Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-09-23
Of ]OHN5TONt'S BOOK
LONDON REVIEWER PRAISES
LATEST BOOK ON STEVENSON
LOCAL WRITER CREDITED WITH
GIVING INFORMATION AND
DISCRIMINATING CRIT.
lClSM.

The Court Journal" OF London gives
very favorable review Of Arthur
Johnstone's book on Stevenson. The
Court Journals" book reviews are
classed among the best Of England's
literary world. 1t says:
The graceful dedication from Nuu-
anu Valley, Honolulu, of this work to
Edwin Markham recalls to the latter's
memory parting by the Golden Gate
twenty years before trio who dab
bled in strange lore, dreamed strange
dreams, and sometimes seemed to
catch glimpses of shadowy visions that
awed us while they lured," and Mr..
tombstone then tells us that his object
In view is to preserve various facts,
episodes, and anecdotes OF Stevenson
with as many Of his views and opin-
ions as could be collected in desultory
way during his residence in the Pa
cific," while he candidly admits, as will
be found on subsequent examination,
that narrative. anecdote, and comment
are to a great extent to be found
jostling one another. He begins with
a pleasant little sonnet
Within the circle Of the tabled sea,
Where golden galleons once ploughed
their way,
He dwelt in exile: here with princely
sway
He ruled a realm OF brave romance,
which he
Begat with wizard pen. :.
The tabled sea, the Pacific at which
Cortez stared with eagle eye, for CEN
turtles has exercised an unspeakable
charm over explorer and Spectator,
and the same glamour was over 1t for
Stevenson till the final years Of the
nineteenth century. The vision which
was bright and steadfast on his own
Scottish moorlands gray" obtained
an added magic from the West, though
indeed, the balance OF things may no
longer have been so steadily appraised.
Stevenson's name was well known
to the English-speaking residents of
the Pacific long before he pitched his
tent among them. Since the publca-
tion of Treasure Island in the early
eighties, he had enjoyed a popularity
which other books by him, books Of
more literary and lasting merit, would
never have won for him. But what
the inhabitants there had still to ex-
perience were his personal eccentrici-
ties, which were emphasized, as Mr..
tombstone points out, by his peculiar
habit of thought and observation. The
position that he took up in local poll
ties and rivalries became subject to
continual criticism, and In this regard
Mr.. tombstone examines very Impair
TALLY Stevenson's relations with the
islanders. Inclined by nature to be i'm
petuous, the tendency became more
pronounced under southern skies, and
bis sensitive and generous impulses
made him often neglect the unseen
factors Of case, the lurking previous
question" Thus, inclining naturally
to the weak and dependent, Stevenson
was, perhaps, unduly biased In favor of
savagism rather than the white in
habitants. But impulsively as he acted
he was rarely unforgiven, because his
personal magnetism and the allure
ment Of his writings, like the magic
elixir Of his mind, so largely influence
ed the inhabitants Of the Pacific that,
as Mr.. tombstone truly observes, "he
was wont to commit with impunity
deeds OF the pen which would have
placed any other author in the pill
lory Of local opinion for the rest of his
days"
Mr.. tombstone has some pleasant
recollectionis to tell as of the voyage