davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
|AENC4N N4lKZ14L.S MEREzY
Ia DIX4N MOB IN ACTON

Pearl of the Antilles and to my
brother always the most beautiful
The Bethlehem Steel Company had
recently acquired some valuable iron
mines Just outside of Santiago; the
president of the company was going
for tour of inspection OF his new
possessions and invited Richard to
accompany him. This invitation
may have been the direct cause Of
the suspension Of my brothers
college career but it was also the
indirect cause Of his most successful
novel, Soldiers Of Fortune" In all
OF his many travels l do not believe
that any one of them so greatly at
fected Richards life as did this FIRST
visit to Cuba. At the time he was
twenty years of age but he had al
ready developed = keen sense of OBJ
servation. as well as = great love OF
adventure, and he at once fell under
the thrall of the tropics, thrall
which lasted throughout his lifetime.
And although in after years he often
visited Central and South America
and many of the lovely islands OF
the tropics he steadfastly RENAME d
true to his first love-Santiago. 1t
was just beyond the old town that
he first saw "the moonlight turning
the water into ripping ladder of
light and gliding the dark green
leaves OF the palms with border OF
silver" AS the guest of the presi-
dent of the American-owned mines
my brother saw much besides the
beauty Of the waving palms and the
Eaiety of the night life of the plaza.
To quote his words:
AT the mines, from the engineers,
Young and eager. and at La Cruz
in the Casa ell Presidente. perched
among royal palms above the barber
OF Santiago, from Thurston. I heard
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
Movie CQG1SClef1Ce AWakenS
Stare BEND Sidetracked for Authors
Heyddy Of Novelist on Screen 'Dawrin6.
Richard Harding Davis Conin6 into
His Own. Villa Bandits for SuperS

hourly the story OF the American
company. Of its fight against the
mountains, against the indifferent
and hostile Spaniard. Ten years
later. to that story | added love
story. placed the mines in an inn
aginary republic in South America.
and succeeded in getting the story.
which was called Soldiers OF
Fortune.
Making A True Story Fiction
Exactly how or when Richard de-
veloped the "love story" do not
know. but when the actual writing OF
the novel began it is certain that he
turned to Santiago for not only his
color, but for many OF his characters.
Valencia of the novel is the town
of Santiago and "the great cliffs that
guard the harbor Of Olancho's
capital" are the same cliffs from
which the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany has extracted much valuable
ore. For the counterparts in real
life of the people in the book my
brother drew rather heavily from
the colony at Santiago. but Clay and
King and the Langham family were
purely characters OF his imagination.
Kirkpatrick, the engineer who was
the original of the character OF
MacWilliams, died at the mines and
was buried there. La Cruz. which
overiooks the harbor of Santiago. is
the house that was built fer the
president of the company and which.
from the reign of Thurston to that
of Charles M. Schwab, has been his
official residence In the novel l
call this place the Palms. and it is
there that much Of the action Of the
story takes place"
General Mendoza, the villain OF
the novel was An acquaintance OF
Richards but In real life I under
stand was only a petty-grafting old
Spaniard and quite incapable of lead
ing revolution. The counterpart
Of "Weimer, the United States Con-
sui at Valencia" was no doubt
drawn from our consul at that time,
Reimer, and Burke, the flibuster Is
supposed to be the we'll known
soldier of fortune, General Melville
Boynton. Since the novel first ap-
peared | have heard numerous sug-
gestions as to the originals of the
American characters but think a
paragraph from an appreciation OF
my brother by Augustus Thomas,
wherein it is suggested that most
of the characters are rather types
than individuals. is probably the best
guess. THE outdoor American
girl (Hope) was not so established
at that time. and the Davis re-
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
TYPHuS EPIDEMIC
IS CONQUERED

