Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-12
FROM sTEvENsoN's LIBRARY.
Mr.. Stafford Exhibits Number of Vol
umes Owned by Dead Novelist.

The members Of the District Library AS
ISOLATION last evening listened to a talk by
Mr.. w. E. Stafford Of the Department Of
Agriculture ON Some Books From the
Shelves of Vailima." Preceding Mr. safford's
address several members spoke briefly on
the general topic. Current Events and
Notable Books" Mr.. Cutter, the first
speaker. mentioned the recent sale Of
Washington autograph letter, a note Of
coincidence, signed by George and Martha
Washington. which brought the unusual
sum Of $1,150. The purchaser was John D.
Rockefeller. Mr.. Wead referred to num-
Der of books of the late Henry Stevens, pre-
scented by him to the library Of his native
town Of Barnard, VT.
Mr.. Cole called attention to careful and
scholarly piece Of photographed work by
Miss Adelaide Hasse regarding the colonial
documents Of the state Of New York, from
1878 to ITO. Mr.. Lincoln spoke of the cal
endar Of John Paul Jones' manuscript, soon
to be issued by the Library of Congress.
Mr.. Hutcheson mentioned the latest devel-
opment Of the travelling library system
adopted by the library at Cardiff Wales
that Of supplying travelling Libraries to the
vessels in the vicinity Of the city.
At the beginning Of his address, Mr.. SAT-
ford told how, through a mere accident, he
succeeded in obtaining some 200 Of Robert
Louis Stevenson's books at the authors
last home in Vailima. Mrs. Stevenson's so
fled Mr.. Stafford that there were four pack
ing cases full Of them to be disposed Of and
thus gave him the first chance to secure
some highly priced relics.
The speaker showed how Stevenson had
been Influenced in his writings by many Of
the books in this collection of 200 Several
of them bore annotations marginal and In
terlineal, which threw much light ON Stew
enson's published and projected writings.
A volume Of Paul Bourgeois Sensations
d'Italie'' was one that Stevenson held In
high esteem, as also an edition OF Francois
Villon.
A work on which Stevenson spent much
thought and energy. but which he never
of Scotland" With this in mind he had
annotated most copiously his copy of John
Hill Burton's history, and had made con-
siderable progress in his own work when
death overlook him.
Another book exhibited by Mr.. Stafford
was Bible. belonging to Thomas Steven
son, the authors father. This gentleman.
being Of an austere and unworldly turn OF
mind. became displeased at his sons taste
for novel reading, which the young man
early developed, and on his fifteenth birth
day presented him with a copy Of DAu-
higne's Reformation" in Eve volumes. The
youth struggled with this work manfully,
but could conquer only the first two vol
umes the last three remaining uncut In
Mr.. Safford's possession. t.
Mr. Stafford described the simple tomb on
the mountain In Apia. where the literary
hero Of SO many on both sides OF the At
lantic lies buried. SD a-
At the close Of his address Mr. Stafford an
swered number Of questionsa among others
telling how he came neaf losing his whole
Stevenson collection in an oYerloaded canoe
In Manila Bay. He then entertained the
audience for some time longer by exhibiting
the books which he brought with him, some
twenty-five in number and answering in
divtdual questions. s5ssrs