Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
4. LOUIS STEVENSON.
One Of His American Publishers Tells Of
the Authors Characteristics.
ALWAYS BRAVE AND HOPEFUL
interchangeable rs q Worker and Most
Charming as a Com
panion.
New York IIerald.J

N%NtW AOth Ai'toio1
More ridiculous stories have been print
ed OF the late Robert, Louis Stevenson
than OF any writer OF recent popularity.
unless IT be Rudyard Kipling. He has
been described as an extraordinary and
abnormal smoker of cigarettes, as pos
sessing the indolent and querulous dispo-
sition of an invalid.
MIR. s. s. Mcclure had business rela-
tions with Stevenson for many years. he
being the first to introduce the novelists
writings to the American newspaper
press. or stevenson's personal charac-
teristics Mr.. Mcclure told me this:
First OF all. Stevenson was not an ex-
cessive smoker of cigarettes. That story
was printed first six or eight years ago,
and 1t has been going the rounds Of the
press ever since. The story was so alb
surd that the Stevensons cut the para
graphs out and pasted them In their
scrap-books as samples of American hui
NOR. In one of these items, which APP
peared frequently. II was asserted that
the novelist sometimes smoked as many
as 200 cigarettes a day. This would mean
cigarette every five minutes for con-
tinuous stretch OF eighteen hours. AS
matter of fact Stevenson did not smoke
immoderately. very frequently lighting
cigarette, taking a few puffs at II, and
then throwing II away.
Stevenson usually wrote propped up
against bank OF pillows in bed, with
big Mexican shawl about his neck. In
this fashion and with pad upon his
knee, he would work rapidly for hours.
He was exceedingly fastdious in his
workmanship and never let a novel go
out of his hands until 1t had received
the last finishing touches and come up
to the measure of the noyelist's approval
"He did all his writing himself.
COULD NOT KEEP PACE WITH HIS
IDEAS.
Stevenson was not only prolific writer,
but he could never keep pace with his own
ideas. He always had a number of lite
rary projects in hand. working now on
one and now on another, as his fancy
directed. His new novel of ST. Ives. for
example. on which he was supposed to
be at work at the time OF his death, he
has had in incubation for the past ten
years. TO my knowledge. / have the plot
of II here in my desk, having purchased
the story some time ago.
Stevenson had all that deep fascination
W
is truly approachable. There was about
him not trace of affectation. He was
easy and hearty in his greetings. and the
strong fund of humor OF which he was
possessed made him a most delightful
companion. No one ever came to know
him who did not come to love him. lie
made every one his friend.
POPULAR AMONG WRITER'S.
This affection was very strong among
members Of his own craft. j recall being
in London after making visit upon the
Stevensons and the eager manner with
which every detail of my visit was sought
after by well-known literary men in Lon
don. Henry James. for example. Is GER
tainy among the least impulsive and
demonstrative OF men, but ! remember
| sitting with him for nearly two hours
| telling him, at his eager request. every
| circumstance and incident of my visit.
1.-THE home life Of the family was simply
| ideal. recall wildly a visit made them
during the year they spent at Saranac
| Lake. There was a certain atmosphere
about their home which one could not re-
sist The best way I can describe IL
would be its utter lack of wordliness. MIS-
| Stevenson, a most charming and interest
| ing woman herself. simply devoted her
| life to the care Of her husband Her sole
| thought seemed 10 be how 10 make him
| comfortable keep him in good spirits,
and to further his literary work. Mrs.
| Stevenson's son, Lloyd Osborne, win
whom Stevenson elaborated in THE Ebf
| Tide" was a fine young fellow, and the
| three of them, with Mr.. stevenson
| mother. made a most delightful circle.
"Te was a great Garner of money. he
| probably received larger returns from his
| a lacf than mas
| any other literary man. l remember tha'
| for one Of the first stories which l pur'
! chased of him, David Balfour,' paic
| IS 600. | should say that Stevenson's earn
| ings approached $4,000. estimating o.
| course. the present value OF his copy
| rights. All this is practically the work o.
| the last six or seven years.
| "Sevenson's leap into fame was really
| very sudden. He was more than 30 wher
| he published his first book, but | remem
Der that as much as six years ago. whei
| purchased David Balfour,' he was &C
| counted and generally recognized as tn
| greatest of living novelists, although q
| that time he had not earned a great dea
| from the sale Of his books. / recall tina
| after his stay at Saranac Lake he Wlshe'
| ardently to take an ocean yacht-cruise
| He felt that he was better and could
| work to more advantage when he was
sea or where he could have the fun bene
| fit OF the ocean breezes. He was. yo'
| know. the son OF a noted Scotch bridge
| builder and he inherited the canny Scotc
| instincts of his father. He was anythini
| rather than, as he has sometimes peel
| represented. inclined to be querulous
irritable. He was the most lovabie ma
whom ever knew.
HE did not care particularly FOR IN
absurd things which were written apou
him. His keen sense OF humor stoo
him In good stead there. Over and owe
again have / received letters from hin
saving. You will probably have dis
matches by this same steamer which pear
INV note that l am very low. ana WI
probably be dead before another ma
arrives. may tell you that l am j
excellent health 0oI mel. and l mea
10 live long while or again he woui
write. You will probably learn that
am on my way to the united states
Az n matter of fact, / am just taxing
little trip to Honolulu or somewhere.
.Sure enough regularly with hi3 letter
would come reports of his dangerous III
ness. or of his departure Tor the Uh''s
states. OF similar absurdities.
'In the death OF Stevenson, the iiterar
world. / believe, suffers keener los
than II could have In the death or an
man now living. This not merely fror
consideration of the high hterar
ouality of his work. but from the peeuiia
sense of loss which will come TO thou
sands who have learned TO feel that III
&c brighter and better from the books =
| hos written. while among those wh
lived tbe Measure OF his acquaintance