The morning call., 1894-12-17

genius for not slndying and for playing
lrnant; bnt he was no idier. for he lived
with Books"
After he left the university his father
meant to make a civil engineer of him. To
this end young Stevenson surveyed the
building of lighthouses, worked in a car
penter's shop and brass foundry, and
hung musiHgiy about woodyards. But il
became evident at last that he was really
learning nothing of engineering and never
would learn it; and then his father took
walk with him one night and cross-ques-
toned him until the truth came out that he
cared for nothing but literature.
His father declared that literature was
no profession. bet he might. if he chose,
be called to the bar. Accordingly al q he
began the study of law, but made little
more beadway with that than with engl-
| neering. Two years later on he made the
acquaintance of Sidney Colvin-to whom
'"rrayels with Donkey in the Cevennss"
is dedicated-aud Colvin, himself q sue
cessful author. took up young Stevenson
and introduced his work to the public.
Mr.. Stevenson's first published paper
! appeared in the "Portfolio," when be was
% years old, under the monogram of l.. S.
Stoueyen. 1t was called Roads" His
second. written that same winter at Men,
tone. whittier he lad been sent for his
health, was entitled Ordered South" 4"
Stevenson says of this aforementioned
paper: "It took me nearly three months to
write it Nobody ever had such pains to
learn trade as had but slogged at it,
day iu, day out, and l frankly believe
thanks TO my dire industry-I have done
more with smaller gifts than almost any
man of letters in the world"
'tWill o. the Mtl'' was his first published
story, and that was written in France.
The next was "a Lodging for the Night"
written at the same time with the delight
full "Study on Villon." afterward repub-
lished in Familiar Studies," "Tbe New
Arabian Nights" was begun at the Burford
Bridge Inn. where MIR. Stevenson had gone
In order TO be near George Meredith. "The
Arabian Nights" stories were continued
In London, Edinburgh, Paris. Bsrbazon,
about FIVE mon tbs.
Fancy successively settling down to
write In each Of these five places. all
within less than half year. That same
year he had brought out his first volume,
"An Inland Voyage. "N'"rhe Pavilion on
the Links" was begun in London and
finished by its wandering author in Mon.
terey, Cal. Treasure Island" was begun
at Braemar, in the Scotch Highlands. and
finished at Dawes, in Switzerland-ibe
whole accomplished iD two sbursts" of
fifteen days each-Mr. Stevenson's quick
est piece of work. 1t is a singular fact
that he always wrote story of any length
thus-in two breaks.
kidnapped" was all written at Bourne
mouth inside OF q year-in about five
months, indeed, of actual writing; and
one of these months was entirely devoted
to the last chapters, which had to be
ground out almost word by word, as the
author was so utterly irostrated by over
work that interest and inspiration seemed
both TO have failed him.
From what a variety of places hail the
Sleyenso nian treasures. "DI. Jekyll and
Mr. HYDE" "Ollaa" and "Markheim"
were all written at Bournemouth; and
The Dynamiter," begun at Hyeres. was
finished at BourDsmouth. "Thrawn
Jane" was written at Kinniard, near Pit
ochrie, "The Merry Men," begun at Pit
lochre. was finished at Davos. The
Memoir of Fle> ming Jenkin" is yet an
other offspring of Bournemouth. "The
Silverado Sqnatiers" halls from Hyeres.
| Travels with q Donkey" was written
partly in Edinburgh and partly in Dieppe.
At the time of his death Mr.. Stevenson
had half completed the writing of new