New-York tribune., 1902-01-02
ANDREW LANG'S "R. L. S.
A PORTRAIT OF THE RoMANCER BY A
FRIEND WHO DIFFERS FROM
MR. HENLEY.
From The London Morning Post.

From The London Morning Post.
Like the rest of the public, have read re-
cent estimate of the late Mr.. Robert Louis
Stevenson with regret. 1t is not my business to
advocate the cause OF a friend when he is blamed
with reference 10 such relations as never eX-
listed between him and me, and in regard to
circumstances of which 1 have no knowledge.
We never, as ii were, lay in each others bosoms.
We never heard the chimes at midnight to-
gether. nor comrades of the wild Prince
and Poins" We never conferred benefits
each other unless little presents of books or
curiosties are benefits. We never quarreled,
and dare say that was partly because we were
never sufficiently intimate. Quarrels. when not
caused by rivalry by misunderstandings in
business or about money, appear TO rise out
of too great intimacy. Liberties taken. and
at last are resented. The Roman was not SO far
wrong when he said Behave to your friend as
If he might become an enemy, and TO your
enemy as if he might become friend The
Roman has been blamed but the latter part of
his aphorism is worthy of a Christian and a
gentleman. 1t inculcates self-respect and avoid
ance of all that can make enmity inveterate.
The former part of his advice SOUNDS ungener-
GUS but Burns also advises self-repression.
AYE keep something 10 yourself he says. 1t
is canny but it is correct, though the counsel
is despised by the young.
Without defending then, the character OF
friend whom even now l almost daily miss, as
that character displayed in circumstances
unknown to me. think that ought to speak OF
him as found him. perhaps our sympathy was
mainly Intellectual Constantly do those VINO
knew him desire to turn to him, to communicate
with him, TO share with him the pleasure or some
idea, little discovery about men or things
in which he would have taken pleasure. increas-
ing our by the gayety of his enjoyment, the
brilliance of his appreciation We may say.
Scott said at the grave OF John Ballantyne. that
he has taken with him half the sunlight out of
lives. That he was sympathetic and inter
ested in the work of others (Which, / under
stand, has been denied) have reason to know.
His work and mine lay far apart; mine, l think,
never discussed-I did not expect it to inter-
est him. But in a fragmentary manuscript OF
his after his death found the unlocked for and
touching evidence OF his kindness. Again, he
once wrote 10 me from Samoa about the work of
friend Of mine whom he had never met. His
remarks were ideally judicious, a model Of ser
viceable criticism. / found him chivalrous as
an honest boy; brave, with an indomitable gay
ETY. of courage; the point of honor a Sidney
a Bayard $50 he seemed TO mel; that he was
open-handed have reason TO believe; he took
life with a frolic welcome" That he was seIf
conscious, and saw himself as II were from
without; that he was fond OF attitude dixie his
own brave admirals), he himself knew well and
doubt not that he would laugh at himself and
his habit Of playing at" things after the fash
ion OF childhood. Genius is the survival into
maturity or the inspiration of childhood and
Stevenson is not the only genius who has re
tanned from childhood something more than ,ts
IhspHdtion- Other examples readily occur TO the
memory-ln one way Byron. in another Tenny-
son.
None of us are perfect; do not want 70 erect
an immaculate clay-cold image Of a man in
marble or in sugar candy But win saw that
do not remember ever 10 have heard Mr. Steven
son utter a word against any mortal frJand or
foe. Even In a where he had or believed
himself 10 have, received some wrong his con-
ment was merely humorous. Especially when
and
the bourgeois "a literary tradition) led him to
show kind OF contempt for virtues which
though certainly respectable are no less GER
tainly virtuous. He then more or less Sc
ouced by the bohemian legend, but he was in
tolerant of the fudge about the rights and privi-
leges or genius. mans first business he
thought, was 70 keep his end up" by his work
If what he reckoned his inspired work would
not serve then by something else OF MANY
virtues he was an example and an inspiring
force one foible admit: the tendency to inop-
perfume benevoence. Mr. Graham Balfour says
that IL he fell into I'll terms with man he would
try TO do him good by stealth. Though he had
seen much OF the world and Of men, this prac-
uce showed an invincible ignorance OF mankind
IL is improbable. on the doctrine of chances
tnat ne was always In the wrong; and IL is prob
able, as he was human. that he always thought
himself In the right. But the other party to
the misunderstanding, being also human would
necessarily think himself in the right such Sc
cret benefits would be. as Sophocles says the
gifts or foernen and unprofltable" The secret