washington, Oct 10 With the
typhus Epidemic In cas- ern Mace
denia conquered. reports to the
American Fed Cross show that the
death rate was held down to IL per
cent. OF total of .3ts cases the
sanctassv and nurses. OF the Bed. Cross
Commission 10 Greece were called
Upon 10 treat only les dled.
At kavalla eight large tobacco
warehouses were the center Of in
lection. which broke with explosive
force. 252 cases OF typfus appearing
therein five days. A Greek ship
coming from the, Eulgar prison
camp at Varna was the nucleus OF
Infection as also men, women and
children on board were exposed to
the plague,
Tho Americans who distinguish
I'D themselves in tho anti-'yphus
campaign Were numerous. the list
Includes Major Samuel ]. Walker.
Of Chicago; Capt. Paul Z White, of
Boston: Lieut. u. :. Ozark. of Salem,
Mass: Lieut.. C. A. L. Binser. of
New York IAeat. ]. :. HodEson,
r. L.: II. II HIN. director OF the
American School. Athens, Miss Alma
IiaFt1. davenport, LOWE. MISS ISL :
belle Martin, San Francisco. and
Miss Sarah Addison. of baltimore.
Lieut., Edward Walker, of Blacks
burg. Va. died from the disease he
was lighting. and half n dozen other
Red Cross workers were stricken
hut recovered.
Macedonians. TURKS. Armenians.
Greeks and BulgGr!ans joined
hands in mighty professions OF
thanks for the delivcrence OF tho
country from the scorrge bearing
tanners and sacred religious relics.
Even gtpsies participated. their old
wrinkled women witch doctors per-
aistinG In carrying The snake aktns
md herbs bundles that was employ
III against typhus" untii the Amer
leans camo and stopped the practice
fy employing kerosuie, soap and
water and other cleansing agents
that are renl weapons against the
disease
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

port OF her was refreshing. Robert
Clay was unconsciously- Dick Davis
himself as be would have tried to
do-Captain Stuart was the English
officer that Davis has met the world
over, or closer still! he was the )
better side OF such men which the
attractive wholesomcness OF Davis
would draw out. Alice and King
were the half-spoiled New Yorkers
a. he knew them at the dinner
parties. ~
Now that Allan Dwan has photo
graphed the pages of my brother'S
book, people can see the things
that he saw. They can see alse
that there is an impossible gull
between the Latin American and the
North Notwithstanding that
Richard saw more than twenty years
ago. When one thinks of Mexicos
OF the outrages upon American
property there. one may recall that
in SOLDIERS OF Fortune" Richard
accurately foreshadowed this by
projecting the Latin American
character on the pages OF his novel.
Also, what strange coincidence
there is between the attempts to
levy graft by military force upon
the mining company as described ~
his book. and in the holding up Of
American mines and plantations by
armed forces in Mexico today.
Oddly enough. in Dwan's production.
LOT Richards story he engaged flve
members Of Villas Guard Of Gold"
to portray types Of whom my
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

AmliAted with Jr. O. U. A. IL, in all
states except Virginia.

In closing the session of tho
national council which met at Mil
waukes. via. June 1870. tho new
national councillor made the follow
Ing remarks,
Brothers: IN the several prob
lens contracting our great order. .
pledge the best thsrs = In ma to
help solve shsm. I reaaize that /
have an epoeh-making term to fol-
low. We havs had . real grey
bound 70 lead - during the last two
years: ana he assured me. - he told
you Q few minutes ago. that he still
has muscle and wind enough TO help
me along for the naxa two years. and
I believe he hAa. am surs that We
all are ssnsihls to the good spirit
that prevailed during tAis seasion
There has heea unity In almost
svarythin6 thA4 pAassd, That tsndA
to hAvU - 20 70 our homes with
rood feeline and promote the well
fare ol the order. New 10 hAvA
hndsstaksn greAe problsns hers--
bsem takiaG y milllonA EoS pears I
Thought so8e plan should b de-
v10ed - 9tqrt N sdvoment fund for
the heno "a q - oiaA \ has seart.
81 A 3 - - - : ha0e
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

duee for the MayAower Photopiay
Corporation. makers of The
Miracle Man." and the first book
Dwan planned for production was
my brother Richards Soldiers of
Fortune" He knew that it had been
produced before, but he said, what
of III The story was not done
justice / am going to transfer it
to the screen as Richard Harding
Davis would have wanted it--with
his characters and situations pre-
served"
Dwan studied the characters, of
Richards story-Ciay, King. Mac
Williams. Stuart, young Langham
and his sisters. and the Latin Amer
icans-until he knew them init
mately. Then he looked around and
he looked long time for actors and
actresses to portray them. He en-
gagged no stars; he did not want any
stars. He sought persons who
looked the parts as my brother
visualized them and who were will
ing to lose their own mentality in
the mentality of my brothers
characters. Dawn himself sank his
own mentality in my brothers
mentality. The result is that he has
brought Soldiers OF Fortune" to the
screen as my brother would have
liked to have seen it.
Richard Harding Davis
Richard wrote that story over
twenty years ago. 1t has lived be-
cause the people in it are real, as
is the background. Richard never
re-wrote- In the Spring Of 1884.
when he was in his sophomore year
in college. he made his first sea
voyage. The ship was an ore boat
and its destination, Santiago de
Cuba. the oldest of the cities OF the
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
DIES TRYING TO SOLVE
HIGH COST OF LIVING

