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combined with a natural news sense which drew him instinctively
to critical places at the psychological moment； he had been a
witness of the two most widely featured stories of the early
weeks of the war。
Arrested by the Germans in Belgium； and later by the French in
France； he was convinced that the restrictions on correspondents
were too great to permit of good work。
So he left the European war zone with the widely quoted remark：
〃The day of the war correspondent is over。〃
And yet I was not surprised when； one evening； late in November
of last year； he suddenly walked into the room in Salonika where
William G。 Shepherd； of the United Press； 〃Jimmy Hare；〃 the
veteran war photographer； and I had established ourselves several
weeks before。
The hotel was jammed； and the city； with a normal capacity of
about one hundred and seventy…five thousand； was struggling to
accommodate at least a hundred thousand more。 There was not a
room to be had in any of the better hotels； and for several days
we lodged Davis in our room； a vast chamber which formerly had
been the main dining…room of the establishment； and which now was
converted into a bedroom。 There was room for a dozen men； if
necessary； and whenever stranded Americans arrived and could find
no hotel accommodations we simply rigged up emergency cots for
their temporary use。
The weather in Salonika at this time； late November； was
penetratingly cold。 In the mornings the steam coils struggled
feebly to dispel the chill in the room。
Early in the morning after Davis had arrived； we were aroused by
the sound of violent splashing； accompanied by shuddering gasps；
and we looked out from the snug warmth of our beds to see Davis
standing in his portable bath…tub and drenching himself with
ice…cold water。 As an exhibition of courageous devotion to an
established custom of life it was admirable； but I'm not sure
that it was prudent。
For some reason； perhaps a defective circulation or a weakened
heart； his system failed to react from these cold…water baths。
All through the days he complained of feeling chilled。 He never
seemed to get thoroughly warmed； and of us all he was the one who
suffered most keenly from the cold。 It was all the more
surprising； for his appearance was always that of a man in the
pink of athletic fitnessruddy…faced； clear…eyed； and full of
tireless energy。
On one occasion we returned from the French front in Serbia to
Salonika in a box car lighted only by candles； bitterly cold； and
frightfully exhausting。 We were seven hours in travelling
fifty…five miles； and we arrived at our destination at three
o'clock in the morning。 Several of the men contracted desperate
colds； which clung to them for weeks。 Davis was chilled through；
and said that of all the cold he had ever experienced that which
swept across the Macedonian plain from the Balkan highlands was
the most penetrating。 Even his heavy clothing could not afford him
adequate protection。
When he was settled in his own room in our hotel he installed an
oil…stove which burned beside him as he sat at his desk and wrote
his stories。 The room was like an oven； but even then he still
complained of the cold。
When he left he gave us the stove； and when we left； some time
later； it was presented to one of our doctor friends out in a
British hospital； where I'm sure it is doing its best to thaw the
Balkan chill out of sick and wounded soldiers。
Davis was always up early； and his energy and interest were as
keen as a boy's。 We had our meals together； sometimes in the
crowded and rather smart Bastasini's； but more often in the
maelstrom of humanity that nightly packed the Olympos Palace
restaurant。 Davis； Shepherd； Hare； and I； with sometimes Mr。 and
Mrs。 John Bass； made up these parties； which； for a period of
about two weeks or so； were the most enjoyable daily events of
our lives。
Under the glaring lights of the restaurant； and surrounded by
British； French； Greek； and Serbian officers； German； Austrian；
and Bulgarian civilians； with a sprinkling of American； English；
and Scotch nurses and doctors； packed so solidly in the huge；
high…ceilinged room that the waiters could barely pick their way
among the tables； we hung for hours over our dinners； and left
only when the landlord and his Austrian wife counted the day's
receipts and paid the waiters at the end of the evening。
One could not imagine a more charming and delightful companion
than Davis during these days。 While he always asserted that he
could not make a speech； and was terrified at the thought of
standing up at a banquet…table； yet； sitting at a dinner…table
with a few friends who were only too eager to listen rather than
to talk； his stories； covering personal experiences in all parts
of the world； were intensely vivid； with that remarkable
〃holding〃 quality of description which characterizes his
writings。
He brought his own breada coarse； brown sort； which he preferred
to the better white breadand with it he ate great quantities of
butter。 As we sat down at the table his first demand was for
〃Mastika；〃 a peculiar Greek drink distilled from mastic gum； and
his second demand invariably was 〃Du beurre！〃 with the 〃r's〃 as
silent as the stars； and if it failed to come at once the waiter
was made to feel the enormity of his tardiness。
The reminiscences ranged from his early newspaper days in
Philadelphia； and skipping from Manchuria to Cuba and Central
America； to his early Sun days under Arthur Brisbane； they ranged
through an endless variety of personal experiences which very
nearly covered the whole course of American history in the past
twenty years。
Perhaps to him it was pleasant to go over his remarkable adventures；
but it could not have been half as pleasant as it was to hear them； told
as they were with a keenness of description and brilliancy of humorous
comment that made them gems of narrative。
At times； in our work； we all tried our hands at describing the
Salonika of those early days of the Allied occupation； for it was
really what one widely travelled British officer called it〃the
most amazingly interesting situation I've ever seen〃…but Davis's
description was far and away the best； just as his description of
Vera Cruz was the best； and his wonderful story of the entry of
the German army into Brussels was matchless as one of the great
pieces of reporting in the present war。
In thinking of Davis； I shall always remember him for the
delightful qualities which he showed in Salonika。 He was
unfailingly considerate and thoughtful。 Through his narratives
one could see the pride which he took in the width and breadth of
his personal relation to the great events of the past twenty
years。 His vast scope of experiences and equally wide
acquaintanceship with the big figures of our time； were amazing；
and it was equally amazing that one of such a rich and
interesting history could tell his stories in such a simple way
that the personal element was never obtrusive。
When he left Salonika he endeavored to obtain permission from
the British staff to visit Moudros； but； failing in this； he booked
his passage