plosion at
Columbia Avenue Station--I went out on it with another man my senior in
years and experience, whom Watrous expected to write the story while I
hustled for facts. When we got back I had all the facts, and what
little he had was incorrect--so I said I would dispense with his
services and write the story myself. I did it very politely, but it
queered the man before the men, and Watrous grew very sarcastic at his
expense. Next time Andy will know better and let me get my own stories
alone.

Your Millionaire Son,

DICK.

I'm still the "same old Dick"; not proud a bit.

This was my mother's reply:

Thursday.

August 1888.

DEAR DICK:

Your letter has just come and we are all delighted. Well done for old
St. Nicholas! I thought they meant to wait till the story was
published. It took me back to the day when I got $50. for "Life in the
Iron Mills." I carried the letter half a day before opening it, being
so sure that it was a refusal.

I had a great mind to read the letter to Davis and Cecile who were on
the porch but was afraid you would not like it.

I did read them an extremely impertinent enclosure which was so like
the letter I sent yesterday. That I think you got it before writing
this.

. . . Well I am glad about that cheque! Have you done anything on
Gallagher? That is by far the best work you've done--oh, by far--Send
that to Gilder. In old times The Century would not print the word
"brandy." But those days are over.

Two more days--dear boy--

MOTHER.

In addition to his work on The Press, Richard also found time to assist
his friend, Morton McMichael, 3d, in the editing of a weekly
publication called The Stage. In fact with the exception of the
services of an office boy, McMichael and Richard were The Stage.
Between them they wrote the editorials, criticisms, the London and
Paris special correspondence, solicited the advertisements, and
frequently assisted in the wrapping and mailing of the copies sent to
their extremely limited list of subscribers. During this time,
however, Richard was establishing himself as a star reporter on The
Press, and was already known as a clever news-gatherer and interviewer.
It was in reply to a letter that Richard wrote to Robert Louis
Stevenson enclosing an interview he had had with Walt Whitman, that
Stevenson wrote the following letter--which my brother always regarded
as one of his greatest treasures:

Why, thank you so much