the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第1节
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
THE RED CROSS GIRL
BY RICHARD HARDING DAVIS
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY GOUVERNEUR MORRIS
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
INTRODUCTION
〃And they rise to their feet as he passes； gentlemen unafraid。〃
He was almost too good to be true。 In addition； the gods loved him；
and so he had to die young。 Some people think that a man of fifty…two is
middle…aged。 But if R。 H。 D。 had lived to be a hundred； he would never
have grown old。 It is not generally known that the name of his other
brother was Peter Pan。
Within the year we have played at pirates together； at the taking of
sperm whales； and we have ransacked the Westchester Hills for gunsites
against the Mexican invasion。 And we have made lists of guns； and
medicines； and tinned things； in case we should ever happen to go
elephant shooting in Africa。 But we weren't going to hurt the elephants。
Once R。 H。 D。 shot a hippopotamus and he was always ashamed and sorry。
I think he never killed anything else。 He wasn't that kind of a sportsman。
Of hunting； as of many other things； he has said the last word。 Do you
remember the Happy Hunting Ground in 〃The Bar Sinister〃？〃Where
nobody hunts us； and there is nothing to hunt。〃
Experienced persons tell us that a man…hunt is the most exciting of all
sports。 R。 H。 D。 hunted men in Cuba。 He hunted for wounded men who
were out in front of the trenches and still under fire； and found some of
them and brought them in。 The Rough Riders didn't make him an honorary
member of their regiment just because he was charming and a faithful
friend； but largely because they were a lot of daredevils and he was
another。
To hear him talk you wouldn't have thought that he had ever done a
brave thing in his life。 He talked a great deal； and he talked even better
than he wrote （at his best he wrote like an angel）； but I have dusted every
corner of my memory and cannot recall any story of his in which he
played a heroic or successful part。 Always he was running at top speed； or
hiding behind a tree； or lying face down in a foot of water （for hours！） so
as not to be seen。 Always he was getting the worst of it。 But about the
other fellows he told the whole truth with lightning flashes of wit and
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
character building and admiration or contempt。 Until the invention of
moving pictures the world had nothing in the least like his talk。 His eye
had photographed； his mind had developed and prepared the slides； his
words sent the light through them； and lo and behold； they were
reproduced on the screen of your own mind； exact in drawing and color。
With the written word or the spoken word he was the greatest recorder and
reporter of things that he had seen of any man； perhaps； that ever lived。
The history of the last thirty years； its manners and customs and its leading
events and inventions； cannot be written truthfully without reference to the
records which he has left； to his special articles and to his letters。 Read
over again the Queen's Jubilee； the Czar's Coronation； the March of the
Germans through Brussels； and see for yourself if I speak too zealously；
even for a friend； to whom； now that R。 H。 D。 is dead； the world can never
be the same again。
But I did not set out to estimate his genius。 That matter will come in
due time before the unerring tribunal of posterity。
One secret of Mr。 Roosevelt's hold upon those who come into contact
with him is his energy。 Retaining enough for his own use （he uses a good
deal； because every day he does the work of five or six men）； he
distributes the inexhaustible remainder among those who most need it。
Men go to him tired and discouraged； he sends them away glad to be alive；
still gladder that he is alive； and ready to fight the devil himself in a good
cause。 Upon his friends R。 H。 D。 had the same effect。 And it was not only
in proximity that he could distribute energy； but from afar； by letter and
cable。 He had some intuitive way of knowing just when you were slipping
into a slough of laziness and discouragement。 And at such times he either
appeared suddenly upon the scene； or there came a boy on a bicycle； with
a yellow envelope and a book to sign； or the postman in his buggy； or the
telephone rang and from the receiver there poured into you affection and
encouragement。
But the great times； of course； were when he came in person； and the
temperature of the house； which a moment before had been too hot or too
cold； became just right； and a sense of cheerfulness and well…being
invaded the hearts of the master and the mistress and of the servants in the
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
house and in the yard。 And the older daughter ran to him； and the baby；
who had been fretting because nobody would give her a double… barrelled
shotgun； climbed upon his knee and forgot all about the disappointments
of this uncompromising world。
He was touchingly sweet with children。 I think he was a little afraid of
them。 He was afraid perhaps that they wouldn't find out how much he
loved them。 But when they showed him that they trusted him； and；
unsolicited； climbed upon him and laid their cheeks against his； then the
loveliest expression came over his face； and you knew that the great heart；
which the other day ceased to beat； throbbed with an exquisite bliss； akin
to anguish。
One of the happiest days I remember was when I and mine received a
telegram saying that he had a baby of his own。 And I thank God that little
Miss Hope is too young to know what an appalling loss she has suffered。。。。
Perhaps he stayed to dine。 Then perhaps the older daughter was
allowed to sit up an extra half…hour so that she could wait on the table （and
though I say it； that shouldn't； she could do this beautifully； with dignity
and without giggling）； and perhaps the dinner was good； or R。 H。 D。
thought it was； and in that event he must abandon his place and storm the
kitchen to tell the cook all about it。 Perhaps the gardener was taking life
easy on the kitchen porch。 He； too； came in for praise。 R。 H。 D。 had never
seen our Japanese iris so beautiful； as for his； they wouldn't grow at all。 It
wasn't the iris； it was the man behind the iris。 And then back he would
come to us； with a wonderful story of his adventures in the pantry on his
way to the kitchen； and leaving behind him a cook to whom there had
been issued a new lease of life； and a gardener who blushed and smiled in
the darkness under the Actinidia vines。
It was in our little house at Aiken； in South Carolina； that he was with
us most and we learned to know him best； and that he and I became
dependent upon each other in many ways。
Events； into which I shall not go； had made his life very difficult and
complicated。 And he who had given so much friendship to so many people
needed a little friendship in return； and perhaps； too； he needed for a time
to live in a house whose master and mistress loved each other； and where
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there were children。 Before he came that first year our house had no name。
Now it is called 〃Let's Pretend。〃
Now the chimney in the living…room draws； but in those first days of
the built…over house it didn't。 At least； it didn't draw all the time； but we
pretended that it did； and with much pretense came faith。 From the
fireplace that smoked to the serious things of life we extended our
pretendings； until real troubles went down before themdown and out。
It was one of Aiken's very best winters； and the earliest spring I ever
lived anywhere。 R。 H。 D。 came shortly after Christmas。 The spireas were
in bloom； and the monthly roses； you could always find a sweet viol
