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n a little house at 108 Waverly Place； and took his meals in the neighborhood where he happened to find himself and where they were cheapest。 He usually spent his week…ends in Philadelphia； but his greatest pleasure was when he could induce some member of his family to visit him in New York。 I fear I was the one who most often accepted his hospitality； and wonderful visits they were； certainly to me； and I think to Richard as well。 The great event was our Saturday…night dinner； when we always went to a little restaurant on Sixth Avenue。 I do not imagine the fifty…cent table d'hote （vin compris） the genial Mr。 Jauss served us was any better than most fifty…cent table…d'hote dinners； but the place was quaint and redolent of strange smells of cooking as well as of a true bohemian atmosphere。 Those were the days when the Broadway Theatre was given over to the comic operas in which Francis Wilson and De Wolfe Hopper were the stars； and as both of the comedians were firm friends of Richard； we invariably ended our evening at the Broadway。 Sometimes we occupied a box as the guests of the management； and at other times we went behind the scenes and sat in the star's dressing…room。 I think I liked it best when Hopper was playing； because during Wilson's regime the big dressing…room was a rather solemn sort of place； but when Hopper ruled； the room was filled with pretty girls and he treated us to fine cigars and champagne。
Halcyon nights those； and then on Sunday morning we always breakfasted at old Martin's on University Place eggs a la Martin and that wonderful coffee and pain de menage。 And what a wrench it was when I tore myself away from the delights of the great city and scurried back to my desk in sleepy Philadelphia。 Had I been a prince royal Richard could not have planned more carefully than he did for these visits； and to meet the expense was no easy matter for him。 Indeed； I know that to pay for all our gayeties he usually had to carry his guitar to a neighboring pawn…broker where the instrument was always good for an eight…dollar loan。 But from the time Richard first began to make his own living one of the great pleasures of his life was to celebrate； or as he called it； to 〃have a party。〃 Whenever he had finished a short story he had a party； and when the story had been accepted there was another party； and； of course； the real party was when he received the check。 And so it was throughout his life； giving a party to some one whom a party would help； buying a picture for which he had no use to help a struggling artist； sending a few tons of coal to an old lady who was not quite warm enough； always writing a letter or a check for some one of his own craft who had been less fortunate than hegiving to every beggar that he met； fearing that among all the thousand fakers he might refuse one worthy case。 I think this habit of giving Richard must have inherited from his father； who gave out of all proportion to his means； and with never too close a scrutiny to the worthiness of the cause。 Both men were too intensely human to do that； but if this great desire on the part of my father and brother to help others gave the recipients pleasure I'm sure that it caused in the hearts of the givers an even greater happiness。 The following letters were chosen from a great number which Richard wrote to his family； telling of his first days on The Evening Sun； and of his life in New York。
YORK Evening Sun1890 DEAR MOTHER：
Today is as lovely and fresh as the morning； a real spring day； and I feel good in consequence。 I have just come from a couple of raids； where we had a very lively time； and some of them had to pull their guns。 I found it necessary to punch a few sports myself。 The old sergeant from headquarters treats me like a son and takes the greatest pride in whatever I do or write。 He regularly assigns me now to certain doors； and I always obey orders like the little gentleman that I am。 Instead of making me unpopular； I find it helps me with the sports； though it hurts my chances professionally； as so many of them know me now that I am no use in some districts。 For instance； in Mott and Pell streets； or in the Bowery； I am as safe as any precinct detective。 I tell you this to keep you from worrying。 They won't touch a man whom they think is an agent or an officer。 Only it spoils my chances of doing reportorial…detective work。 For instance； the captain of the Bowery district refused me a detective the other morning to take the Shippens around the Chinese and the tougher quarters because he said they were as safe with me as with any of the other men whose faces are as well known。 To…night I am going to take a party to the headquarters of the fire department； where I have a cinch on the captain； a very nice fellow； who is unusually grateful for something I wrote about him and his men。 They are going to do the Still Alarm act for me。
These clippings all came out in to…day's paper。 The ladies in the Tombs were the Shippens； of course； and Mamie Blake is a real girl； and the story is true from start to finish。 I think it is a pathetic little history。
Give my love to all。 I will bring on the story I have finished and get you to make some suggestions。 It is quite short。 Since Scribner's have been so civil； I think I will give them a chance at the great prize。 I am writing a comic guide book and a history of the Haymarket for the paper； both are rich in opportunities。 This weather makes me feel like another person。 I will be so glad to get home。 With lots of love and kisses for you and Nora。
DICK…O。
NEW YORK1890。 DEAR CHAS：
Brisbane has suggested to me that the Bradley story would lead anyone to suppose that my evenings were spent in the boudoirs of the horizontales of 34th Street and has scared me somewhat in consequence。 If it strikes you and Dad the same way don't show it to Mother。 Dad made one mistake by thinking I wrote a gambling story which has made me nervous。 It is hardly the fair thing to suppose that a man must have an intimate acquaintance with whatever he writes of intimately。 A lot of hunting people； for instance； would not believe that I had written the 〃Traver's Only Ride〃 story because they knew I did not hunt。 Don't either you or Dad make any mistake about this。
DICK。
As a matter of fact they would not let me in the room； and I don't know whether it abounded in signed etchings or Bougereau's nymphs。
NEW YORK1890。 DEAR FAMILY：
Today has been more or less feverish。 In the morning's mail I received a letter from Berlin asking permission to translate 〃Gallegher〃 into German； and a proof of a paragraph from The Critic on my burlesque of Rudyard Kipling； which was meant to please but which bored me。 Then the 〃Raegen〃 story came in； making nine pages of the Scribner's； which at ten dollars a page ought to be 90。 Pretty good pay for three weeks' work； and it is a good story。 Then at twelve a young man came bustling into the office； stuck his card down on the desk and said； 〃I am S。 S。 McClure。 I have sent my London representative to Berlin and my New York man to London。 Will you take charge of my New York end？〃
If he thought to rattle me he was