On his way he stopped for a few days in London and Paris.

ABASSADE DES ETATS-UNIS
59 Rue Galilee,
Paris, April 1st, 1897.

DEAR FAMILY:

I got over here to-day after the heaviest weather I ever tackled on
this channel. Stephen Crane came with me. I gave him a lunch on
Wednesday. Anthony Hope, McCarthy, Harold Frederic and Barrie came.
Sir Evelyn Wood instead of coming was detained at the war office and
sent instead a lance Sergeant on horseback with a huge envelope marked
"On Her Majesty's Service," which was to be delivered into my hands--
The entire Savoy was upset and it was generally supposed that war had
been declared and that I was being ordered to the front-- The whole
hotel hung over us until I had receipted for the package and the
soldier had saluted and clanked away. I gave Crane the letter as a
souvenir. I also saw Seymour Hicks' first night and recognized 15
American songs in it.

The London Times offered me the position of correspondent on the Greek
frontier. Every one in London thought it an enormous compliment and
Harold Frederic, Ralph, Ballard Smith and the rest were very envious.
I told them I could not go, but I was glad to have had the compliment
paid me. Barrie has made out a scenario of the "Soldiers" for dramatic
purposes and has asked the Haymarket management to consider it. So,
that I guess that it must be good--

So, I also guess I had better finish it-- I leave for Florence to
night. I am having a fine, fine time and I am so glad you are all well.

Lots of love,

DICK.

Of the many happy days we have spent together, I do not believe there
were any much more happy than the three weeks Richard remained with me.
It was his first long visit to Italy and from the day of his arrival he
loved the old town and its people who gave him a most friendly welcome.
He had come at a time when Florence was at its best, its narrow quaint
streets filled with sunshine and thronged with idling natives and the
scurrying tourists that always came with the first days of spring. The
Cascine and the pink-walled roads of the environs were ablaze with wild
roses and here, after his rather strenuous experience in Cuba, Richard
gave himself up to long days of happy idleness. Together we took
voyages of discovery to many of the little walled and forgotten towns
where the tourists seldom set foot. Once we even wandered so far as
Monte Carlo, where my brother tried very hard to break the ba