adventures and letters-第11章

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　　We　don't　know　which。　　She　is　about　as　beautiful　a　woman　as　I　ever　saw；　and　very　witty　and　well…informed；　but　it　would　cost　a　good　deal　to　keep　her　in　diamonds。　　She　wears　some　the　Queen　gave　her；　but　she　wants　more。

DICK。


NEW　YORK1890。　DEAR　MOTHER　（LATE　MA）：

I　am　well　and　with　lots　to　do。　　I　went　up　to　see　Hopper　the　other　night；　which　was　the　first　time　in　three　months　that　I　have　been　back　of　a　theater；　and　it　was　like　going　home。　　There　is　a　smell　about　the　painty　and　gassy　and　dusty　place　that　I　love　as　much　as　fresh　earth　and　newly　cut　hay；　and　the　girls　look　so　pretty　and　bold　lying　around　on　the　sets；　and　the　men　so　out　of　focus　and　with　such　startling　cheeks　and　lips。　　They　were　very　glad　to　see　me　and　made　a　great　fuss。　　Then　I've　been　to　see　Carmencita　dance；　which　I　enjoyed　remarkably；　and　I　have　been　reading　Rudyard　Kipling's　short　stories；　and　I　think　it　is　disgusting　that　a　boy　like　that　should　write　such　stories。　　He　hasn't　left　himself　anything　to　do　when　he　gets　old。　　He　reminds　me　of　Bret　Harte　and　not　a　bit　of　Stevenson；　to　whom　some　of　them　compare　him。

I　am　very　glad　you　liked　the　lady　in　mid…air　story　so　much；　but　it　wasn't　a　bit　necessary　to　add　the　MORAL　from　a　MOTHER。　　I　saw　it　coming　up　before　I　had　read　two　lines；　and　a　very　good　moral　it　is；　too；　with　which　I　agree　heartily。　　But；　of　course；　you　know　it　is　not　a　new　idea　to　me。　　Anything　as　good　and　true　as　that　moral　cannot　be　new　at　this　late　date。　　I　went　to　the　Brooklyn　Handicap　race　yesterday。　　It　is　one　of　the　three　biggest　races　of　the　year；　and　a　man　stood　in　front　of　me　in　the　paddock　in　a　white　hat。　　Another　man　asked　him　what　he　was　〃playing。〃

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　fancy　Fides　myself。〃

〃Fides！〃　said　his　friend；　〃why；　she　ain't　in　it。　　She　won't　see　home。　　Raceland's　the　horse　for　your　money；　she's　favorite；　and　there　isn't　any　second　choice。　　But　Fides！　　Why；　she's　simply　impossible。　　Raceland　beat　HER　last　Suburban。〃

〃Yes；　I　remember；〃　said　the　man　in　the　white　hat；　〃but　I　fancy　Fides。〃

Then　another　chap　said　to　him；　〃Fides　is　all　good　enough　on　a　dust　track　on　a　sunny；　pleasant　day；　but　she　can't　ran　in　the　mud。　　She　hasn't　got　the　staying　powers。　　She's　a　pretty　one　to　look　at；　but　she's　just　a　‘grandstand'　ladies'　choice。　　She　ain't　in　it　with　Raceland　or　Erica。　　The　horse　YOU　want　is　not　a　pretty；　dainty　flyer；　but　a　stayer；　that　is　sure　and　that　brings　in　good　money；　not　big　odds；　but　good　money。　　Why；　I　can　name　you　a　dozen　better'n　Fides。〃　

〃Still；　somehow；　I　like　Fides　best；〃　said　the　obstinate　man　in　the　white　hat。

〃But　Fides　will　take　the　bit　in　her　mouth　and　run　away；　or　throw　the　jock　or　break　into　the　fence。　　She　isn't　steady。　　She's　all　right　to　have　a　little　bet　on；　just　enough　for　a　flyer；　but　she's　not　the　horse　to　plunge　on。　　If　you're　a　millionaire　with　money　to　throw　away；　why；　you　might　put　some　of　it　up　on　her；　but；　as　it　is；　you　want　to　put　your　money　where　it　will　be　sure　of　a　‘place；'　anyway。　　Now；　let　me　mark　your　card　for　you？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　man；　〃what　you　all　say　is　reasonable；　I　see　that；　but；　somehow；　I　rather　fancy　Fides　best。〃

I've　forgotten　now　whether　Fides　won　or　not；　and　whether　she　landed　the　man　who　just　fancied　her　without　knowing　why　a　winner　or　sent　him　home　broke。　　But；　in　any　event；　that　is　quite　immaterial；　the　story　simply　shows　how　obstinate　some　men　are　as　regards　horses　andother　uncertain　critters。　　I　have　no　doubt　but　that　the　Methodist　minister's　daughter　would　have　made　Hiram　happy　if　he　had　loved　her；　but　he　didn't。　　No　doubt　Anne　；　Nan　；　Katy　　and　Maude　　would　have　made　me　happy　if　they　would　have　consented　to　have　me　and　I　had　happened　to　love　them；　but　I　fancied　Fides。

But　now　since　I　have　scared　you　sufficiently；　let　me　add　for　your　peace　of　mind　that　I've　not　enough　money　to　back　any　horses　just　at　present；　and　before　I　put　any　money　up　on　any　one　of　them　for　the　Matrimonial　stakes；　I　will　ask　you　first　to　look　over　the　card　and　give　me　a　few　pointers。　　I　mayn't　follow　them；　you　know；　but　I'll　give　you　a　fair　warning；　at　any　rate。

