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order already； and THEIR GETTING NOTHING； or our all getting the 4th or 5th class and of course I choose that they should get something and so they did and for my aimable unselfishness in the matter they have frequently drunken my health。 I was delighted when Somers got his for he was happier over it than I have ever seen him over anything and kept me awake nights talking about it。 I consider it the handsomest order there is after the Legion of Honor and I have become so crazy about Bolivar who was a second Washington and Napoleon that I am very glad to have it； although I still sigh for the third class with its star and collar。
The boys are especially glad because we have organized a Traveller's Club of New York of which we expect great things and they consider that it starts off well in having three of the members possessors of a foreign order。 We formed the club while crossing Honduras in sight of the Pacific Ocean and its object is to give each other dinners and to present a club medal to people who have been nice to and who have helped members of the club while they were in foreign parts。 It is my idea and I think a good one as there are lots of things one wants to do for people who help you and this will be as good as any。 Members of the club are the only persons not eligible to any medal bestowed by the club and the eligibility for membership is determined by certain distances which a man must have travelled。 Although the idea really is to keep it right down to our own crowd and make each man justify the smallness of the club's membership by doing something worth while。 I am President。 Bonsal is vice president。 Russell treasurer and Griscom Secretary。 Somerset is the solitary member。 You and Sam and Helen and Elizabeth Bisland are at present the only honorary members。 We are also giving gold medals to the two chaps who crossed Asia on bicycles； to Willie Chanler and James Creelman； but that does not make them members。 It only shows we as a club think they have done a sporting act。 I hope you like the idea。 We have gone over it for a month and considered it in every way and I think we are all well enough known to make anybody pleased to have us recognize what they did whether it was for any of us personally or for the public as explorers。 On this trip for instance we would probably send the club medals in silver to Admiral Meade； to Kelly； to Royas the Venezuelan Minister for the orders to the Governor of Belize； to the consul at La Guayra and to one of the phonograph chaps。 In the same way if you would want to send a medal to any man or woman prince or doctor who had been kind； courteous； hospitable or of official service to you you would just send in a request to the committee。 Write me soon and with lots of love DICK。
In April； 1895； Richard was back in New York； at work on his South and Central American articles； and according to the following letters； having a good time with his old friends。
NEW YORK； April 27； 1895。 DEAR CHAS：
I read in the paper the other morning that John Drew was in Harlem； so I sent him a telegram saying that I was organizing a relief expedition； and would bring him out of the wilderness in safety。 At twelve I sent another reading； 〃Natives from interior of Harlem report having seen Davis Relief Expeditionary Force crossing Central Park； all well。 Robert Howard Russell。〃 At two I got hold of Russell； and we telegraphed 〃Relief reached Eighty…fifth street； natives peacefully inclined； awaiting rear column； led by Griscom； save your ammunition and provisions。〃 Just before the curtain fell we sent another； reading： 〃If you can hold the audience at bay for another hour； we guarantee to rescue yourself and company and bring you all back to the coast in safety。 Do not become disheartened。〃 Then we started for Harlem in a cab with George and another colored man dressed as African warriors； with assegai daggers and robes of gold and high turbans and sashes stuck full of swords。 I wore my sombrero and riding breeches； gauntlets and riding boots； with cartridge belts full of bum cartridges over my shoulder and around the waist。 Russell had my pith helmet and a suit of khaki and leggins。 Griscom was in one of my coats of many pockets； a helmet and boots。 We all carried revolvers； canteens and rifles。 We sent George in with a note saying we were outside the zareba and could not rescue him because the man on watch objected to our guns。 As soon as they saw George they rushed out and brought us all in。 Drew was on the stage； so we tramped into the first entrance； followed by all the grips； stage hands and members of the company。 The old man heard his cue just as I embraced him； and was so rattled that when he got on the stage he could not say anything； and the curtain went down without any one knowing what the plot was about。 When John came off； I walked up to him； followed by the other four and the entire company； and said： 〃Mr。 Drew； I presume；〃 and he said： 〃Mr。 Davis； I believe。 I am saved！〃 Helen Benedict happened to be in Maude Adams' dressing…room； and went off into a fit； and the company was delighted as John would have been had he been quite sure we were not going on the stage or into a box。 We left them after we had had a drink； although the company besought us to stay and protect them； and got a supper ready in Russell's rooms； at which Helen； Ethel Barrymore； John and Mrs。 Drew； Maude Adams and Griscom were present。
DICK。
NEW YORK； November； 1895。 DEAR MOTHER：
The china cups have arrived all right and are a beautiful addition to my collection and to my room； in which Daphne still holds first place。
What do you think Sir Henry sent me？ The medal and his little black pipe in a green velvet box about as big as two bricks laid side by side with a heavy glass top with bevelled edges and the medal and pipe lying on a white satin bed； bound down with silverand a large gold plate with the inscription 〃To Richard Harding Davis with the warmest greetings from Gregory Brewster1895〃 You have no idea how pretty it is； Bailey； Banks and Biddle made it It is just like him to do anything so sweet and thoughtful and it has attracted so many people that I have had it locked up No Burden jewel robbers here My friend； the Russian O lady still pursues me and as she has no sense of humor and takes everything seriously； she frightens me I am afraid she will move in at any moment She has asked me to spend the summer with her at Paris and Monte Carlo； and at her country place in Norfolk and bombards me with invitations to suppers and things in the meantime。 She has just sent me a picture of herself two feet by three； with writing all over it and at any moment； I expect her to ring the bell and order her trunks taken up stairs I am too attractive Last night I dined with Helen and Maude Adams； who is staying with her。 I want them to board me too。 Maude sang for us after dinner and then went off to see Yvette Guilbert at a 〃sacred concert〃 to study her methods。 I went to N's box to hear Melba and we chatted to the accompaniment of Melba； Nordica and Plancon in a triothe Ogre； wore fur； pearls； white satin and violets。 It was a pink silk box。 Then I went