New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-18

sought to draw him out of his self-indugent re-
urement by giving him parts in private theatri-
Gals; but stevenson ovaded social obligations with
hardly less care than Greek. To some of his stu
dent friends his literary talent must have been
known. for he was chosen to pull the laboring oar
in college magazine published by the Specu-
lative Society.
In spite of the fact tina, the climate Of Edin-
burgh was a continual tax upon his strength he
seems never to have lost his affection for the
countryside where he practised what he called
IAN extensive and highly rational system of
'ruantry.' \ private letter of his Is quoted in
which he writes: do you know that the dearest
burn to me in the world is that which drums and
pours in cunning wimples in that glen OF yours
behind Glencorse old kirk? O man. to listen
10 ye is like a cast-back into my youth, And 10
think that YOU step t. your front door and
look out on Rull!on Green and Swanston. Glen
corse and Carnethy-and yet never think 1t
worth your while" But the danger TO his health
compelled him at last to leave his native city.
Travels in the United States resulted in sketches
of California. The interest of those alert to a
new sensation in literature appears to have
been awakened by the charming narrative.
Travels with Donkey in the Cevennes" 1t was
felt that master OF style had risen. and vet the
work was so sketchy that II seemed doubtful if
he was capable of sustained effort This question
has really never been solved The habits Of boy
hood seem to have chung t. the man. His work
depends upon his moods. and must necessarily be
marked by brevty and sometimes by lack Of
unity. The "Travels in the Cevennes" were pub
lished in 1879. In the previous year had appeared
the INLAND Voyage" record of n journey made
by the author and Sir Walter simpson in canoes
from Antwerp through Dutch canals and back
by way of the River AiSe. In 1887 he sailed for
New-York in an emigrant ship and was taken
by his fellow-passengers to be a mason There
was one however a Welsh blacksmith who
seems TO have penetrated this make-bolieVe. The
two became somewhat intimate and one day ste
vensOn asked if he behaved as gentleman
should under the circumstances. The Wclshman
hesitated and then remarked that on the whole
he did pretty well. The result was magazine
essay on Gentlemen" In san Francisco Ste
vensOns health gave way ana he was nursed
back to life by Mrs. Osborne. who aittrWard De
came his wife The acquaintance of the two had
begun in Paris some time before. There are
traces in The Wreckers' of the Renaissance
Of artist life in the French capita! which doubt
less date from the period Of that first acdudlnt-
ance. Mrs. Stevenson has since assisted her nus
band in the novel entitled The Dynamter, and
her son Lloyd Osborne was associated with him
in THE Wrong Box and THE Wrecker'' al
ready mentioned.
As soon as he was able he returned to the old
country and settled for time at Bournemouth
in a house to which he gave the name of Sherry
wore. after one Of the lighthouses hullt ny MS
ia her But in 1857. still in search OF health. he
returned to America. and dwelt for time In a
cottage on the Saranac River In the Adlr"h-
dacks Finally he turned 10 the Pacinc visited
many of the PolVnesian islands. and took up ms
residence on the Island of Upou one of the
Samoan group. His visit 10 Molokai. the nome
of lepers revealed the light and graceful or
startling novelist in new character that oi q
vigorous pampheteer. His paper in praise Of
Father Damien awakened attention Throughout
the civilized world.
In following his travels the successive steps
~ his literary advancement must not be forgot
ten The public which had been attracted y!
his books Of travel. completely taken WIN
the story Of Treasure Island YET ,he p' ,i
seems to have been viewed with misgiNlhg 10y
some readers whose opinion Stevenson valued
for he remarked in the preface to subs"quchi
novel The Black Arrow lhose VINO i'"u
Volumes and those who read story papers belong
TO different worlds. The verdict on treasure
Island was reversed In the other court, W ~,
der Will IL be the same with It's successor? TINS
nreface was addressed 10 Mrs. stevenson AZ
the "critic on the hearth. and her Veru'c.
against The Black Arrow seems 10 nave pe''
ustained by the public. The book mas ho"eNci. .
one speci0c point OF interest. The manuscript
was written or. at all events. dated In Ainerica;
| Indeed one may trace Stevenson eood par ~ %
| the way around the world by the date hheS '"
| his rather eccentric prefaces. Omittlhs ms
| other numerous works in hcuon. me "ir p',N
that fixed his fame was. OF course ne - :, ane
| Adventures Of DR.. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. IL Wa
extraordinary that so antique motive c"uIu p'
| treated with such originality. Yet there was
one outworn detail which will in the lohB run
make the story irksome because IL destroys 'i''
semblance Of truth. transforming Hrus n's
| heen part Of the pharmacopea OF supcrstltiol
since the earliest times. 1t was TOO cheap Il
device for a man Of Stevensons imagination
added IN this was the fact that his tale haa Il
etrenuous moral element. and II must be seen
| maj the contrivance for uniting the extremes "i
,,irtue and vice in one person was. to say tle
| least defective The story dramauzcd Has
however proved effective on the stage
| Stevenson's house in Samoa was built IN Eiis
| ,and and transferred in sections to UpoIu IL IL
English in all it's appointments. ana III the mus.
| nT . Wild country seemed an almost rnfacui"uS
| ohiect Rut the author himself. In his "A root
| D, 70 History. Eight Years Of Trouble In S'-
moa published in 1892 expressed great adinira !.
| ,ior for the native houses. He showed hihs'h
| a. ,bat hook n penetrating student OF barbarian
| nharacter and also capable of adequate historic
| nnrsnective The method by which he SHOWS II
inv group Of islands in the PACING ocean Az w
centre Of a far-reaching international Iuarrci
| ,II certainly linger long in the minds OF 'hoSe
| Who road this lively piece Of work
MR. STEVENSON IN SAMOA.