He was a writer
and not a rewriter. And another thing we must note in his
writing is his cleanliness. It is safe stuff to give to a
young fellow who likes to take off his hat and dilate his
nostrils and feel the wind in his face. Like water at the
source, it is undefiled.
DAVIS AND THE ROUGH RIDERS
BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT
I knew Richard Harding Davis for many years, and I was among
the number who were immediately drawn to him by the power and
originality of "Gallegher," the story which first made his reputation.
My intimate association with him, however, was while he was
with my regiment in Cuba, He joined us immediately after
landing, and was not merely present at but took part in the
fighting. For example, at the Guasimas fight it was he, I
think, with his field-glasses, who first placed the trench
from which the Spaniards were firing at the right wing of the
regiment, which right wing I, at that time, commanded. We
were then able to make out the trench, opened fire on it, and
drove out the Spaniards.
He was indomitably cheerful under hardships and difficulties
and entirely indifferent to his own personal safety or
comfort. He so won the esteem and regard of the regiment that
he was one of the three men we made honorary members of the
regiment's association.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48