New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
ROBERT LOUIS STEPHENSON.
A TRIBUTE FROM JUSTIN HUNTLY
MCCARTHY.
THE LOSS OF THE EssAYIsr GREATER THAN THE
Loss OF THE NOVELIST


Loss OF THE NOVELIST
T. the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: 1t is hard to find words for the SORROW
which felt on tho morning when learned that
Robert Louis Stevenson dead Year upon
year his name had been inexpressiby dear 10
me: for year upon year had rejoiced in thu
strength and beauty ~ h's prose in the strength
and beauty OF his attitude TO life. for year upon
year had cherished the hope that might one
day. look upon his face. not indeed. to utter
any Of the thanks or offer any II the praise that
at all times impcrtincnce from the dis
c!plc to the living master but solely that
might be able t. say. as Thackeray said Of
Goethe. "tantum vdi"
And now all is In the dust. and grave upon
a mountain a. the other end If the world is the
shrine u tho genius who. more even than Scott.
made Scotland. for mo. the stranger. a kingdom
Of romance. The singer" said German poet
81 the dead Platen. SAUNDERS In the South. the
North is ringing with his praise Al moment
when the North IL ringing with the praise 81
Louis Stevenson. Is ringing with the regrets u
the men who knew him. who loved him. who
were loved by MIN Il might well seem as II one
who did not know him must be- stirred hy n
spirit not 10 be denied. Il h. darcs - add hs
words u ameniaton - all the tributes and 10
all the tears Indeed II seems 70 me that there
is but ono man In the world with the right and
the power - say what should be- said ~ Steven
son. that only the poet to whom "Nireinlbus
Pucrisque" Is inscribed the poet whose genius
blended with that Of stevenson IN the magic u
Beau Austin. that only william Ernest Henley
has the night and the power TO say all that
should be- said u the dead man whose loss has
left young England leaderlcss But where many
have said their say AID whore many will say
their say about Robert Louis Stevenson. feel
myself spurrcd by spirit that Will not be- de-
MED 10 say one thing that as believe. should
be said and that so far as have heard and as
far as have read. tas not yet been said
All the writer's whose writings / have 90 far
seen have. in signing for the loss Of Stevenson
sighed for the loss 81 great novelist That
is 10 my mind but trne In the loss. Steven
son was a novelist, indeed. "A wizard OF romance
Stevenson was poet. and a poet who has |
touched as no other poet has eyer touched the |
core Of chdhoods scnsibility But FOR me the |
star Of his genius shines In another heaven ana /
lights to another haven. In all honesty think |
that StcvcnsDns stories. that Stcvenson's verses. /
are the least part II his gifts. All the words /
have seen printed since his death agree I'm be |
waiing the novelist: some few add "A regret for |
the writer of lovely rhymes. But the real |
stevenson, the true Stevenson. the stevenson /
WHO'S
English literature IL the Stevenson Of the eN- /
quisitc the Incompatible essays. the author OF /
"Nirginibus Pucrisque." OF Memories and Por- .
traits' and OF Across the Plains" ! would. for :
my own part. rather l)sc every character that F
Stevenson created from Attwater yesterday To .
John Silver the day before yesterday. and every .
rhyme Of all the rhymes that make "A Childs
Garden OF Verses" delight. than lose thos" .
three shcaves OF essays with all their treasure
Of humOr and tenderness. Of courage and Wit.
with all the genius Of their inspiration. with all
h. nor ~ he
Not since Lamb. the frolic and the gentle.
left his lonely hearth has English literature been
pressed In 50 rare and choice a form There are
pages upon pages If Stevenson's essays which
must be recognized as triumphs of English prose.
rs proofs ~ the heXbility. the fine precision the
felicity. the admirable aptncss and informing
beauty. that the English speech can wear under
he influence Of master. ! can imagine no bet
ter example Of what our English language Is
'apablc than certain of Stevenson's essays. Therc
IS no preciousncss in their beauty. air of arti-
ice In their chDiceness and pertinence He was
N no sense "A seeker after "insperata 81 inopnata
rcrba," there no decadence In the richness
# his fancy. there was no sign Of labor In the
simplicity Of the speech In which he gave his
ancy tongue. His prose has the rare quality Of
;eeming inevitable, the words he uses seem al
WAYS the right words. the only acceptable words
or the place. for the phrase. for the description
II a picture for the reveal ton OF an emotion. for
he adornment of an Image. And It is this rare
luality which has already given TO his prose
.lassc value and a classic charm
Rut there Is another standard by which Steven
;on's essays must be judged and applauded
nan might very well form for himself creed OF
courage. Of composure. Of serene acceptance OF
10 from their pages Admirable as works OF art.
hev are no less admirable as homilies brave
,nIrlt breathes through all OF them. warm en-.
husasm animatcs them: there Is generosity OF
.,nar in their appreciation Of the world. a tonic
ortitude IN their recognition Of the Inevitable
,hich makes them a possession forever There
ould be no better medicine for the aenena oi n
.an;,c age than their gallant bearing. their al
v.vs noble melancholy, their tenderness ana
ortitude and truth. am at a loss which 10 iove
nost. the excellence Of their teaching or lhe ~.
'iU 1, 1' -, their ART But | am quite sure that
hnr are Steyenson's finest work. the crown OF
'is genius. the monument OF his NE
JUSTIN HUNTLf MCARlhi'
New-York. Dec. 2s. 1894