Evening journal., 1888-12-27
A NovELlsT,s ROMANCE.
Strange Bit of History From the Life
of Robert Louis Stevenson.

A Strange Bit of History From the Life
of Robert Louis Stevenson.
A San Francisco despatch to the New
York World gives this bit Of Novelist
Robert Louis Stevenson personal history
Stevenson first came here about eight
years ago TO get married. His bride he
had met IN France when she was the wife
ola Californian. When Stevenson was tax
ing that trip that bore fruit in his book,
IAN Inland Voyage he met in Paris
Mrs. Samuel Osborne Of San Francisco
She came Of Dutch parentRge, her
maiden name being Van Degriift,
but she had married young Sam
Osborne, who was private secretary to
Senator Stanford and somewhat Of pro
tege Of the railroad millionaire. She
wasa brilliant brunette with the vivid
coloring and many of the tastes of n
gypsey Her husband had gone with her
on vacation, but he had been recalled
on business, and she was then staying
with friends in the French capital She
and Stevenson fell in love at first sight
Their literary and personal tastes ran
in the same channels and the author
spent much time in her company.
When she left her home IL was under
stood that she was TO get divorce from
her husband by means % the easy pro-
cesses of the California courts, and when
this was accomplished Stevenson would
come out TO the Golden State and make
her his wife. Everything was carried
out according to this program. When
Sam Osborne was told Of the desire Of
his wife, he made no objection, but, like
a model American husband gave his wife
all the aid in his power. The result was
that she obtained her freedom. Then the
tidings were sent TO the distant lover,
and he prepared TO come "out into the
west" for his inamorata
Original in everything, Stevenson de
termined TO take this trip in novel fash
ion So he engaged passage in the steerage
Of one of the great ocean lines with the
design Of writing up his experiences. He
secured plenty of material, for the voyage
was rough and he had a sorry time
among the emigrants, who were herded
together like sheep. This experience,
however, didn't cure him, MS he took pas.
sage in An emigrant car and crossed the
plains in that fashion. This was worse
than the steerage trip, as the people were
packed closer, and the journey, owing TO
the many delays and slow time, consumed
two weeks.
When Stevenson reached San Francisco
he was a sorry object. He had a hack.
ing cough, spat blood, and had contracted
a troublesome skin disease from herding
with unelean emigrants. Foul air and
poor food had reduced his strength, and
he was a semiinvalid. He was received.
however, with open arms. As soon as he
was cleaned up by series of
sulphur baths and a trifle recovered
from the fatigue of the long jour.
ney the wedding was held. The remark
Die feature Of IL was that Sam Osborne
was present and gave away the bride. his
ex-wife with the henrtiness Of manner
that might have been expected in the
most disinterested person, while he
capped the climax of this performance
by introducing to the bride and groom {
/ handsome and stylishly-dressed young
| woman as his afiianced wife.
The marriage feast was very gay, anC
soon after II was over Stevenson wen
with his bride to q deserted mining CAM
on Howell Mountain, in Napa county. 4
recuperate his health. There he wrot
the book which he called '"rhe Silverad
Squatters. He was then financially re
duced and he had no reputation in thi
country. His book on his Cali
forniR experiences went a-begging
and finally the Century editors publishe
il in several instalments. IL is a curiou
fact that Osborne TO whose good natuf
Stevenson was indebted for his wife, dis
appeared shortly after the second maj
riage He dropped out Of his old lii
and his old haunts here between tw
days. and no one ever learned any traC
~ him