The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-18

mining camp on Howell Mountain. about fifty
miles north OF San Francisco, where he wrote
the " Silyerado squatters."
Soon after that stevenson, with his wife and
her daughter. made a long voyage among the
south Pacific Islands when he fret visited Apia,
he made his final home. He returned to san
Francisco in 1880. and found that the civilized
mS sg r from whlsh he shs bad Sn been 30 Long ss.sns
Island" a genius, and that the publishers OF
England and America, were, anxious 70 bid for
Of work, although ali the time suffering greatly
dsoEs, and for a time derived great benefit from
the invigorating air Of that region. but he wore
termined 10 return again to his beloved south
Pacific Islands and make there a home for the
reet Of his days. He went 70 Samoa with his
and his hs' s, sseSSsO ffHIoyd OSBORNE. C %RSS S sssO %p.
peared apparently for the purposes Of copyright
done in his island home.
Stevenson purchased an estate Of 400 acres a
he built a cottage after the native style Of srchi.
lecture. but which vas finished and furnished
within in rich and luxurious style, although
daughter, Mrs. Strong, was educated in Paris as
he sent TO this country and to England with his
work. He became physically stronger than he
had been at any time since he first left Edln-
bureh, and produced an enormou amount Of
" copy" during the years when he was popularity
reported 10 be living an idle and half-wtld life.
In the December number OF the FOrtnightlv
RerisD Mr.. stephen Gwynn has a critical story
of Mr.. stevenson's work In which he says:
The collected edition Of Mr.. Stevenson's
writings which is In process of publication In
several luxurious volumes make what one may
call the authors formal diploma of renown; so
far as contemporary opinion can affirm he be-
comes q classic. Mr.. Stevenson belongs TO that
class of writers who, with Horace at their head,
have possessed, over and above their other gifts,
the peculiar power of enlisting our affections.
: Treasure Island. II one. considers IL fairly,
was the h~igh-wate mark of technical perfection
among rcmanceso of this century. Scott never
cared, as he frankly admits, to take much pains
either with hts style or his story. writing very
rapidly and inventing as he went along. Thack-
cray, Mr.. Stevenson's one superior in hnish and
felicity of manner, never troubled much about
construction. Accordingly, when 1t was re-
membered hat the author of this Dramatically
simple narrative had shown. In essay and minor
stories, c~ousummate mastery OF q slngularly
style, II seems hat a man who thus from
might attain TO any Imaginable height. But, as
Mr.. Stevenson's work developed itself, 1t dis
played an ideal of art which has never been
popular in this country. The characters
tic English opinion makes art a matter
OF inspiration: and the public rather
resents 1t when Mr.. Stevenson comes
and tells them that an nrt must be
learned like any other trade. and even exposes his
own procedure. In that very interesting essay,
learned to write by incessant practice, above all
by sedulous mlmicry OF great models. -
Mr.. Stevenson has gone about like the artist in
search of picturesque grouping: interested in his
fellow men. but standing q little way Off to see
them better: gregarious enough, but only with