The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-01

lean people for IL NobservanceS~ that he had
partaken OF perhaps several Thanksgiving
dinners; but that the senlal glow, Iee psau-
ty, OF the American CUSTOM its hofrSehke
favor and religious sense of gratitude, Rad
before never so deeply impressed him. lie
then. in low and earnest tone, amid the
deepest silence, went on TO speak of how
much reason he had 10 be thankful, and
how really full of gratitude his heart was
that the measure of his happiness, looking
back over the past, seemed 10 be full; that
every one who held a place in his family
circle was present: that his mother, from
whom he had often been separated, was
by his side, in what he characterized as a
glad hour that his wife gazed into his eyes
from the head of happy table, IN I'M
changed and unchanging affection; that the
stalwart and the good woman, who
We're more than son and daughter to him,
were on either side; and, that nothing
might be lacking, he Misunderstanding
TO the presence of Mrs. Strong's little son.
Austin--he would be even grateful for the
sound of the voice of child in rhe house.
After referring to the friends around him,
with fixed look OF intense earnestness on
his face which seemed flushed, vet set in
its expression turning his eyes upward he
said with a peculiar deliberations and inn
be grateful for. can. in gratitude meet
the end when it comes.
In the music and songs, in the melody
Old Kentucky Home, John Browns
Body" -Mollie, ana and the Baby" and
alternated. and in which he at times
joined, after the coffee the brandy and the
cigarettes. the evening stole into the mid
night and the serious speech was half
forgotten until its prophetic character was
recalled by his untimely death in almost
exactly ninety hours afterwards. This was
last Thursday evening Not one week has
elapsed, and yet when / write these lines
his house is q house of mourning, and the
poor. thin and wasted form of the Lord of
Vailima. as used to pleasantly call
him, is in his grave on the topnlost point
the light of the still young moon. the
mountain top plunged in the misty cloud
DIED IN HARNESS
Mr. Stevenson was a treless worker and
a methodical one Work was strengthen
ing tonic to him. He believed that rust,
as he told me, followed Immediately IN in
activity. 1t his invariable custom to
devote the entire forenoon to continuous
work; in the afternoon he was ct home to
all Corners. and all welcome. His
only variation from this rule. which. of
course, did not include Sunday was to oc-
casionaily spend Saturday afternoon In
Apia, attending to business and other mat
eers. On the day of his death he
continued at his table until O'Clock in the
afternoon, and he then came down and was
with the family about the place and on the
vera1daS until dinner time. 1t was after
O'Clock; he had been feeling unusually
pressed a wish for a salad at dinner. Mrs.
Stevenson prepared it and it was passed TO
For rarity no one was present save mem
bers of the family He was pouring from
stood erect in his place, placed his hand on
his forehead and SAID, Il don't know what's
inc b mater aee eans beh men sank aown
his bed and without pain, without further
consciousness or additional word, at ten
minutes past o'clock. despite the efforts
of the two physicians who reached Vailima
in less than an hour after he was stricken
the busy brain was q. rest and the wizard
of the South seas had pas sed away The
ebb tide had drifted him cut forever. The
cause of death was apoplexy, the lesion of
blood CpGSal n 4 ia nf..-
In this ardent climate funerals are but lit
tie delayed; they cannot be. Mr.. Stevenson
terday, Tuesday, the 4th inst. the funeral
being of the simplest character and strictly
Specially invited. Tae distress Of the So
means was deep, earnest, sincere. They
appreciated their loss, and we'll they might
The one champion of their righ's, for rights
sake. the one unselhsh friend who could
hold the ear of the world in their cause had
passed away. God help them. They brought
their fine mats, of such priceless value in
their estimation, in which to wrap the body
they offered their willing hands for any
service. The Professionals among them gath
cred about the slender little body and
prayed in groups; then the Catholics in
soft and musical language he loved so well.
THE FUNERAL ON THE HILL
The hour for the funeral was fixed for /
o'clock. Heavy rains had drenched the
mountain and highlands during the morn
ing 1t was a. dull and heavy day Not a
breath stirred. On the very topmost point
of the rree-covered mountain seven han
dred feet above the level where the house
stands, place of his own selection a party
of natives made the grave-difficult work
in this land of lava stones During all tne
forenoon great force OF Samoans at the
same time. with ringing axes and bush
knives. cleared a roadway up the Cat tines
almost alna perpe tn moun5an side In
all the mass of tropic underground had tor
be cleared away. All was done in good
primitive style, covered with black velvet,
with silver trimmings. At 1890. before the
arrival of those invited the coffin. like that
OF half-groWn boy, was swung on to two
stout scantlings dashed together and about
sixty natives; bare footed and bare legged,
and well used to the bush and the mountain,
bore ii, and by literally lifting and passing
II on. rather than carrying ii, brought Ii Is
the mountain top and set It upon and across
the outer box above the yawning grave the
English ensign draped about it. At
O'Clock the few persons invited to be present
began the toilsOme ascent over the newly
cleared stumps and stubble, up the we- and
slippery mountain side One gentleman gave
plshed at last by literally climbing by
the vines and saElings. with frequent rests
Mrs; strong. Mrs stevenson's daughter
was The only woman present at the inter-
ment. Aided by two stalwart Saimoans, she
made the ascent, and | am even now at
loss to understand how even with this a.i
she accomplished the undertaking.; much
less am l able to conceive how these chill
dren of the bush ever bore the coffin to its
muddy and exhausted, after a breathing
spell, the services held.
Rev. William Il. Clark, of the London
Mission, read the funeral services of the
Church of England The Rev. Mr. Newell
of the same mission. then delivered the
funeral sermon, in Samoan The coffin was
lowered into the outer case at the bottom
of the grave upon which the cover was
then placed, the English ensign was then
thrown about and over it; the grave was
half filed with. flowers, brought by ma
tives and sent by white friends the wet
earth more than half stone. ratified in and
united with the tears to hide the flowers
that covered the form of Robert Louis
Stevenson from mortal eyes forever Be
sides Mr., Clarke and Mr.. Newell, already
mentioned, those present at the internent
On the mountain top We're Mrs Isabel
Strong. Lloyd Osboufne. Master Austin
Strong, Al MacKay, of Sydney; b. NJ
Haggard. Land Commissioners Norfolk.
England T.. w. Curl Natives Advocate
Apia: Thomas Mabin. surveyor to the Land
Commission: DR. Funk Lieutenant g,
auckland. r. n. and DR.. Anderson. r. NJ.
President. Schmidt Apia. James H. Multi
gan. United States consu-generaI; Mr.
Ahrns Jack auckland Tommy Hadden of
Tho Wreckers'); Mr.. u. Reid and Mr.
Leonard. of Apia.