Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-12

and the same Dick Davis that made
great name as a reporter and a writer.
Many men who were big enough them
selves not 20 be Jealous Of another's sue
cess called Davis the best reporter in
America after he wrote the story of the
coronation Of Car Nicholas II, when that
monarch was. crowned in 1896. He did
that story for Harper's. That same COM
pliment was repeated only a few years
age, when he, with many other writing
men, enlisted their efforts in behalf of
Theodore Roosevelts campaign for the
Presidency.
Davis passion for adventure expressed
itself In the very titles he gave the books
listen To them: "The Rulers of the Medi.
terrauean." "rhree Gringos In Venezuela"
CUBA In War Time" "A Year From
CORRESPONDENTS Note Book" "Dr. Jane
sons Raiders" Real Soldiers Of For
tune" THE Congo and the Coasts Of
Africa" THE Scarlet Car"
They weren't all like that. His Red
Cross Girl" which came out in 1911 was
as delicate a piece OF New York material
as any writer ever put together; one of
those dream stories about reporters who
marry fabulously wealthy girls And his
white Mice" and "The Man who Could
Not Lose" are different from his widely
adventurous output. too. His records of
wartime experiences he published under
the names of the campaigns. such as
cuba in War Time" with Both Armies
In South Africa" and other such titles,
and II he had lived probably would have
put out a great deal more about the great
war than he already had. though that
wasn't little His with the Allies" has
been one Of the biggest selling books about
the war. and he wrote a whole lot more
in shortstory form.
Many of his reading circle liked his
South African stories better than all the
roe of mt
Macklin," Soldiers of Fortune" Ran
SONS Folly" being among them. They
liked his plays also: who's who" THE
Naked Man" THE Dictator" "The Tam
ing Of Helen" and "Ranson's Folly being
the principal ones.
Davis did not work on schedule:
sometimes he'd plug like a horse and then
again do nothing for long while. but
whatever his method he succeeded in writ
ing n tremendous lot lie got fabulous
prices for his work too, but il is doubtful
whether he left big fortune. for he was
as good a money-spender as he was Il
money-maker.
WRITER BY INHERITANCE.
Richard Harding Davis was naturally
a writer His father was one of the best
editors the Public Ledger ever had. and
his mother, both as Rebecca Harding and
Rebccca Harding Davis, was famous
among literati
l.. Clarke Davis used to say to his news
paper cronies: There was a time when l
was known as Clarke Davis, known as
myself and for myself later | became
known as the husband of RebecCa Harding
Davis and now it has come to my being
known as the father Of Richard Harding
Davis"
Richard Harding Davis always said.
but without any ConCeit. that he came by
his writing naturally.
None of his relatives lives here any
more. Charles Belmont Davis the novel |
list, is a brother and lives in New York
State Up to few years ago his sister |
continued to occupy the old Davis home. |
at 2lst and Locust streets but her mar
rage to London minister. who had once
been her fathers secretary, took her from |
this country. So, while Richard Harding |
Davis was always claimed by Phadel- !
phians as one of them, he was without kin |
In this city.
L. Clarke Davis, his father. saw to il |
that he had "A good collegiate training /
and sent him to Lehigh University and |
Johns Hopkins While he was at Lehigh /
he wrote an account of a cane rush held !
In his freshman year and sold it at space
rates to the Press, earning $1.13, the first
ne earned by writing. When he had alb
'orbed several years of college learning
hree at Lehgh and several more at Johns
Iopkins--he joined the newspaper ranks
md, as he always said, there his real edu-
cation began.
Richard Harding Davis was the rare
example of the writing man who becomes |
famous without the heartrending expert |
enCes of poverty, despair and all that goes !
with those things. He went right on up |
rs a reporter from the time he started
md the first story he wrote--"Gallagher"
was success, one Of the best, in truth,
hat he ever won.