The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-01-30

Inc MIRO OF series OF Letters by
John r. Musick-Author of 1.-The
Columbian Historical Novels -
"Brother Against Brother, ETC., etc.
lCopyright 1896, by Funk and Wagnalls
Company, New York.
SANS SOUCI AND THE GOVERNMENT
BUILDINGS, WITH REMINIs-
CENCEs OF JULES VERNE AND
;, ROBERT LOUIS STEVEN
The most celebrated hotel and bath
ing place in the islands is Sans Souci
which is near the famous Diamond
Head. Sans Souci has had for its
guests some Of the most famous literary
men of the age. Mark Twain spent a
good deal of his time while on the
islands at this place. Jules Verne and
Robert Louis Stevenson made it their
home. The latter, in writing OF this
cool retreat, said:
If any one desires such old-fashioned
things as lovely scenery. quiet, pure
air, clear sea-water, good food, and
heavenly sunsets hung out before his
eyes every evening over the Pacific and
the distant hills of Waian@, I recon-
mend him cordially to the Sans Souci.'
found several gentlemen at Sans
Souci who had very vivid recollections
of Stevenson. He is described by all
as small man weighing, perhaps, less
than one hundred pounds, and an in
veterate cigarette smoker. 1t is bare
ly possible that nicotine poison has
tened the end of this strange, mystic
rious, gifted man.
"He smoked from morning until
night" said the manager of the hotel.
sI am certain he would consume sixty
, cigarettes a day. He was very pleas
ant, unless irritated, and then he was
like madman. Those who disturbed
him while writing or meditating were
sure to hear from him.
Mr.. Timmons, city editor of the
Hawaiian Star, said:
81 met Mr.. Stevenson while he was
here, and was very strangely impressed
by him from the first. l learned that
he was at Sans Souci, and went to call
upon him. Reaching the quiet place,
| | crossed the lama and entered the
house proper. No one was in sight
but small, ordinary looking man,
who sat at a table writing.
"sWhere is the landlord?' | asked.
&" 'He is OUT answered the small
man, and he went on with his writ
ing.
"sWell, perhaps you can answer my
question; came to see Mr.. Steven
son.
"The small man dropped his pen,
arose, and extending his hand, said:
"sI am Mr.. Stevenoon.'
"This was my introduction to this
remarkable man."
Then Mr.. Timmons told me how
| Mr.. Stevenson came to write his
famous novel, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde"
"rhe novel was written on this
island and in this town. The DR..
Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde live in Honolulu,
and you will perhaps meet him before
you 20. That novel was the offspring
Of bitter religious war between Rev
erned Father DAMON and Rev. DR..
Hyde, D. D., who has charge of the
mission school in this city for the
training of preachers. The controversy
between the priest and DR.. Hyde
waxed warm, and Mr.. Stevenson es-
poused the cause Of the Catholic priest.
He threw his whole soul into the con-
flict, and for a while it seemed as if we
were likely to have religious war. DR..
Hyde, able, sharp, and cutting, an
swered him from the pulpit and
through the press until the contest be-
came personally bitter.
"Mr. Stevenson had up to the time
of this controversy, it seems, enter
tanned high regard for DR.. Hyde.
but as the wordy war grew bitter, he
fancied he discovered in him dual
nature. At times he thought the doc
tor the very perfection ofa gentleman
, scholar, and Christian; at others he
seemed a very demon. This idea
seemed to grow with his morbid fancy
and he conceived from It his wonder
full novel"
was anxious to NEE, DR.. Hyde, the
man who SO strangely inspired the
wonderful novel, and when did NEE
him | was impressed that he was more
Jekyll than Hyde. He is tall, fine
ly-formed, highly cultured gentleman
with fine scholarly appearance. He
is secretary Of the Social Science Club
a meeting OF which l had the pleasure
OF attending, and at which place
met him.
The club, by the way, is composed
of the most scholarly men on th'
Island. President Dole is member
and attends the meetings regularly. Ir
addition to myself there were othe
. American guests present, the mos
prominent of whom were United State
Minister Willis, and the captain Of th'
warship Bennington. AT this meeting
Or. Rodgers, Secretary of the Labo
Bureau, read an able paper on the la
Dor problem, which was thorough!
; discussed and commented upon. On
canism in the club. Chief Justice Judd
! of the Supreme Court, and Prof. Alex
ander, the historian, are members @
the club and were born on the Islands
> yet they, with the Others, argued tn
question from an American stand
: point.
The meeting was at the residenc
, of DR.. Hyde, and although studie'
Il IL