Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-17
RICHARp HARDING DAVIS.

has produced. His father, too, is literary
man of exquisite taste, critical judgment
and most charming character. Thus
blessed young Davis went out into the
world to make his way. He was for time
reporter on the Philadelphia Press.
AS reporter Mr. Davis would never have
gained a great repute. Very likely the
highly imaginative quality of his intellect
may have made it irksome for him to do
the plodding and drudgery and to be faith
full and patient in the attention to detail
and to accuracy which make the best re-
porters. But as writer of sketches, of
pleasing narratives where his fancy had
full play, he quickly won repute in news
paper circles. He was then known as Dick
Davis, most charming fellow, an athlete,
whole souled, genial, unaffected, and with
the proverbial Indifference to the peeun-
isry matters which characterizes great tai
ent sometimes. The first money he ever
received for literary work was ten dollars,
and he spent it buying two match safes.
Mr.. Davis came to New York in August,
1889, and was employed as a reporter on
The Evening Sun. There his merits as
descriptive and delightful sketch writer
were speedily appreciated, as well as the
fact that as a reporter pure and simple
some of his companions exceeded him. IJ
is only justice to say that while Mr.. Davis
stories might have secured him the entree
to the magazines on their merits, yet he
was undoubtedly aided in these approaches
by the distinguished literary repute of his
mother, the high reputation as a critic
which his father had and the intimate So
cial and personal relations which he was
permitted to enjoy with the editors of the
leading magazines of New York city.
These incidental circumstances gave him
an advantage unquestionsbly over others,
and to some extent account for his speedy
appearance in the magazines. The fact
does not detract at all from bis literary
work, which is excellent, and which en-
titles him to the consideration which he
has received; but the fact does account for
the comparative ease with which he got
his work before the public.
just as his fame was spreading Mr..
Davis was called into the management OF
the news and special feature department.
of Harpers' Weekly, and it is quite likely
that his duties there, which are onerous
and very responsible, may interfere some
what with further story writing, except at
great intervals of time. This, from the
public point of view, is to be regretted.
Davis and Rudyard Kipling were for
time great friends When The Hanging Of
Danny Deever" appeared Mr.. Davis set the
poem to music, using a motive SO greatly
like one of those which appears in Beet
hoyen's overture to "Coriolanus" as to sug-
gest adaptation from il. 1t wass a weird
and suggestive strain, and when Mr.. Davis
played and sang it, it was said by those
who heard it that one could almost see
the execution. He sent Mr. Kipling copy,
and to his regret and chasrin Kipling
never made any acknowledgment Of it, or
in fact communicated in any way with Mr..
Davis. Whether he was offended, or wheth-
er some other petty passion inspired hi
it seemed as though Kipling had forgotten
the friendly ties that once existed between
them.
Those who know Kipling best, however,
are not surprised at this seeming discour-
tesy. E. J. EDWARDS.