is beloved tropics
and, casting aside all responsibilities, would set sail for Santiago.
After all it was quite natural that he should feel as he did about this
little Cuban coast town, for apart from its lazy life, spicy smells,
waving palms and Spanish cooking, it was here that he found the
material for his first novel and greatest monetary success, "Soldiers
of Fortune." Apart from the many purely pleasure trips he made to
Santiago, twice he returned there to work--once as a correspondent
during the Spanish-American War, and again when he went with Augustus
Thomas to assist in the latter's film version of the play which years
before Thomas had made from the novel.

CHAPTER III

FIRST NEWSPAPER EXPERIENCES

In the late summer of 1886 Richard returned from Cuba and settled down
in Philadelphia to write an article about his experiences at Santiago
and to look for regular newspaper work. Early in September he wrote
his mother:

September, 1886.

DEAR MOTHER:

I saw the Record people to-day. They said there was not an opening but
could give me "chance" work, that is, I was to report each day at one
and get what was left over. I said I would take it as I would have my
mornings free to write the article and what afternoons I did not have
newspaper work besides. This is satisfactory. They are either doing
all they can to oblige Dad or else giving me a trial trip before making
an opening. The article is progressing but slowly. To paraphrase
Talleyrand, what's done is but little and that little is not good.
However, since your last letter full of such excellent "tips" I have
rewritten it and think it is much improved. I will write to Thurston
concerning the artist to-morrow. He is away from B. at present. On
the whole the article is not bad.

Your boy, DICK.

Richard's stay on The Record, however, was short-lived. His excuse for
the brevity of the experience was given in an interview some years
later. "My City Editor didn't like me because on cold days I wore
gloves. But he was determined to make me work, and gave me about
eighteen assignments a day, and paid me $7. a week. At the end of
three months he discharged me as incompetent."

From The Record Richard went to The Press, which was much more to his
liking, and, indeed it was here that he did his first real work and
showed his first promise. For nearly three years he did general
reporting and during this time gained a great deal mor