Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-02
STEVENSON STORY
Mr.. Curtis on Great Scotch
Writer and His Traits.
EDINBURGH'S BAD WEATHER
Worldwide Wandering in Quest for
Life and Health.
WAS A PUNGENT HOME CRITIC
Some of His Thoughts Which Gave
His People Offense-Never
Wrote of Glasgow.
BY WILLIAM f.. CTETIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.


Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald
EDINBURGH. September ID. 1908
There are several fine memorials to emil
nent Scots in St Giles Cathedral. but none
that will compare with that recently
erected to Robert Louis Stevenson by
the joint contributions of his admirers in
Scotland, America and all over the world.
1t is one of the geratest works of the late
Augustus st. Gaudens, and honOrS the
artist as much the subject whom he
has portrayed. 1t represents Stevenson
as reclining upon a couch as If hesitating
for word. with a blanket over his knees.
blOtting pad in his left hand and a pen
in his right. 1t bears two long inscrip-
tons. one biogra phical and the other the
we'll known Prayer" which Stevenson
wrote few months before his death
which has been printed so widely, but
never too often:
Give us grace and strength to forbear
and to persevere: give us courage and
gaiety and the quiet mind: spare US to
our friends: soften to us our enemies:
bless us If it may be in all our innocent
endeavors. If it may not, give us strength
TO encounter that which is to CONE. that
We may be brave in peril. constant in
tribuation. temperate in wrath and in all
of death. loving and loyal'to one another"
And from one of his poems the following
lines:
Under the wide .and starry SKY
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did ! live and gladly die.
And laid down me with a will.
This he the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies, where he longs to be:
Home is the sailor. home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill
The tablet is piece of green bronze
about six by four feet in size and Is
placed at the right of the main entrance
of the cathedral 1t was unveiled about
two years ago when Lord Rosebery de-
livered the grafton
Stevenson on Edinburgh Weather.
AS the inscription says, Stevenson was
native OF Edinburgh. who was driven
from this city, first to California and then
to Samoa. where he died. by this cruel
climate . He wrote little essay about
Edinburgh. and while it contains some
witty observations and singing criticisms
upon the character and habits Of his fell
low-cit:Zens, and some graphic pictures
and amusing descriptions. it is worthless
as guide. because. as is too often the
case. he takes too much for granted. He
writes for readers who know Edinburgh
we'll and strangers cannot always under
stand him. But whatever Stevenson says
Is worth printing and his Edinburgh
sketches are drawn by a true artist. He
says:
The ancient and famous metropolis Of
the north sits overlooking a windy es-
tuary from the slope and summit of three
hills. No situation could be more COM
manding for the head city of a kingdom;
none better chosen for noble prospects
From her tall precipices and terraced gar
dens she looks far and wide on the sea
and broad campaigns. Put Edinburgh
pays cruelty for her high seat in one OF
the vilest climates under heaven. She is
liable to be beaten upon by all the winds
that blow, to be drenched with rain. to be
buried in cold sea fogs out of the east
and powdered with the snow as 1t comes
flying southwark from the Highland hills
The weather is raw and boisterous in
winter. shifty and uncongenial in sum-
mer. and downright meteorological pur-
gatory In the spring. The delicate die
early and /. as a survivor among bleak
winds and Pumping rains. have some
times been tempted to envy their fate.
For all VINO love shelter and the bless
ings of the sun, who hate dark weather
and perpetual fitting against SQUALLS,
there could scarcely be found more un-
homely and harassing place of residence
Happy the passengers who shake of the
dust of Edinburgh and have heard for
the last time the cry of the east wind
among her chimney pots. And yet the
place establishe. an interest in peoples
hearts. go where they will: they find no
city OF the same distinction: go where
they will they will take a pride in their
old home"