Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-11-18
AN OFFICIAL SNUB
Rudely Flung at Genial Robert
Louis Stevenson.
A CONSUL WITH A CROUCH.

The Author Called on the Newly Ap-
pointed Official at Apia to Pay his
Respects and Was Shown the Door
With Few Words and No Ceremony.
when Robert Louis Stevenson lived
in Samoa be dressed as the others
there did. Up at vaiIima they all went
about in their bare feet. except wher
expecting guests.
When Stevenson came into Apia be
looked only half dressed. He always
came down with soft shirt on and
generally white flannel trousers, some
times with a red sash round the waist.
On one occasion the genial author was
cruelty snubbed by a newly appoint
ed British consul at Apia. one Colonel
De Coetlogon. The story is told In
with Stevenson In Samoa" by II. J.
Moors. the author:
One Sunday morning while Steven
son and myself. barefoot and In paja-
mas, were discussing the various local
celebrities, my friend suddenly jumped
up and announced that he had ne
elected a bounden duty. Here be had
been In Apia for some considerable
time and had not yet called on her
Britannia majesty's representative. Ev.
cry Britisher Of mark should attend to
such a duty at the earliest possible
momentl / must introduce him with
out one moments further delayl
Come along, Moors," said he; "let's
get II of our mindr'
Informed him that Colonel De Coet-
logon was himself a new man in the
place-he had been in Apia but little
while-and ! had not yet met him.
People who had met him had mostly
declared him 10 be an exclusive. crusty
old fellow. full of pomposty was
therefore very loath to go until the new
arrival had simmered down somewhat
1t was rumored that he had been for
years governor Of some great Jail in
Britain. and people remarked that he
treated many Of bis callers as ticket of
leave men who had come in to report.
But Stevenson. feeling very sure OF
bis powers to charm this Gorgon.
would take no warning. but shouted
gayly: Come on. Moorsl III attend
to this case. He'll welcome us all
right" ! pointed out his attire and
his lack Of shoes, and. with a sigh. he
compromised so far as to put on
clean shirt and pair Of trousers and
shoes. but my best efforts would not
induce him to wear coat In the RI;
he wore and under bis little YACHTING
cap he positively looked no more than
twenty or twenty-five years Of age.
He bubbled with enthusiasm over CIV.
erythlng new and strange that came
within his view as we passed along
the road TO Matautut where De Coet-
logon lived. From the beginning
doubted If we would receive anything
like an ELUSIVE welcome. and / took
care to impart my fears to my friend.
but he only laughed. Particularly did
1 point out that this was Sunday and
that we should choose another day for
our visit. He still laughed.
With pride and joy he threw open
the consular gate and strobe manfully
across the lawn. l following close be-
hind. A tall. soldierly person. with
white mustachios and close cropped
hair. was sitting peacefully on the
veranda. BE made no attempt to rise
and welcome us. A whisky and soda
had just then his rapt attention. We
assembled the steps The statue In the
chair merely regarded US. We might
as well have been a couple of dis
ressed prisoners coming to pray for
some amelioration.
Stevenson would have embraced this
cold representative of his country's
greatness. but the chill restrained him.
Good morning. SIR"
A grunt. "Well. what do you wantf'
"My name Is Stevenson. am well
known In Britain by my works-in
fact, | am a novelist. This Is Mr..
Moors."
well. what do you want7"
No friendly hand was stretched out
to greet us. We noted a face as hard
as stone, as uncompromlsing and as
unsympathetic as brick wall Steven
son stood there as one petrifed; was
quite appalled,. My friend had not
counted on sneh Il start. There was Ito
seam or crevice In which he might
momentarily locate 10 reconnoiter be-
fore he should ai;ack again The con
sul's brow WI. sad to look upon. lie
had not even risen civiliy to hear us.
we have one. sir. TO pay our re
specis~
IF you haze any business and de-
sire to see ne ! will listen to you on
week Ga5 > ind IN my Office at the prop
er time. tio.ai morning"
Stevenson Guite last the power of
speech aid lacked appealinzly at me-
] cannot remember exactly what |
said. hut | knaw thIi ! endeavored 10
depict 10 the consul the worth and hon
esty Of my companion.
In return came this: Il don't care
who you are either of you. II you
have any business at this consulate
come and STATE il at the proper time"
Without more Than profound bow
Stevenson turned and made his way
out into the road again. having pre-
coded him. by heavens, Moors. you
were right. What beastl What
d--d-well. ! suppose he has a right
to choose his own Sunday morning
company. had thought that | was
one Of the foremost men of letters of
the day. Int this fellow differs. whaf
a situation for man of my supposed
eminence to flnd himself In. Peopl.
will differ in their opinions. won't
they And he burst ont into a merry
laugh