Telegram-herald., 1891-02-01

sketch 81 the Rsse ef Riehsrd Hsa diss
uosis-


sketch 81 the Rise ef niehsrd Hsa diss
Davis
rspscsa, Corresponousoe
New YokK. Jan. 2e.--At my right AZ
the Clover club dinner the other night
sal slender. dark complexioned young
gentleman whose name did not catch
at first When In the fullness Of time
il pleased the chairman 70 summon this
particular victim 10 the crucial test Of
addressing the club. he proved 10 be too
cunning TO make a speech. be went 10
the piano, and after drumming for a
minute or SO TO get q simple chord he
began singing the wierdeef thing ever
heard, outside of the keening Of Irish
women at o wake in the col regions
after the Molly Maguires were hanged
1t was Rudyard Kiphng's PILES on
Parade set 70 music that was CON-
posed by the singer, and the singer was
Richard Harding Davis
Next morning it was announced in the
newspapers that John Foord. formerly
editor Of the New York Times, had re-
signed his position IS managing editor
of Harper's Weekly. and that the a6-year-
old boy whom lad heard at the Clover
club, singing in way TO astonish the
company, had been engaged 10 take Mr..
Foord's place.
1t is no great wonder that Mr.. Davis
admires Kipling, for he is q good ceal of
a comet himself He was born in Phils-
delphia, and comes honestly by his tai
ent, having inherited ID. his father il
| l.. Clark Davis, veteran newspaper
man whom George w. Childs long ago
retained on The Ledger. and his mother
is Rebecca Harding Davis. Arthur Bris-
bane, of The New York Evening Sun.
who claims the honor OF having helped
to start young Davis, tells me this about
him:
He went to two colleges-the Lehigh
university and the Johns Hopkins. but
did not graduate at either-prefcrring
newspaper work To college routine. Be
ginning at 10. he went t. work as a re-
porter on The Philsdelphia Press and
did some notable writing. Among other
things he went 10 live for FIVE or six
weeks among the thieves Of the Quaker
City. and landed six burglars in Moya-
mensing besides writing some startling
copy. Drifting from psper to paper, as
reporters viii. he made his mark in all
the Philadelphia Offices. Together wita
"Mort" McMichael he started small
sheet called The Stage. which soon died.
| In 1888 The Press sent him TO London
with the American cricket team, and
while there he wrote in addition to his
sporting letters some descriptions Of
Whitechapel that were syndicated TO all
| the prominent American newspapers.
On his return he obtained letter from
Mr. Childs to Joseph Pulitzer, and came
to New York TO go to work on Tho
World. but on his way to a hotel he met
Mr.. Brisbane. who proposed that he
should go instead TO The Evening Sun.
Davis was nothing 10th, and walked on
up the street with hatbox and a bun
die of walking sticks in his hands. On
his way TO the hotel be was met by
Sheeney Mike. the famous bunco op-
orator. who. Judging by Davis very
British garments that he was q stranger,
proceeded to take him in.
Davis went with him ioyously, max
ing an excuse, however, 10 run away for
few minutes. These minutes he nth
lied by going TO The Evening Sun Office
and asking if they wanted bunco story.
They did. He returned. was played
for sucker" and picking out the chief
Of the gang told him that he had plenty
Of money at the Astor House. and would
60 and get il. They started, and when
they were on Broadway Davis collared
his man and called for a policeman. In
half an hour he had his prisoner in the
Tombe. and an hour later bis first story
was written for The Evening Sun.
Since then he has done great quantities
Of most excellent work for that paper
and much outside work. A special fac
ulty he has Is for rapid writing. Some
/ of his Van Bibber" ard ssTravers-
stories have been TUNED OF inside Of an
hour. s1d have been specially praised
! for their high finish. BE has also writ
ten much verse and few notable maya
zine stories. Among these the two
which have attracted most attention are
my Disreputable Friend Mr.. Reagan
and esThe Cynical Miss Cssberwaighs. =
| BE has also made name 10 the leading
sporting papers as the best descriptive
writer On football Of the present genera
| ton.
One II his earliest storiex, called Gal
lsgher." attracted the attention Of Mr..
James r. Oseood, the veteran Bostonian.
DOW The Londoa representative Of Har-
per Bros. and he. making inquiries as
n the author, declared that IF Davis
should write book be would be glad
"a publisb it IL London. for he was sure
il svcpld make . hit Similar rsoogai-
tion by others led 70 the Offering of the
place Of managing edissa u Hary,ers
Weekly 70 him when fbe veteran nr.
Foord wa compelled BY IL hes1tzI 70 To-
sign IL Mr. Davis VII assume charge
On he Isl Of February. and IN The
rDeaa tine Is travelling PARTY On bssi-
rsess and partly for pleasure.
ArDo1g tne ch2rarterlstscs which roske
hira. even st ms present age. oonsy8cn-
oEs Trlsn ia las athletic training He
is remarkably strong without looking
-. and is 80 s8erS 81 rnost outdoor
j sports. BE l. unmarried