys； home； in the old countree。 'Neath the ash； and the oak； and the spreading maple tree； it's home； boys； home； to mine own countree！ This is Hope and you。 So know； that in getting to you I have not thrown away a minute。 I have been a slave…driver； to others as well as to myself。 But you cannot get favors with a whip； and； the French war office has other matters to occupy it； that it considers of more importance than an impatient war correspondent。 So long as you understand； it will not matter。 Nothing hurts； except that you may not understand。 The moment I see you； and you see me； you will understand。 So； goodnight； and God bless you； you； my two blessings。 Here is to our own year of 1915； your year and Hope's year； and； because I have you both； my year。 I send you all the love in all the world。 RICHARD。
January 5； 1916。 MY DEAREST ONE：
WHAT PICTURES！ WHAT HAPPINESS！ What a proud Richard！ On top of my writing yesterday that I had had no sketches of yours； and no kodaks of Hope； eight came to…night； and oh！ I am so proud； so homesick。 What a wonderful nurse and mother you are！ Was ever there anything so lovable？ And that she should be ours； to hold and to love； and to make happy。 These last eight days in Paris； in and out； have made me so homesick for those I love； that you will never know what the delays meant。 I felt just the way poor women feel who kidnap babies。 In the parks I know the nurse…maids are afraid of me。 I stick my head under the hoods of the baby carriages； and stop and stand watching them at play。 And tonight when all these beautiful pictures came； I was the happiest father anywhere。
The delay was no one's fault； not mine anyway； nor can I blame anyone。 These people are splendid。 They are willing to do anything for one； but it takes time。 When they are fighting for their lives and have not seen their own babies in a year； that you want to see yours is only natural and to oblige you they can't see why they should upset the whole war。 But now it looks less as though I would have to call it a failure。 And Hope may be proud of me； and you may be proud of me； and I will have enough ammunition to draw on for many articles and letters； and another book。
It has been a cruel time； and when I tell you how I worked to get it over； and to be back with you； you will understand many things。 The most important of all will be how I love you。 Only wait until I can lay eyes on you； you will just take one look and know that it couldn't be helped； that the delay was the work of others； that； all I wanted was my Bessie and my Hope。
How heavy she will be