The morning call., 1893-05-24
AN ISLAND HOME.
Robert Louis Stevenson's Residence
in Samoa.

At first glance Mr.. Il. L. Stevenson. the
novelist, would seem TO be trending to-
ward barbarism in deliberately taking up
his residence at Samoa, in an isolated part,
two miles away from ADia, where he has
no white neigh bors, and has only native
laborers on his estate. But in reality he
is in contact with as much Of the world
asfhe wants. For companion ship he has in
his household Mrs. Stevenson formerly
Mrs. S. Osborne Of San Francisco), his
mother. "a tall, gray, amiable lady, with
an air of distinction" bis stepdaughter
Mrs Strong, and his stepsOn. Mr.. Llopd
Osborne. Then he has his library, news
papers and letters. Mr.. Stevenson has no
diStI actions Go swerve his thinking aside.
According to an interviewer at Sydney, he
has no particular cares part from his tolls
OF auth orship, which are severe, owing to
his habit OF rewriting and recasting every
thing. Mrs. Stevenson dabbies IN prac-
tcal botany with enthusiasm. Mrs Strong
manages the house and the native boys.
Mr.. Lloyd Osborne directs operations on
the estate, whereOn no white empl0ye sets
his loot, from fear CT spreading evll and
murmuriDg in paradise. And 50 the day
goes and the night comes in this Olisstui
region Of reposP, with the noise and jars Of
busting world shut ont, and yet some
comforting cOntguity maintained.
1t is not commercial colony. The
Samoans work on the estate az fifty cents
a day and are discharged promptly If tbeT
20 wrong but their spading and hueIng
are not essential to Mr. Steyens0n's sue
cess in life Or domestic comfort. Perhals
the islanders and the estate together are
not so important TO The author of "Dr.
Jakyl ard Mr.. HYDE" as fruit gardening
is to Mr.. BIackmOre, the author Of
Lorna Doone." Money flows oward this
imaginative and brilliant writer as fast as
he Laws the keel and launches his lnggers,
and his estate is pastime and a vocational
solaeP. 1t is not necessary he should 1--we
in a Latin quarter and besiege the rub-
fishers. His reputation is established !;
his copyrights endure and bring in sure
| income, and the book world cCnpetes for
| his manuscript To a certain eXten. it is
! advantageous TO have new horizon If IL
! quickens his mind into new aud fresh
| forms of literary fertility. o hers as
/ prosperous would be glad 10 initiate HIM.
LII no sense can he be ranked as a Roh-
| ins on Crusoe on rocket in an ocean
1 waste with parrot, d0g and cat as his
! companions and & Friday to rhIlstlaniZe.
| HIS touch with civilization Is almost as
! Intimate, in these days If steamships, tons
! of books a week and postal service, as If
he were in London, Paris or BGstOn. But
without his library. letters and newspa pers
his isolation would be real, and he would
| become as one who lives alone. He is
young, and Is in fairly robust health. Will
he tire of his plunge into secluslOn? Mrs.
Stevenson thinks the family grave Will be
| laid out in Samoa-there as well as any
where else. This taste for secIusinn
seems strange. Ii is form of happiness
free from conventional trammels. III re-
gard to which The earth is much too small
10 provide elbow room for all lis iDhab-
itants, mostly gregariGus.