The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-01-20
MISS kROUT'S TALK ON
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

The second Of Miss Krout's course
az talks on authors was given on Fri
day afternoon al the residence OF Mrs
c. NJ. Cooke. on Beretania street The
Stevenson" his life and work.
The weather was propitious. the day
being fine after the long spell OF rain.
and a very large audience was pres
emf The lanai was crowded and chairs
were placed in an adjoining room for
the accommodation OF those who could
not ind room outside. The ladies were
IN beautiful toilets. and thin. with the
surroundings. the fne. wen kept gar
sens adjoining the lanai made a very
brilliant scene A number OF gentle
men had summoned MP courage 20 face
a company in which ladies' were GER
tain to be in the majority. and were
interested and attentive listeners
throughout the hour.
Miss Krout introduced her subject
by calling attention 70 the wide field
OF work. both Is TO matter and scene
OF action, which stevenson's work rep
resented. comprising essay. criticism.
fiction. travel. poetry and even politi-
cal discussion: while the author In his
wandering had ranged from Scotland.
through France, the United States.
Australia and the South Sea Islands
He had written graphically and SYM
p&thetically Of NIL. especially Of the
Pacific Islands where his lie was at
least prolonged. and where he dweIt
happily and at peace
A sketch was given CT his birth In
Edinburgh. Nov. Is. 1850: his education.
his first journeys to France. out OF
which came his Voyage I'm a Canoe
was during this holiday also that he
met Mrs. Osborne. who was staying at
that time in the weIl-known artist COL
ony. 'Barbazon." a short distance from
Paris. His marriage 10 Mrs Osborne
was pronounced happy and fortunate
for Stevenson. in that the wife proved
a faithful and devoted friend and COM
panion. taking many OF her husbands
burdens upon her own shoulders and
him from the vexations and
n.rusions that would have wantonly
wasted his time and his strength.
The narrative Of the return 10 Eng
and was continued with the second
visit to San Francisco. the cruise
through the South Pacific in the
-Casco.' including his residence In
Honolulu in 1888. where The Master
II Ballantraer was written.
Upon some of the unpleasant fea-
lures Of that sojourn Miss Krout ala
not touch al all. dismissing others with
!, cursory mention and the statement
hat he. later, realized that he had
made some bad errors Of Judgment
which he was great and just enough
when he came the SER
md time. His literary work was then
eviewed: his stories of adventure she
bought were characterized by what
he called "a certain bIoodiness." a
TRANCE trait IN a nature which In
eality, was so gentle and SO sympa-
hetic. Four distinct examples Of his
tyle were contrasted: The Travels.
-Ebb Tide" The Master of BaIlan-
rae and the poems-those written for
hildren being noted especially for
heir exquisite tenderness and SIMPLE
". as compared to the wickedness ard
ruelty Of such characters as Hush
nd Silver Several examples OF his
oetry were given, one indicating the
that he must have felt
DIT his native land in the island where
is last days were spent and Whit q.
evertheless. he grew to love
A brief mention was made Of his
Re at .'yaiIima." his death and burial
lace. In the course OF her remarks.
Liss Krout very highly commended
De book recently published By Mr.
rrhz1r tombstone OF Honolulu, who.
ae said, had rendered literature most
aluable service in gathering up facts
nd incidents in Stevensou's life which,
thervEfss would have been lost