The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-28
ATALK OF AULD SCOTIA
BY NOVELIST ROBERT L.
STEVENSON.
An Interesting Event at the Rooms Of
the Scottish Thistle Club
Last Evening.

OF three members OF the OCOttlSi
Thistle Club waited on Robert Lou
Stevenson, the famous novelist, anC
invited him to deliver an address unde
the auspices of the club On the
score of poor health and positive in
ability to make his voice heard in q
large hall, Mr.. Stevenson was forced tc
decline, but offered to to meet the
members of the club and their friends
in their own quarters and give them an
informal talk. 1t is needless to say
that the committee were delighted al
Mr.. Stevenson's courtesy, and word
was quietly passed among the members
yesterday. As the seating capacity Of
the room is limited to fifty, admission
was by ticket. Long before the novel
b lists appearance every seat was occu.
pied. Representatives of the AdVer-
tiSer, Bulletin and STAR were present
through the courtesy of the society.
Mr.. Stevenson arrived about 8:I5 and
was at once escorted to the platform by
Chieftain A. B. Lindsay, who invited
A. S. Cleghorn to take seat on his
right. In few well-chosen words Mr.
Lindsay introduced the speaker to his
audience. AS he appeared last Mi ht,
Mr.. Stevenson was dressed in a coat
and pants of brown velvet corduroy,
flannel shirt and red silk sash. He is
tall and attenuated, has a slight droop
in the right eye and wears his hair long
and somewhat unkept. He has much
the appearance of diffident student,
but when one glances at his extremely
high forehead, large and intelligent
eyes, he knows that he is in the pres.
ence of man of superior intellect.
The fifty or more persons who had the
pleasure of meeting and hearing Mr..
Stevenson talk last night will not be
apt to forget him nor what be said for
many long year.
Commencing, Mr.. Stevenson put his
audience on the qni vive by remarking
that he was not public speaker and
did not want to be. He had made
up his mind, he said, after several years
of semi-public life, that nothing per-
verted the public mind more than a
p. fessional public speaker, but that he
could not refuse to talk to his brother
Scots, both here and elsewhere when
ever he was asked. He did not wish
TO be classed as public speaker by
any means. He then commenced on
his subject, which was Scotland" and
said:
eve are all proud to be Scotsmen,
but really don't know why we should
be. Our country is not so beautiful
nor our climate SO fascinating that one
should care for it as we do, but we love
it, all of US, with an undying love. Our
history has been series of internal
and external strife. Ever since Scot
land has been a country we have been
at war among ourselves when not war
ring with others Our history shows
nothing but strife and rascality. In
fact, our public men have been rogues
from time immemorial." The lecturer
then proceeded to trace the history of
Scotland on that theory, mentioning
the names of many prominent per-
sonages of different earas, telling many
amusing anecdotes and showing in a
humorous and nimitable style that
convulsed his audience with laughter
the correctness of his proposition.
Continuing he said: "Mary, Queen of
Scots, was one of the most prominent
characters in our history. l have
always had foible for Mary. although
she was somewhat of rogue like all
the rest. She was such good fellow,
although she did blow up her husband
to get him out of the way. To John
Knox we owe all that we are now. He
has a place in the heart of all loyal
Scots, and his memory will be kept
green long after we cease to exist"
After according praise to the High
landers and their loyalty to Prince
Charlie and paying deserved tribute
to Sir Walter Scott, not only for his
literary attainments but the remarkable
purity and innocence of the man as
displayed in his home life, and scoring
the politicians Of Scotland, Samoa and
Hawaii as set of ne'er do wells,
although he included the total popula
ton of all countries under the head oil
politicians the lecturer took his seal
amid rounds of applause, having spoken
just twenty-five minutes.
Daniel Logan, of the Bulletin, then
addressed the chair, and stated that al
though he was not a Scotchman, he
was of Scotch descent. He was sure
that in moving vote of thanks to the
distinguished gentleman who had giver
the audience so much pleasure ht
reflected the sentiments of his hearer:
in saying that the occasion was ont
which would never be forgotten by
those present and that he esteemed i
an honor and source OF much con
graduation to have heard so distinguish
ed gentleman as Mr. Stevenson.
Mr.. Logan's remarks were loudly
applauded and the vote was then giver
heartily and unanimously.
After few minutes spent in intro