numerous repartees and they
were apparently so surprised by finding a party of ladies and gentlemen
engaged in chaffing court officials that they would forget to reply
until they had moved on. One bus driver said "Oh, you can larff, cause
your at 'ome. We are 'unting for Jensen on a North Pole Expedition.
We won't be home for three years yet--" Charley seems very happy and he
got a most hearty welcome. I shall follow him over. I do not think I
shall go when he does as that would mean seeing people and getting
settled and I must get the Greek war done by the 12th of July and the
Jubilee by the 15th of August. I know you will not mind, but I have
been terribly interrupted by the Jubilee and by so many visitors. They
are running in all the time, so I shall try to get the Greek war
article done before I sail and also have a little peaceful view of
London. I have seen nothing of it really yet. It has been like living
in a circus, and moving about on an election night. I am well as can
be except for occasional twinges of sciatica but I have not had to go
to bed with it and some times it disappears for a week. A little less
rain and more sun will stop it. I hope you do not mind my not
returning but we will all be together for many months this Fall and I
really feel that I have not had a quiet moment here for pleasure and
work. It has been such a rush. I do wish to see dear Dad. I am so
very sorry about his being ill, and I hope he is having lots of
fishing. Love to all at Marion--and God bless you.

RICHARD.

LONDON

July 13, 1897.

DEAR MOTHER:

Today Barrie gave a copyright performance of "The Little Minister"
which Maude Adams is to play in the States. It was advertised by a
single bill in front of the Haymarket Theater and the price of
admission was five guineas. We took in fifteen guineas, the audience
being Charley Frohman, Lady Craig and a man. Cyril Maude played the
hero and Brandon Thomas and Barrie the two low comedy parts--two
Scotchmen of Thrums. I started to play one of them, but as I insisted
on making it an aged negro with songs, Barrie and Frohman got
discouraged and let me play the villain, Lord Rintoul, in which
character I was great. Maude played his part in five different ways
and dialects so as to see which he liked best, he said. It was a bit
confusing. Then one of the actors went up in the gallery and pretended
to be a journalist critic who had sneaked in, and he abused the