The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-30

The purpose of the Query Column is to furnish
information that is OF general interest
Questions, the answer to which will amount to
an advertisement of any individual, firm or Thing,
VIII not he answered through this column.
Questions. an answer TO which would be an
opinion of the standing, commercial social, OF
any individual or firm, VIII not be noticed.
Questions in arithmetic problems in algebra
and In geometry and catch questions will not be
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The Query Column will not furnish material "to
enable the writer TO answer party on the other
side OF debate in our institution of learning"
Every question TO which an answer can be OBJ
tanned will be answered as soon practicable.
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The name and address of the person asking a
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the editor OF this column may desire to COM
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All questions should be plainly set forth so that
there can be no misunderstanding as to the intent
of the writer
THE OSBORNE DIvoRCE-A. c., City. The
widow of the late Robert Louis Stevenson OBJ.
tanned her divorce from her first husband on
the ground of deserLlon and adultery; there
was no defense. There was formal but not
any special claim for allmony and no decree
was made as to That. Mrs. Osborne displayed
considerable talent as writer and made ONE
money by dlsposing OF The products OF her pen
Inc query Column has been unable to learn
tDat she was possessed OF any considerable sum
OF money In her own right. A San Francisco
writer on one occasion gave the following ac-
count OF Mrs. Osborne's marriage TO Steven
son.
Stevenson first came here to get married. His
bride he had met In France when she was the
wife of a Californian. When Stevenson was
making that trip that bore fruit in his deIphtfuI
book. AN Inland Voyage" he met In Paris Mrs
Samuel Osborne OF San Francisco. She came of
Dutch parentage, her maiden name being Van de
Grit. but she had married young Sam osborne,
who was private secretary TO Senator Stanford
ana somewhat OF protege OF the railroad mil
vivid coloring and many of the tastes oil a
gypsy. Her husband had gone with her on
vacation. but he had been recalled on
business and she was then staying with some
friends in the French capital. She and Stevenson
zen 10 love at nrst sight Their literary and per
author spent much time in her company He
pro- essed to draw Inspiration from her so riesy
ana when she left for home it was understood
that she was to get divorce from her husband
oy means OF the easy processes of the California
courts and when this was accomplished tn at
stevenson would come out to the Golden State
ana make her his wife. Every thing was carried
out according 30 this programmed When sam Os-
! borne was told of the desire of his wife he m adj q
no objection, but, like a model American hus-
hand, gave his wife all the aid in his mower The
result was that she secured her freedom. The
t1dings were sent to the distant lover and he
prepared to come out to the West after his in
amoraCa original In everything, he determine ed to
take this trip In novel fashion So be engaged pas
sage In the steerage of OF the great ocean lin
with the design OF writing up his experiences
He secured plenty of material, for the voyage
was rough, and he had sorry time among tn g
This experience, however. did not cure him. as
| ne TOOK passage in an enigrant and crossed
| the plains IN that fashion This worse than
the steerage trip, as the people were pack ed
Closer and the Journey. owing TO the many delay
and slow time, consumed two.weeks.
When stevenson reached San Francisco he was
sorry OBJECT He had hacking cough sDat
blood, and had contracted a Troublesome SKIN
disease from herdng with .unclean emigrants
Foui air and poor food had reduced his strengt tn
and ne was semtinvalid. He was received
however, with open arms. AS he was
| CleaneQ up ana trlfe frOm Ia
iatigues OF long journey, the wedding wa
that sam osborne WAS present and gave
away the bride, bis ex-wIfe, with a hsartiness OF
manner that would have done credit TO tho most
dlsinterosted person. while he capped the climax
| OF his performances by introducing TO tho bride
ana groom a handsome and stylishly dressed
young woman as his afianced wife. The marriage
ieast WAS very gay. and soon after IL was over
stevenson went with bfs bride TO a deserted min
ing camp on Howell Mountain in Napa County
70 recuperate his health. There he wrote the
DOCK which he called "The Silvcrado Sauatters'
stevenson lived for several months at the desert
ed mining camp OF Silverado breathing In health
Win .he Dalsam OF the pine and the redwood. He
was then financially reduced and he had no rep
utatlon In this country His book on his Caiifor-
ma experiences went a-begging and finally the
century editors published II In several Install
/ ments.
| Another writer recently wrote:
| osbourne, with his family, went to San Fran
cisco. ana he SO prospereo az court reporter in