The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-09-28
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON,
The distinguished Author Gives an lnfOr-
NAL Talk 10 the Thistle Club.


three officers of the Scottish Thistle
Club called on their illustrious
countryman, Mr.. Robert Louis
Stevenson, lat Sans Souci, Waikiki,
to solicit an informal talk before the
club, prior to his departure for his
adopted home at Samoa.
Mr.. Stevenson was found reading
in the bay window Of the beautiful
lanai, with his back toward the Paci-
tic Ocean, just as its waves we're re-
ceiving those rare Kaleidoscope ef-
fects from the setting sun which
form one of the enchantments Of
this Paradise of the Pacific. Upon
the Standardization of the dele
gates they were received with the
most unaffected courtesy and invit-
ed to seats. Their business was
stated without delay, and Mr.. Steven
son did not hesitate a moment in
cordially expressing his pleasure at
having the opportunity of serving
an organization of his countrymen
in the manner requested. The only
question with him was that of time,
as his intention was to depart by the
steamer due on Thursday. Eight
o'clock Wednesday evening was,
however, agreeable to him, and the
business of the delegation was thus
settled inside of five minutes.
To say that the Thistle men we're
elated at the kindly reception of
their mission is putting it very mild
ly. They were simply charmed with
the Observation-Disclosures of the man,
so that his distinguished position in
the republic of letters became a
secondary influence over them. A
question from one as to Mr.. Steven
sons home at Samoa opened up
conversation of quarter of an hour,
in which the famous writer, without
the slightest effort, revealed the
charm and sparkle of his printed
pages. In fact, the delegates on
taking leave felt they had been privi-
legged with an informal talk, in ad-
vance of the one solicited Tor their
society, which they would never for
get. From Polynesia to Caledonia
the subjects changed in swift transi-
ton, eliciting most interesting facts
and charming fancies from Mr..
Stevenson's richly endowed memory
and facile intellect.
A special meeting of the Scottish
Thistle Club was held the same
evening to receive the report of the
committee. AS the time was Sc
short it was deemed impracticable
to take larger place than the club
rooms and invite the general public,
Members were allowed to bring
friends to the seating capacity, and
arrangements were made for put
Ting the hall in good shape. Before
the audience assembled, the hall
devoted to meeting and reading
room purposes ordinarily, was made
very attractive with added decora-
tions to the usual wall adornments
The chandeliers were decked with
wreaths of stephanotis and ferns
the one over the platform having
also some real Scottish thistles, "the
symbol dear" Tartan plaids were
hung on the walls, and there was a
handsome bouquet on the platform
table.
Mr.. Stevenson was warmly ap-
plauded as he entered and advanced
to the platform, by an audience that
crowded the hall.
Mr.. A. S. Cleghorn, honorary
, Chief, was invited to seat on the
platform.
Mr.. Thos. Lindsay, Chief, in few
we'll chosen words, introduced the
) speaker.
Mr.. Stevenson coming forward
smilingly addressed his auditors
Ladies and gentlemen and brithel
Scots" He trusted they had not
r come there under a misapprehen
/ sion. He was no public speaker
If there was one thing that frustrat
, ed truth and obfuscated the public
; mind it was the gift of public speak
= ing. His reason for consenting tt
give the talk, lay in that weakness
, or strength, that bound Scots heart
> together wherever they met eacl
other. He could not say why the.
| were proud to be Scotsmen, the fac
t remained that they were. 1t was no
t that their land was sunny like thes
0 tropical isles, and it's climate was no
e lovely. Scotland's history contain
: ed little that was not disgusting t
people of humane feelings. Tha
long brawl which was called Scot
tish history contained scarcely on
object that they could have any pa
s tience with. First there was a lon
! period during which the wild Celt
were cutting each others throat's an
j trying the thickness of each other
:, skulls. Coming down a little fun
ther we come to the time of ST
t William Wallace, the Guardian c
J. Scotland, a man far ahead of hi
time, who, if not particularly amiabl'
d had some humorous qualities. Fo
q lowing him came Robert the Bruce
d little humorous and certainly am
e able. He was something of rogu
g, Qaughter)-that kind of a polite;
rogue which it may not be indel
cate for me to mention, as | hav
come from Samoa where we are a
politicians Qaughter), and speakin
1t to you here who are all politician
.r Qaughter, and the most offensiv
N kind of a rogue is a politician
Cloud laughter.) Bruce figured i
t. a time when the nobility were grasI
IT ing at everything in sight, eac
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