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nd those arms under their guns unless they had been told to submit to it。 And yet today； we get papers of the 29th in which Bryan says he has twice cabled Badger for information； when for a week Badger has been reading Bryan's orders to consuls to let the arms be landed。 Can you beat that？ This is an awful place； and if I don't write it is because I hate to harrow your feelings。 It is a town of flies； filth and heat。 John McCutcheon is the only friend I have seen； and he sensibly lives on a warship。 I can't do that； as cables come all the time suggesting specials； and I am not paid to loaf。 John is here on a vacation； and can do as he pleases。 But I ride around like any cub reporter。 And there is no news。 Since I left home I have not talked five minutes to a woman 〃or mean to！〃 The Mexican women are a cross between apes and squaws。 Of all I have seen here nothing has impressed me so as the hideousness of the women； girls； children； widows； grandmothers。 And the refugees； as Collier would say it； are 〃terrible！〃 I live a very lonely existence。 I find it works out that way best。 And at the same time all the correspondents are good friends； and I don't find that there is one of them who does not go out of his way to SHOW he is friendly。 What I CAN'T understand is why no one at home never guesses I might like to read some of my own stories。 。 。 。
DICK。
Of these days in Vera Cruz John T。 McCutcheon wrote the following shortly after Richard's death：
〃Davis was a conspicuous figure in Vera Cruz； as he inevitably had been in all such situations。 Wherever he went； he was pointed out。 His distinction of appearance； together with a distinction in dress； which； whether from habit or policy； was a valuable asset in his work； made him a marked man。 He dressed and looked the ‘war correspondent；' such a one as he would describe in one of his stories。 He fulfilled the popular ideal of what a member of that fascinating profession should look like。 His code of life and habits was as fixed as that of the Briton who takes his habits and customs and games and tea wherever he goes； no matter how benighted or remote the spot may be。
〃He was just as loyal to his code as is the Briton。 He carried his bath…tub； his immaculate linen； his evening clothes； his war equipmentin which he had the pride of a connoisseurwherever he went； and； what is more； he had the courage to use the evening clothes at times when their use was conspicuous。 He was the only man who wore a dinner coat in Vera Cruz； and each night； at his particular table in the crowded ‘Portales；' at the Hotel Diligencia； he was to be seen； as fresh and clean as though he were in a New York or London restaurant。
Each day he was up early to take the train out to the ‘gap；' across which came arrivals from Mexico City。 Sometimes a good ‘story' would come down； as when the long…heralded and long…expected arrival of Consul Silliman gave a first…page ‘feature' to all the American papers。
〃In the afternoon he would play water polo over at the navy aviation camp； and always at a certain time of the day his ‘striker' would bring him his horse and for an hour or more he would ride out along the beach roads within the American lines。〃
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
On June 15 Richard sailed on the Utah for New York； arriving there on the 22d。 For a few weeks after his return he remained at Mount Kisco completing his articles on the Mexican situation but at the outbreak of the Great War he at once started for Europe； sailing with his wife on August 4； the day war was declared between England and Germany。
On LusitaniaAugust 8； 1914。 DEAR CHAS：
We got off in a great rush； as the Cunard people received orders to sail so soon after the Government had told them to cancel all passengers； that no one expected to leave by her； and had secured passage on the Lorraine and St。 Paul。
They gave me a 〃regal〃 suite which at other times costs 1；000 and it is so darned regal that I hate to leave it。 I get sleepy walking from one end of it to the other； and we have open fires in each of the three rooms。 Generally when one goes to war it is in a transport or a troop train and the person of the least importance is the correspondent。 So； this way of going to war I like。 We now are a cruiser and are slowly being painted grey； and as soon as they got word England was at war all lights were put out and to find your way you light matches。 You can imagine the effect of this Ritz Carlton idea of a ship wrapped in darkness。 Gerald Morgan is on board； he is also accredited to The Tribune； and Frederick Palmer。 I do not expect to be allowed to see anything but will try to join a French army。 I will leave Bessie near London with Louise at some quiet place like Oxford or a village on the Thames。 We can 〃take〃 wireless； but not send it； so as no one is sending and as we don't care to expose our position； we get no news。 We are running far North and it is bitterly cold。 I think Peary will sue us for infringing his copyrights。
I will try to get in touch with Nora。 I am worried lest she cannot get at her money。 As British subjects no other thing should upset them。 Address me American Embassy； London。 I send such love to you both。 God bless you。 DICK。
Richard arrived in Liverpool August 13； and made arrangements for his wife to remain in London。 Unable to obtain credentials from the English authorities； he started for Brussels and arrived there in time to see the entry of the German troops； which he afterward described so graphically。 Indeed this article is considered by many to be one of the finest pieces of descriptive writing the Great War has produced。
For several days after Brussels had come under the control of the Germans Richard remained there and then decided to go to Paris as the siege of the French capital at the time seemed imminent。 He and his friend Gerald Morgan； who was acting as the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph； decided to drive to Hal and from there to continue on foot until they had reached the English or French armies where they knew they would be among friends。 At Hal they were stopped by the German officials and Morgan wisely returned to Brussels。 However； Richard having decided to continue on his way； was promptly seized by the Germans and held as an English spy。 For a few days he had a most exciting series of adventures with the German military authorities and his life was frequently in danger。 It was finally due to my brother's own strategy and the prompt action of our Ambassador to Belgium； Brand Whitlock； that he was returned to Brussels and received his official release。
On August 27； Richard left Brussels for Paris on a train carrying English prisoners and German wounded； and en route saw much of the burning and destruction of Louvain。
BRUSSELS； August 17； 1914。 DEAREST：
Write me soon and often！ All is well here so long as I know you are all right； so do not fail to tell me all； and keep me in touch。 If _I_ do not write much it is because letters do not get through always； and are read。 But you know I love you； and you know twice each day I pray for you and wish