〃You're　my　sweetheart；　I'm　your　beau。〃　DICK。


NEW　YORK；　May　29；　1890。

This　is　just　a　little　good　night　note　to　say　how　I　wish　I　was　with　you　down　at　that　dear　old　place　and　how　much　I　love　you　and　Nora　who　is　getting　lovelier　and　sweeter　and　prettier　everyday　and　I　know　a　pretty　girl　when　I　see　'em；　Fides；　for　instance。　　But　I　won't　tease　you　about　that　any　more。

I　finished　a　short　silly　story　to　night　which　I　am　in　doubt　whether　to　send　off　or　not。　　I　think　I　will　keep　it　until　I　read　it　to　you　and　learn　what　you　think。

Mr。　Gilder　has　asked　me　to　stay　with　them　at　Marion；　and　to　go　to　Cambridge　with　Mrs。　Gilder　and　dear　Mrs。　Cleveland　and　Grover　Cleveland；　when　he　reads　the　poem　before　D。　K。　E。

I　have　bought　a　book　on　decorations；　colored；　and　I　am　choosing　what　I　want；　like　a　boy　with　a　new　pair　of　boots。

Good…night；　my　dearest　Mama。

DICK。


In　addition　to　his　regular　work　on　The　Evening　Sun；　my　brother；　as　I　have　already　said；　was　devoting　a　great　part；　of　his　leisure　moments　to　the　writing　of　short　stories；　and　had　made　a　tentative　agreement　with　a　well…known　magazine　to　do　a　series　of　short　sketches　of　New　York　types。　　Evidently　fearful　that　Richard　was　writing　too　much　and　with　a　view　to　pecuniary　gain；　my　mother　wrote　the　following　note　of　warning：


PHILADELPHIA；　1890。　DEAR　DICK：

I　wouldn't　undertake　the　〃types。〃　　For　one　thing；　you　will　lose　prestige　writing　for　's　paper。　　For　another；　I　dread　beyond　everything　your　beginning　to　do　hack　work　for　money。　　It　is　the　beginning　of　decadence　both　in　work　and　reputation　for　you。　　I　know　by　my　own　and　a　thousand　other　people。　　Begin　to　write　because　it　〃is　a　lot　of　money〃　and　you　stop　doing　your　best　work。　　You　make　your　work　common　and　your　prices　will　soon　go　down。　　George　Lewes　managed　George　Eliot　wisely。

He　stopped　her　hack　work。　　Kept　her　at　writing　novels　and　soon　one　each　year　brought　her　40；000。　　I　am　taking　a　purely　mercenary　view　of　the　thing。　　There　is　another　which　you　understand　better　than　I　Mind　your　Mother's　advice　to　younow　and　all　the　time　is　〃do　only　your　best　workeven　if　you　starve　doing　it。〃　　But　you　won't　starve。　　You'll　get　your　dinner　at　Martin's　instead　of　Delmonico's；　which　won't　hurt　you　in　the　long　run。　　Anyhow；　1000。　for　12；500　words　is　not　a　great　price。

That　was　a　fine　tea　you　gave。　　I　should　like　to　have　heard　the　good　talk。　　It　was　like　the　regiment　of　brigadier　generals　with　no　privates。

Your

MOTHER。


This　is　a　letter　written　by　my　father　after　the　publication　of　Richard's　story　〃A　Walk　up　the　Avenue。〃　　Richard　frequently　spoke　of　his　father　as　his　〃kindest　and　severest　critic。〃


PHILADELPHIA；　July　22nd；　1890。

10。30　P。　M。　MY　DEAR　Boy：

You　can　do　it；　you　have　done　it；　it　is　all　right。　　I　have　read　A　Walk　up　the　Avenue。　　It　is　far　and　away　the　best　thing　you　have　ever　doneFull　of　fine　subtle　thought；　of　rare；　manly　feeling。

I　am　not　afraid　of　Dick　the　author。　　He's　all　right。　　I　shall　only　be　afraidwhen　I　am　afraidthat　Dick　the　man　will　not　live　up　to　the　other　fellow；　that　he　may　forget　how　much　the　good　Lord　has　given　him；　and　how　responsible　to　the　good　Lord　and　to　himself　he　is　and　will　be　for　it。　　A　man　entrusted　with　such　talent　should　carry　himself　straighter　than　others　to　whom　it　is　denied。　　He　has　great　duties　to　do；　he　owes　tribute　to　the　giver。

Don't　let　the　world's　temptations　in　any　of　its　forms　come　between　you　and　your　work。　　Make　your　life　worthy　of　your　talent；　and　humbly　by　day　and　by　night　ask　God　to　help　you　to　do　it。

I　am　very　proud　of　this　work。　　It　is　good　work；　with　brain；　bone；　nerve；　muscle　in　it。　　It　is　human；　with　healthy　pulse　and　heartsome　glow　in　it。　　Remember；　hereafter；　you　have　by　it　put　on　the　bars　against　yourself　preventing　you　doing　any　work　less　good。　　You　have　yourself　made　your　record；　you　can't　lower　it。　　You　can　only　beat　it。

Lovingly；　DAD。


In　the　latter　part　of　December；　1890；　Richard　left　The　Evening　Sun　to　become　the　managing　editor　of　Harper's　Weekly。　　George　William　Curtis　　was　then　its　editor；　and　at　this　time　no　periodical　had　a　broader　or　greater　influence　for　the　welfare　of　the　country。　　As　Richard　was　then　b