San Francisco. Oct. fl.--with
s142, 346.s5 in the bark and no near
relatives, William Geistcnocrg starv-
ed himself to death rather than pay
the present high prices for food.
And having solved the problem OF
the high cost OF living In this man
Her and passed on to the ultimate
bourne OF tho real Iaate&tarr Ga4s-
tonberg has loft pretty problem for
The courts to sofve--that OF the dis
position OF his money.
Geistenberg refused to have q
physician attend aim white he was
IN and after his death the doctor
who was called In to examine him
said death was due to starvation.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
WHY PRINCE LEOPOLD
IS DUKE Of BRABANT

Washington, u. c.. Oct. Sin
connection with the visit to the
United States OF King Albert of Bal
GUM and the Duke OF Brabant, tho
National Geographic society has 10
sued a bulletin relating how the cid
est son of tho Belgian ruler acquired
that title
at Is hitting that the name Of Brn-
eant should be psrpstuatod In Bal
CLAN history. for the territory origin
ally 70 designated may well b called
the cradle of that Belgian freedom
which funotioned - 0loEously IN
1914" the bulletin aayA
-Present day Rrabant, maA p0pu-
lous province OF Balgtum,- han m
area slightly larger than RhOds
Island and three times ~ maay peo-
plc.a But tho Hrabant o1 oAriiar
timed. conquered BY Cassars sstt3sA
NJ aA1iG xtnnln 1a1eello4 - r.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
EH4NYTE QFYZLLAy NDTCRlQN
|"GILAPD ar GOLD. SUFFERS IN
SOL DLERS or FORTUNE"

produced, but that did not deter its
production again this year. Allan
Dwan, who used to hold wrestling
championships and play Quarterback
in bis university days. who left the
campus with IN engineering degree
only to knock around the world,
like % many of the heroes in my
brothers stories. and rise in = pro-
fesaion other than the one for which
the learned professor had trained
him, had read Soldiers Of Fortune"
in his youth. Drifting into motion
pictures, Dwan vowed to himself
some day to have 4 producing COM
pany Of his own Along with his
engineering At the university he had
specialized in literature and he had
the ambition to visualize on the
screen .eome day hooks he had read
and loved And Soldiers of For
tune" was one such.
From Engineering to Suping
Accordingly Allan Dwan went to
the California studios with engineer
ing dismissed from his mind and
A0A~4 A0t JOUs NY put hiAlA w
work A. a super" In his FIRST scene
he was supposed TO be dead, lying
on the ground This would have
been quite easy but the leading man,
sword in hand. having slain many
varlets, rested the tip of his blade
on Dwan. for atmosphere" Un-
fortunately the blade was quite
sharp and penetrated Dwan's leg
about an inch. but rather than quit
and spoil the scene Dwau lay per-
fectiy still; and then went limpins
home. 1t was the sort of thing one
Of my brother Richards characters
would have done.
After that Dwan rose rapidly and
became director for many of the
stars you and I have seen; but all
ways in the back of his head was
that idea to have producing COM
pany of his own and TO photograph
books he loved. The day came last
Autumn when he contracted to pro-
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

V. OF fts famous university, from
which it was said no one could
graduate without knowledge, man.
ners and age.
"Brabant passed to the House ct
Burgundy. then fell under Spanish
dominion, and nnAlly, by the treaty
OF Utrecht. to the Hapsburgs OF Ans
tria-
1T was at Brussels, the later Era
hancon capital, that the uprtGing
against the ursnnicAI spau1nh russ
was generated. and developed tutn
an eighty years war of indepenA-
ence- Brabant bore the Hapsburx
yoke no more MnLingly than that Of
Philip H. and when Joseph II tried
TO interfere with the long standing
rights granted by the Joyeuse En-
tree he precipitSted the revolt OF
ttss- At Brussels. too. was to-;
mented the revolution Of 1854
against Dutch rule which resulted in
the Independence OF Belgium
One of the first acts Of tho new
nation was to adopt the Brahant
collars for the national flag. which,
will be In evidence in this country in
honor OF the royal visitors, and the
lion OF Brahant as the national coat-
of-arnas- The title OF Duke of Bra
bant was revived for the crown
prince of Belgium. ~
Perhaps one OF the most appe~t-
ing figures in Brabant's long historE,
Was the much married Jacuueline.
or Jacoba, countess Of Holland, who
flfrt married the Duke of Touraino.
then successfully, John Nv, Duke IT
RrAbant; Humphrey, Duke of GIou-,
ceater; and Francis OF Borselin HIS.
tory accounts her the most beautl-.
full. talented and vaiorous woman Of
her day; and she seems to have beou
all that her second husband was NOT.
During the time when Jacqueiine
was opposing her former husband,
John Of Brabant, allied with Philip
the Good, of Burgundy, who later
brought Rrabant under BurgundiAa,
rule. she was supported by the red
capped Hooks. one Of two factions
hose existence illustrates upon
what slender threads the fate OF
mediaevel nations often depended.
The Hooks. meaning nsh hooks, and
the Kaabelt auws, or goldfish, we<e
rival groups for moro than two cos-
turtles. A dispute arose at hanQue.
regarding the manner Of catching
cod -nah. The dispute became 50
acrimonious that 1t persisted after
the dinner, nobiemen and their foE-
lowers took sides, and they begAp
wearing caps to distinguish their al
lAgtance-2 That of the goldfish parry
was gray y :
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

