The times., 1899-12-03
Thc stcrcnson Letters.


has just appeared viii be one Of the most
widely read Of the holiday books. Nothing
OF the sort since Grants autobiography has
excited such general and ah5ctio1ate in
terest. The publication of these letters is
Fomething more than literary event; il is
the revelation Of a & uial and magu ztic per-
Eonality 20 thousands who knew the writ
er only through his books. and loved him
for them and for himself.
Perhaps EC one hes ever thoroughly ana
lyzed the nature Of The influence which
Stevenson had upon the reading world il
was Lot altogether due to his und0ubied
genius CT storytelling. still less 20 the mere
style Of his productions, finished as that
was. 1t was in great measure the result
Of the glmpses Of his character revealed
IN his writings. One fzlt. uEconseiously
perhaps that here was lot only genius
bur q man, and had his books been less
great than they were the fascination Of
them would stiIl have been strong This is
viv-dly brought our in the Introduction to
the present edition Of the Letters, by
Sidney CClvin Mr Colvin discusses the
genius Of Stevenson at considerable length,
in mastery way but the kernel OF all
that he SAYS. and the true explanation Of
the authors power. is in one statement II
Is this:
The root Of an originality in him.
The man who is thoroughly original is
always a power, whether ne be soldier.
statesman, poet novelist or mechanic, but
the souls which attain this power are so
few that those who come OF the civilized
world in one generation could almost be
counted on the fingers Of one hand Some
men become great by adrOitly seizing an
opportunity, by doing perfectly what 9th
ers have done imperfectly; but here and
there is man whose strength is in him
sef not In his opportunities: and Robert
Louis Stevenson was that man in his time
He would have been remarkable had he
been born a Samoan chief or Highland
fisherman, or an American mechanic As
it was. he became a great and unique pow
er in the world OF literature.
The editor OF the Letters brings out
ali this so clearly that the introduction IS
almost as great a delight as the book itself
Speaking Of Stevenson's imitation Of other
writer's in his earlier years be says;
IN doing this he was not seeking inspiration,
but simply practising The use % the tools winch
To help him 10 express his osgu inspiration
Truly be vas always much OF q reader; but i
life, not books, that always u The nTst de-
gree sllured and taught him.
And again:
An instructive and inbred urwillinguess 10 ac-
cept the accepted and conform 10 the conventional
was a the essence OF his character whether in
life OF art and was s source 10 him both Of
strength and weakness. de would not lollo~
3 general ule-least OF ali II ~ was q pTld5u-
tial rlIe-of conduct unless he clear that Il
was right according 70 his private conscience
nor would he join IN youth in the ordl-
nary social Emusements of his class when BE-
had once found out thar they did not amuse
him; nor wear their clothes if be could not
fee AZ ease and be himself IN tleru5 nor use
whether in speech or writing, any trIte OF
inanimEte form Of words that did not faith
fully and livineiy express his Thought. o .
rims
persons who lived and thought and ielt and
acted enly was expected OF them TO
See people skipping sl round Us with their
eyes sealed up with indifference, knowing moth
ing Of the earth man or woman, going au-
tOmatically 10 Offices and saving they are happy
CT unhappy, out Of sense Cf duty, ] sup
pose, surely a. least from no sense oI happi-
ness or unhappness, unless perhaps they have a
tooth that rWIugCs-ls il not like bad dTeam.' -
No reader Of tbs book VIII close it, / gm sure,
without feeling that he has been throughout IN
the company Of spirit various indeed and
many sized, but profoundly sincere and real
Mays that in another might easily have been
mere signs Of affectation were In Stevenson only
signs of a nature ten times more Spontaneously
itse1 and individually alive Than that Ct
Others When 4 man constituted
had once mastered ms craft ri letters, De
might take up whatever instrument he pleased
with the instructive and lust confidence that
be would play upon ii 10 q tune and with a
marx and test Of his originality He has no
iced 70 be, OF 10 seem, especially original in
The form ana MODE o. literature which he
lempts. By his choice Of these be may at any
tFne give himself and his reader the pleasure
~ recalling. Ike a familiar air. strain
q literary association; but in so doing De
she vision, the temperament the mode of con-
sewing and haaoling, are in every case strongly
personal 20 himself
Those who know Stevenson at all cannot
tau 10 perceive that his salient qualities
we're the direct outgToWth Of this absolute
Rnc0nyentionalIty. His philosophy. devoid
" all the softeDlng and compromising de-
Fices Of conventional belief, was grim and
Boicsl. His affections were ardent almos;
feminine in their intensity and irresponsi-
ijlity; be made friends when and where he
FhOse- HIS humor was freakish. willful
sniqUe with g sort of ATiel-like delicacy
y touch. as unlike the work Of most hu-
norists as the tricksy sprite Of the TEN
pest is unlike Sam Weller He seems 10
have said with Emerson, "If ] am the
Devils child, I Will act then from the
Devil and had il uoI been for the broad
and deep sympathy with every creature. es-
Peclslly every suffering being. with 81 HON
be came Ia contact, his character would
have had something unhuman in H. Bu;
hlE very unconyeutionality gave range to
bis sympathies and warmth 10 his affec-
lions. And 50 he lived and died. a great
hearted as well as high-souled man, sub
feet 10 less misunderstanding than has fol
lowed other men Of genius, because with
his genius there was no affectation and nc
egotism; he wss genuine In every fibre
Mr. Colyin has succeeded 10 remark
able degree 10 making his introduction. and
the brief Introductory paragraphs OF each
thapter, really explanatory. Without then
The Letters" interesting as they are
would be less fascinating. The Illustrations
also add much 10 the work for pictures are
given OF nearly every place IN whi eh
Etevenson lived, from his childhood TO his
last years IL the tropical islands which
grew 70 be so dear TO him.
The first half OF the first volume is
taken up mainly with letters written dur
ing steyenson's student life when he was
travelling from place 10 place, In England
ana Scotland and on the Continent. one
o. these. penned at the age OF sixteen. is
both amusing and pathetic. and as Mr
ColviD remarks, somewhat typical OF his
lies conditions then and thereafter:
Respected Paternsl Relative write TO make q
request of the most moderate nature Every veal
have cost you an enormgus-Uay. elcphautine-
Q! money fcr drugs and ply siCizu's fees. znt
LIS NOS, expensive time q the twelve months VA
March
But fhis year the biting Oriental blasts th
bowling tempests, and the general ailments O
the human race have been successfully brsYed b,
yOurs truly
Does not this deserye remuueratian2
I appeal 20 year charity, I appeal "a your gen
Grossly, ] appeal 10 your justice J appeal tG you
accounts appeal, IN hne 20 your purse
by sense of generosity forbids the receipt 0
EnoTe-my sense OF Justice fgTbids the receipt O
les-than hall crown. Greeting from, Sir, yog
most aAectloAaie and NEEDY son,
r. vv5fght be yrsebed tbat v,,ors ~ Sfe,,o,,