The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-04-11

JOSEPH AUSTlH STRONG, The TWELVE
YEAR-OLD BOY WHO IS HEIR TO ONE
HALF OF ROBERT LOUIS sTEvENsoN's
ESTATE.
(Reproduced from the s. F. Examiner.)
left will bequeathing him one half
of his entire estate.
The boys name is Joseph Austin
Strong, and for several years he was
the inseparable companion of the
novelist in all his cruises and wander
ings.
The father of the boy is Joseph D.
Strong, well known in Oakland and
San Francisco as an artist and news
paper caricaturist. Mr.. Strong mar
ried the daughter of Stevenson's wife
and settled in the Hawaiian Islands.
It was while on a visit to them that
Stevenson became acquainted with
the little boy. A mutual attachment
sprang up between the two that last
the novelists death.
gu T %msi' two were constantly in each
otharss cotnnany. Together they ram
HE'D among the hills and on the sea-
shore, and the feeling that Stevenson
felt Cor the youth developed into that
of a fond and solicitous father.
The author, enchanted with the
dreamy life of the islands, and anX-
ious to be near the youth, resolved to
settle permanently in the Pacific ISL
ands, and subsequently purchased
pIantatiOn at Samoa, where he in
Stalled Mr.. Strong and his family.
1t was while here that the novelist
INDUCED in his celebrated cruises in
his yacht over the Pacific Ocean. In
all these watery wandeTings Steven
son was accompanied by young
Strong. Australia, Hawaii and the
Gilbert Islands were visited at inter-
walls by the chums.
On his arrival at Samoa, Stevenson
purchased an immense tract of unim-
proved land and developed it into
high state of cultivation. It is to half
of this plantation that young Joseph
Austin Strong has fallen heir. AT
present he is living on the place in
consolable over the death of his old
companion.
About a year ago Stevenson sent
the young lad to Oakland for the pur-
pose of having him educated in the
schools of that city.
The separation proved too much for
the affectionate nature of the novelist,
and he longed for the lads return to
Samoa. A few months before his
ueACu he SSnO luz ILL.,
During Stevenson's fatal sickness
the boy was constantly at his bedside,
and was present at his death. 1t was
Stevenson's intention to educate him
as an artist. He had inherited the
talent from his father, and was apt at
depicting the characteristics of the
natives on the island.
Joseph d. Strong, the father of
Stevenson's heir, is a member of the
Bohemian Club in San Francisco, and
is a well-known artist. An uncle of
the heir, Dwight Strong, Jr., is the
welI-known curator of the Oakland
Library. A grandfather of the boy
Dwight Strong, Jr., lives up in the
Piedmont hills, leading the life of
hermit. He is Il man of culture and
learning, graduate of Williams Col
lege, and the author of many religious
works. Years ago he was principal
of several of the public schools in
Oakland.
Stevenson's heir lived in East Oak
land at the home of his grandmother,
Mrs. Osbourne, several years ago.
Many of the neighbors there remem-
Der him as a bright and pIepossessing
child. He attended the public schools
while living there This place in
East Oakland has also been wllled to
the young heir. 1t is an imposing
place, occupying almost an entire
block, and is valuable.-S. F. Ex-
aminer.