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； the dog and Cecil in the cart and I got on the horse and we let out for Kronstad at a gallop。 We raced the thirty miles in five hours without one halt。 That was not our cruelty to animals but Christian's who whenever I ordered him to halt and let us rest； yelled that the Englesses were after us and galloped on。 The retreat was a terribly pathetic spectacle； for hours we passed through group after group of the broken and dispirited Boers。 At Kronstad President Steyn whom I went to see on arriving ordered a special car for me； and sent us off at once。 We reached here the next morning； Christian arriving a day later having killed one mule and one pony in his eagerness to escape。 We are going back again as soon as Roberts reaches the Vaal。 There there must be a stand。 Love and best wishes to you all
DICK。
June 8th； 1900。 On board the Kausler。 DEAR MOTHER：
We engaged our passage on this ship some weeks ago not thinking we would have the English near Pretoria until August。 But as it happened they came so near that we did not know whether or not to wait over and see them enter the capital。 I decided not； first； because after that one event； there would be nothing for us to see or do。 We could not leave until the 2nd of July and a month under British martial law was very distasteful to me。 Besides I did not care much to see them enter； or to be forced to witness their rejoicing。 As soon as we got under way and about half the distance to the coast； it is a two days' trip。 We heard so many rumors of Roberts's communication having been cut off and that the war was not over； that we thought perhaps we ought to go back As we have no news since except that the British are in Pretoria we still do not know what to think。 Personally I am glad I came away as I can do just as much for the Boers at home now as there where the British censor would have shut me off from cabling and mails are so slow。 With the local knowledge I have； I hope to keep at it until it is over。 But when I consider the magnitude of the misrepresentation about the burghers I feel appalled at the idea of going up against it。 One is really afraid to tell all the truth about the Boer because no one would believe you It is almost better to go mildly and then you may have some chance。 But personally I know no class of men I admire as much or who to…day preserve the best and oldest ideas of charity； fairness and good…will to men。
DICK。
June 29th； 1900。 DEAR MOTHER：
We are now just off Crete； and our next sight of the blue land will be Europe。 It means so many things； being alone with Cecil again； instead of on a raft touching elbows with so many strangers； and it means a shop where you can buy collars； and where they put starch in your linen。 Also many beautiful ladies one does not know and men in evening dress one does not know and green tables covered with gold and little green and red bits of ivory where one passes among the tables and wonders what they would think if they knew we two had found our greatest friends in the Boer farmers； in Dutch Station Masters who gave us a corner under the telegraph table in which to sleep； with Nelson who kept the Transvaal Steam Laundry； Col。 Lynch of the steerage who comes to the dividing line to beg French books from Cecil； and that we had cooked our food on sticks； drunk out of the same cups with Kaffir servants and slept on the ground when there was frost on it。 It will be so strange to find that there are millions of people who do not know Komali poort； who have thought of anything else except burghers and roor…i…neks It seems almost disloyal to the Boers to be glad to see newspapers only an hour old instead of six weeks old； and to welcome all the tyranny of collar buttons； scarf pins； watch chains； walking sticks and gloves even。 I love them both and I can hardly believe it is true that we are to go to a real hotel with a lift and a chasseur； where you cannot smoke in the dining…room。 As for Aix； that I cannot believe will ever happen It was just a part of one's honeymoon and I refuse to cheat myself into thinking that within a week I will be riding through the lanes of the little villages； drinking red wine at Burget； watching Chas spread cheese over great hunks of bread and listening to three bands at one time。 And then the joy to follow of Home and America and all that is American。 Even the Custom House holds nothing but joy for meand then 〃mine own people！〃 It has been six weeks since we have heard from you or longer； nearly two months and how I miss you and want you。 It will be a happy day when Dad meets me at the wharf and I can see his blue and white tie again and his dear face under the white hatwhere you and Nora will be I cannot tell； but I will seek you out。 We will be happy togetherso happy It has been the longest separation we have known and such a lot of things have happened。 It will be such peace to see you and hold you once again。
DICK。
AIXLESBAINS。 July 6th； 1900。 DEAR FAMILY：
Cecil and I arrived last night tired and about worn outwe had had a month on board ship and two days in the cars and when we got out at Aix and found our rooms ready and Francois waiting； we shouted and cheered。 It was never so beautiful as it looked in the moonlight and we walked all over it； through the silent streets chortling with glee。 They could not give us our same rooms but we got the suite just above them； which is just as good。 They were so extremely friendly and glad to see us and had flowers in all the rooms。 We have not heard a word about Chas yet； as our mail has not arrived from Paris； but I will cable in a minute and hear。 We cannot wait any longer for news of him。 I got up at seven this morning so excited that I could not sleep and have been to the baths； where I was received like the President of the Republic。 In fact everybody seems to have only the kindest recollections of us and to be glad to have us back。
Such a rest as it is and so clean and bright and goodOnly I have absolutely nothing to wear except a two pound flannel suit I bought at Lorenzo Marquez until I get some built by a French tailor。 I must wear a bath robe or a bicycle suit until evening。 We have not been to the haunts of evil yet but we are dining there to night and all will be well。 Cecil sends her love to you all Goodbye and God bless you。
Richard and his wife returned to America in the early fall of 1900 and； after a visit to Mr。 and Mrs。 Clark at Marion； settled for the winter in New York。 They took a house in East Fifty…eighth Street where they did much entertaining and lived a very social existence； but I do not imagine that either of them regarded the winter as a success。 Richard was unable to do his usual amount of work； and both he and his wife were too fond of the country to enjoy an entire winter in town。 In the spring they went back to Marion。
MARION； MASSACHUSETTS。 May； 1901。
We arrived here last night in a glowing sunset which was followed by a grand moon。 The house was warm and clean and bright； with red curtains and open fires and everything was just as we had left it； so that it seemed as though we had just come out of a tortuous bad dream of asphalt and L。 roads and bad air。 I was never so glad to get away from New York。
Outside it is brisk and fine and smells of earth and melting snow and there is a grand breeze from the bay。 We took a long walk to…day； with the three dogs； and it was pitiful to see how glad they were to be free of the cellar and a back yard and at large among grass and rocks and roots of trees。 I wanted to bottle up some of the air and send it to all of my friends in New York。 It is so much better to smell than hot…house violets。 Seaton came on with us to handle the dogs and to unpack and so to…day we are nearly settled already with silver； pictures； clothes and easels and writing things all in place。 The gramophone is whirling madly and all is well Lots and lots of love。
DICK。
The following was written by Richard to his mother on her birthday：
MARION； MASSACHUSFTTS。 June 27th； 1901。 DEAR MOTHER：
In those wonderful years of yours you never thought of the blessing you were to us； only of what good you could find in us。 All that time； you were helping us and others； and making us better； happier； even nobler people。 From the day you struck the first blow for labor； in The Iron Mills on to the editorials in The Tribune； The Youth's Companion and The Independent； with all the good the novels； the stories brought to people； you were always year after year making the ways straighter； lifting up people； making them happier and better。 No woman ever did better for her time than you and no shrieking suffragette will ever understand the influence you wielded； greater than hundreds of thousands of women's votes。
We love you dear； dear mother； and we KNOW you and may your coming years be many and as full of happiness for yourself as they are for us。
RICHARD。
CHAPTER XIII
THE SPANISH AND ENGLISH CORONATIONS
Interrupted by frequent brief visits to New York Philadelphia； and Boston； Richard and his wife remained in Marion from May； 1901； until the early spring of 1902。 During this year Richard acco