Germany by the treaty Of verdun in
s43. and made a part of Lower Lor-
raine. was more extensive. 1t in
cluded North Brabant. now the lary
est Holland province.
Late in the twelfth century the
rulers Of Brabant assumed the title
of Duke. but ii WAS not until 1854
that an event occurred which re-
moved Brabant from the rank Of 4
pawn Of the feudal system, and laid
the foundations for . love Of indie
pendence which sometimes was sup-
pressed but never crushed.
This event is known as the
Joyeuse Entree. a charter OF Bra
bant liberty akin to the Magma
Charta and tire fvCtHration or indie
pesldenee. granted by Duke John LII
SO there would net be4Ao vigorous
protest against the marriage OF his
daughter. Jeanne. to wenccslaus. OF
lAlxernhnrg.- a union which entail l
"a change of dynasty.
"A year later John III died and
his heiress and her husband made
their coming to Brussels an occasion
10 renew their vows to observe the
terms of the charter Rram tiris cir
cumstance-an exceedingly Joyous
entry indeed--the charter derived
its name.
1t must not be concluded that be-
cause this victory was passive it was
handed, manna-like, to Rrabant citi-
Gems. The charter of cortenberg.
wrested from John III, was a re-
minder OF the Brabant state Of mind
and It foreshAdowed the broader
principles OF the more famous docu-
mcnt- The Joyeuse Entree pledged
the dukes to begin no wars. nor con-
Guide any peace, without the ap-
III oval of their subjects, 1t provided
that members of the council, repre-
senting municipalities, must be ma
tive born; and that the ruler mus:
preserve the duchy's territorial in
'tegraty.
Even this concession did no,
rave the way " Wenceslaus for a
peaceful reign. IIouvain, once the
ducai residence of Brabant rulers
had become q center OF cloth manu-
facture, and there spranE up the
consequent troubles of an Industrial
city. During nm uprising the city's
magistrates, mostly noblemen. were
thrown from the windows of build
Ing and caught by the populace on
the points OF spears Duke Wen
ceslaus recaptured the CITY In 1852
and punished the rioters, but many
Of the city's best artisans ned to
escape retribution. In so doing they
transferred their industry TO Eng
land and Holland. Louvain re-
gained prestige In another neld with
the -estAhliahment-- by Pope Martin
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
GIVES IS A YEAR FOX
SALARY OF PREACHER

Reading. Pa. Oct l1.--Now and
then somebody thinks about the
undorpAid pastor. Such one was
John w. Lease. VINO In has will,
made q provision foi the payment
ct IS q year toward the salary OF
Tho pastor of St. Panrs Reformed
Congregation of Richmond town
ti,ip. His estate is valued at $4,000.
Not 10 bad II many more follow
suit, the pastor Is reported al hav-
ing thought upon being appraised Of
his good luck,
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

