adventures and letters-第10章
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s always good for an eight…dollar loan。 But from the time Richard first began to make his own living one of the great pleasures of his life was to celebrate； or as he called it； to 〃have a party。〃 Whenever he had finished a short story he had a party； and when the story had been accepted there was another party； and； of course； the real party was when he received the check。 And so it was throughout his life； giving a party to some one whom a party would help； buying a picture for which he had no use to help a struggling artist； sending a few tons of coal to an old lady who was not quite warm enough； always writing a letter or a check for some one of his own craft who had been less fortunate than hegiving to every beggar that he met； fearing that among all the thousand fakers he might refuse one worthy case。 I think this habit of giving Richard must have inherited from his father； who gave out of all proportion to his means； and with never too close a scrutiny to the worthiness of the cause。 Both men were too intensely human to do that； but if this great desire on the part of my father and brother to help others gave the recipients pleasure I'm sure that it caused in the hearts of the givers an even greater happiness。 The following letters were chosen from a great number which Richard wrote to his family； telling of his first days on The Evening Sun； and of his life in New York。
YORK Evening Sun1890 DEAR MOTHER：
Today is as lovely and fresh as the morning； a real spring day； and I feel good in consequence。 I have just come from a couple of raids； where we had a very lively time； and some of them had to pull their guns。 I found it necessary to punch a few sports myself。 The old sergeant from headquarters treats me like a son and takes the greatest pride in whatever I do or write。 He regularly assigns me now to certain doors； and I always obey orders like the little gentleman that I am。 Instead of making me unpopular； I find it helps me with the sports； though it hurts my chances professionally； as so many of them know me now that I am no use in some districts。 For instance； in Mott and Pell streets； or in the Bowery； I am as safe as any precinct detective。 I tell you this to keep you from worrying。 They won't touch a man whom they think is an agent or an officer。 Only it spoils my chances of doing reportorial…detective work。 For instance； the captain of the Bowery district refused me a detective the other morning to take the Shippens around the Chinese and the tougher quarters because he said they were as safe with me as with any of the other men whose faces are as well known。 To…night I am going to take a party to the headquarters of the fire department； where I have a cinch on the captain； a very nice fellow； who is unusually grateful for something I wrote about him and his men。 They are going to do the Still Alarm act for me。
These clippings all came out in to…day's paper。 The ladies in the Tombs were the Shippens； of course； and Mamie Blake is a real girl； and the story is true from start to finish。 I think it is a pathetic little history。
Give my love to all。 I will bring on the story I have finished and get you to make some suggestions。 It is quite short。 Since Scribner's have been so civil； I think I will give them a chance at the great prize。 I am writing a comic guide book and a history of the Haymarket for the paper； both are rich in opportunities。 This weather makes me feel like another person。 I will be so glad to get home。 With lots of love and kisses for you and Nora。
DICK…O。
NEW YORK1890。 DEAR CHAS：
Brisbane has suggested to me that the Bradley story would lead anyone to suppose that my evenings were spent in the boudoirs of the horizontales of 34th Street and has scared me somewhat in consequence。 If it strikes you and Dad the same way don't show it to Mother。 Dad made one mistake by thinking I wrote a gambling story which has made me nervous。 It is hardly the fair thing to suppose that a man must have an intimate acquaintance with whatever he writes of intimately。 A lot of hunting people； for instance； would not believe that I had written the 〃Traver's Only Ride〃 story because they knew I did not hunt。 Don't either you or Dad make any mistake about this。
DICK。
As a matter of fact they would not let me in the room； and I don't know whether it abounded in signed etchings or Bougereau's nymphs。
NEW YORK1890。 DEAR FAMILY：
Today has been more or less feverish。 In the morning's mail I received a letter from Berlin asking permission to translate 〃Gallegher〃 into German； and a proof of a paragraph from The Critic on my burlesque of Rudyard Kipling； which was meant to please but which bored me。 Then the 〃Raegen〃 story came in； making nine pages of the Scribner's； which at ten dollars a page ought to be 90。 Pretty good pay for three weeks' work； and it is a good story。 Then at twelve a young man came bustling into the office； stuck his card down on the desk and said； 〃I am S。 S。 McClure。 I have sent my London representative to Berlin and my New York man to London。 Will you take charge of my New York end？〃
If he thought to rattle me he was very much out of it； for I said in his same tone and manner； 〃Bring your New York representative back and send me to London； and I'll consider it。 As long as I am in New York I will not leave The Evening Sun。〃
〃Edmund Gosse is my London representative；〃 he said； 〃you can have the same work here。 Come out and take lunch。〃 I said； 〃Thank you； I can't； I'll see you on Tuesday。〃
〃All right；〃 he said。 〃I'll come for you。 Think of what I say。 I'll make your fortune。 Bradford Merrill told me to get you。 You won't have anything to do but ask people to write novels and edit them。 I'll send you abroad later if you don't like New York。 Can you write any children's stories for me？〃
〃No；〃 I said； 〃see you Tuesday。〃
This is a verbal report of all and everything that was said。 I consider it a curious interview。 It will raise my salary here or I go。 What do YOU think？ DICK。
NEW YORK1890。 DEAR FAMILY：
The more I thought of the McClure offer the less I thought of it。 So I told him last night I was satisfied where I was； and that the 75 he offered me was no inducement。 Brisbane says I will get 50 about the first of October； which is plenty and enough for a young man who intends to be good to his folks。 I cannot do better than stay where I am； for it is understood between Brisbane and Laffan that in the event of the former's going into politics I shall take his place； which will suit very well until something better turns up。 Then there is the chance of White's coming back and my going to Lunnon； which would please me now more for what I think I could make of it than what I think others have made of it。 If I had gone to McClure I would have been shelved and side…tracked； and I am still in the running； and learning every day。 Brisbane and I have had our first serious difficulty over Mrs。 R； who is staying with Mrs。 〃Bill。〃 There is at present the most desperate rivalry； and we discuss each other's chances with great anger。 He counts on his transcontinental knowledge； but my short stories hit very hard； and he is not in it when I sing 〃Thy Face Will Lead Me On〃 and 〃When Kerrigan Struck High C。〃 She has a fatal fondness for Sullivan； which is most unfortunate； as Brisbane can and does tell her about him by the half hour。 Yesterday we both tried to impress her by riding down in front of the porch and showing off the horses and ourselves。 Brisbane came off best； though I came off quickest； for my horse put his foot in a hole and went down on his knees； while I went over his head like the White Knight in 〃Alice。〃 I would think nothing of sliding off a roof now。 But I made up for this mishap by coming back in my grey suit and having it compared with the picture in The Century。 It is a very close fight； and； while Brisbane is chasing over town for photographs of Sullivan； I am buying books of verses of which she seems to be fond。 As soon as she gets her divorce one of us is going to marry her。 We don't know which。 She is about as beautiful a woman as I ever saw； and very witty and well…inf
