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t well indeed。 You see； I am now the hero of the hour； every one in town knows it； and every one congratulates me； and； 〃Well done； me boy；〃 as Morrow '83 said； seems to be the idea； one gets taken care of in this world if you do what's the right thing； if it is only a street fight。 In fact； as one of the seniors said； I've made five friends where I had one before。 The sophs are ashamed and sorry； as their conduct in chapel； which was more marked； than I made it； shows。 I've nothing to show for it but a red mark under the eye； and so it is the best thing that could possibly have happened。 Poor Ruff hugged me all the way home； and I've started out well in a good way； I think； though not a very logical one。
Uncle says to tell you that my conduct has his approval throughout。
DICK。
To which letter my father promptly replied：
PHILADELPHIA。 February 25th； 1882。 DEAR OLD BOY：
I'm glad the affair ended so well。 I don't want you to fight； but if you have to fight a cuss like that do it with all your might； and don't insist that either party shall too strictly observe the Markis O' Queensbury rules。 Hit first and hardest so that thine adversary shall beware of you。
DAD。
At that time the secret societies played a very important part in the college life at Lehigh； and while I do not believe that Richard shared the theory of some of the students that they were a serious menace to the social fabric； he was quite firm in his belief that it was inadvisable to be a member of any fraternity。 In a general way he did not like the idea of secrecy even in its mildest form； and then； as throughout his life； he refused to join any body that would in any way limit his complete independence of word or action。 In connection with this phase of his college life I quote from an appreciation which M。 A。 De W。 Howe； one of Richard's best friends both at college and in after…life； wrote for The Lehigh Burr at the time of my brother's death：
〃To the credit of the perceptive faculty of undergraduates； it ought to be said that the classmates and contemporaries of Richard Harding Davis knew perfectly well； while he and they were young together； that in him Lehigh had a son so marked in his individuality； so endowed with talents and character that he stood quite apart from the other collegians of his day。 Prophets were as rare in the eighties as they have always been； before and since； and nobody could have foreseen that the name and work of Dick Davis would long before his untimely death； indeed within a few years from leaving college； be better known throughout the world than those of any other Lehigh man。 We who knew him in his college days could not feel the smallest surprise that he won himself quickly a brilliant name； and kept a firm hold upon it to the last。
〃What was it that made him so early a marked man？ I think it was the spirit of confidence and enthusiasm which turned every enterprise he undertook into an adventure；the brave and humorous playing of the game of life； the true heart； the wholesome body and soul of my friend and classmate。 He did not excel in studies or greatly； in athletics。 But in his own field； that of writing； he was so much better than the rest of us that no one of his fellow…editors of the Epitome or Burr needed to be considered in comparison with him。 No less； in spite of his voluntary nonmembership in the fraternities of his day； was he a leader in the social activities of the University。 The ‘Arcadian Club' devoted in its beginnings to the ‘pipes； books； beer and gingeralia' of Davis's song about it and the ‘Mustard and Cheese' were his creations。 In all his personal relationships he was the most amusing and stimulating of companions。 With garb and ways of unique picturesqueness； rarer even in college communities a generation ago than at present； it was inevitable that he sometimes got himself laughed at as well as with。 But what did it all matter； even then？ To…day it adds a glow of color to what would be in any case a vivid； deeply valued memory。
〃It is hard to foresee in youth what will come most sharply and permanently in the long run。 After all these years it is good to find that Davis and what his companionship gave one hold their place with the strongest influences of Lehigh。〃
But Richard was naturally gregarious and at heart had a great fondness for clubs and social gatherings。 Therefore； having refused the offer of several fraternities that did him the honor to ask him to become a member； it was necessary for him to form a few clubs that held meetings； but no secrets。 Perhaps the most successful of these were 〃The Mustard and Cheese；〃 a dramatic club devoted to the presentation of farces and musical comedies； and The Arcadia Club； to the fortnightly meetings of which he devoted much time and thought。 The following letter to his father will give some idea of the scope of the club； which； as in the case of 〃The Mustard and Cheese；〃 gained a permanent and important place in the social life of Lehigh。
DEAR DAD：
We have started the best sort of a club up here which I am anxious to tell you of。 It consists of a spread； net price of which will be about 30 cents each； every two or three weeks。 Only six fellows belong and those the best of the College。 Purnell； Haines and myself founded it。 I chose Charley； Purnell； Reeves； Haines and Howe。 We will meet Saturday nights at 9 so as not to interfere with our work； and sing； read； eat and box until midnight。 It is called the 〃Pipe and Bowl；〃 and is meant to take the place that The Hasty Pudding； Hammer and Tongs and Mermaid do at other colleges。 Two of us are to invite two outsiders in turn each meeting。 We will hope to have Dad a member； honorary； of course； when we can persuade him to give us a night off with his company。 We want to combine a literary feature and so will have selected readings to provoke discussions after the pipes are lit。 The men are very enthusiastic about it and want to invite Mr。 Allen and you and every one that they can make an honorary member of immediately。
It was first as an associate editor and afterward as editor…in…chief of the college paper； The Lehigh Burr； that Richard found his greatest pleasure and interest during his three years at Lehigh。 In addition to his editorial duties he wrote a very great part of every issue of the paper； and his contributions included short stories； reports of news events； editorials； and numerous poems。
As； after his life at college； Richard dropped verse as a mode of expression； I reprint two of the poems which show him in the lighter vein of those early days。
A COMMENCEMENT IDYL
〃I'm a Freshman who has ended his first year； But I'm new； And I do whate'er the Juniors； whom I fear； Bid me do。 Under sudden showers I thrive； To be bad and bold I strive； But they ask‘Is it alive？' So they do。
I'm a Sophomore who has passed off his exams； Let me loose！ With a mark as high as any other man's； As obtuse I'm fraternal。 I am Jolly。 I am seldom melancholy And to bone I think is folly；