To be sure. in some of the studios
where quantity production rules,
good books continue to be mangied
and flicker across the screen in un-
recognizable form. But here and
there one discerns producers who.
satiated with this killing of iitera-
turc. are honestly seeking to pre-
serve an authors characters, theme.
situations and the spirit OF his story
in motion pictures. So where =
good book. best seller" though il
was, used only to reach few hum
bred thousand persons At most, to-
day through conscientious visualiza-
ton OF its pages. its audience will
total into the millions. For the
statisticians tell us that there were
over six billion admissions paid =.
motion picture box Offices last year.
The Authors Lament
1t is a satisfaction that the erudi-
ties OF motion picture production
have passed through refining ex-
perience and that men of good edu-
cation, literary instincts and i'm
agination have found their way into
the studios. Years ago my brother.
Richard Harding Davis, leased the
motion picture rights Of several Of
his stories only to undergo the ex-
perience which habitually fell to An
author-meaning to writhe in ones
chair upon seeing the picture. sup
press . groan, and IS the g1rbled
version Of his story unreeled before
his eyes, to become possessed OF =
desire to stand atop the highest
building in New York and to shout
through huge megaphone. THAT
isn't mine. / didn't write thatr'
But today. were my brother alive,
he would see his work transferred
to the screen with its spirit pre-
served.
Most Of US have read his Soldiers
Of Fortune" I. would seem to be
significant Of the new era of picture
making which is upon rs that in
wears pas. nv brothers romance was
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
Noted Author ana Brother
gfRichard HARDING Davis

1t would seem that so stringent Is
the demand for high class motion
pictures today that the good. COM
pclling story, mo matter what its
age. cannot die. To hear OF pro-
Queer making but few productions
year painstakingly seeking to do
the authors story justice and resist
ing the temptation to place his film
upon the market until he is satisfied
that he has done the story justice is
most new and agreeable. Month
after month conscientious writer
draws upon his nerves, his brain, his
vitality in the creation of a good
novel. be it romantic or realistic.
,Enconsciously we feel. as we turn
the last page of a good piece of
work that il is such because in the
VT ting the man freely gave Of him
self. Which is to say that the story
has soul. And then how often have
we seen. you and |. motion picture
version of that story---a hatchery Of
art that made US wonder will they
ever be able to do book properly
on the screen?" Siap-dash here.
sian-bang there. the movie makers
had produced an authors story in a
mere fraction OF the time he had
given to the writing of it--with the
inevitable result.
Byt it would seem today that the
movie conscience has awakened.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

The greatest accomplishment a
Chicago was the emphasis given to
Fraternity ~ against commercialtsm
that seems to rule the day.
Equality was signaltzed. benefits
were enlarged, family and com.
munity welfare were advanced and
every members support merited.
Let every true Maccabee do hts
Iu!i DUTY and esteem II q great
privilege
The nation needs today, a never
BEFORE. the positive tnfausnce and
constructive program OF the frater-
niueA They are best organised IN
the line Of community service. Not
more organizations but larger use 81
those we hAvA The frntarnitios
stand ready. Services" . tie soul
Of their endesvor.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

He was wading in Conc chegue Creek
when the cid reptile attacked him.
with head up!ifted ard Kissing like
escaping steam. Fitz killed the
snake and took IT to tho bank, after
dissecting it, he discovered the
freak
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
ENDS 1Nyo-Hea.lcd snake

Waynesboro. Pa, Oct. IA baby
snake with two separate and dis
unot heads was found Ivy s. K. Fits,
q local fisherman. the heads are
divided 1t the mock ani each II thor
oughly equipped TO function a. =
fangs, ewes and all,
y fttx inside the discovery follow
~ : hasaTa Win = metAee aall1s
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
Richard Harding Davis

II will be success. but I say it
must be a success The talks and
spirit manifested herc In that direc-
ton are fun Of fire and brothers,
certainly hope that that fire won't
GO out the moment You pass out of
this building into the cool dir on the
outside. &rt* 81
Many OF the members here have
pledged to be busy during the next
two years. l want to urge and insist
that every member here be busy
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

Gsideu Eagle council. No. o. meets
every Wednesday night In each month
AT Pythian castle. SIS East Marshall
street. Mrs jamie Levensohn. keeper
of records
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12
WOODNfEN CIRCTE

Maple Grove, No. II, meets ON
Thursday NIGHTS at -Toney.s hall.
Eleventh and Hull streets. South
Richmond Miss Grace D. Brinser.
clerk.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

Magnolia camp. No. 20, meets Sec
ond and fourth Monday nights each
month in Monroe hall, GIL West
Main street.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

Jefferson, No. 10. meets frst and
third Monday nights In each month.
at Tayiors hall. Twenty-ffth and
Broad streetR A. M Marston. record
keeper. 3fzo Porter street. r. q.
box sos.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

Faithful council. No. 8, meets
every Friday night at Springfield
hall. Twenty sixth and NJ streets.
Mrs. Lillian Sale, secretary
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-12

Maple camp, No. i59, meets Sec
ond and fourth Friday nights each
month in Leader hall, 1000 Hull
street, corner Tenth. r. G. Smoak.
clerk, 3105 Semmes avenue.