Bridgeton pioneer., 1910-11-17
AN OFFICIAL SNUD
RUdely Flung at Genial Robert
Louis Stevenson.
A CONSUL WITH A CROUCH.

pointed o&7eisl At Apia to Pay His
Respects and Was Shown the Door
With Few WORDS ans Ne Ceremony.
| When Robert Louis Stevenson lived
to samoa be dressed IS the Others
there did Up ar Tzilma they ali went
about IN their bare feet. except when
expecting g1ests-
When Stsvenson cane into Apia be
looked only half dressed. He aIways
cane down with : soft shirt O. and
generally white flannel trousers. seuA
tines with s red Ssh round the waist
On o1e occasion the geuial author was
cruelty suabbed by = newly appoint
ed British consul al Apia. one Colo7a
De Coetloeon- The story l. tod II
With Stevenson IN samoa by & !.
Moors. the author.
One Sunday morning while Steven-
son and myself. barefoot and in uaja-
mas. were discussing the various local
celebrities my friend suddenly jumped
up and annOunced that - had ue-
elected g bouDdeo duty Here be had
been II Apia fo- some considerable
tine and had not ret called on her
Britannic ns5esty's representative Ev-
cry Britisher Of mark should attend 10
such q duty at the earliest possible
moment. must introduce him with
ont one moments further delay.
Come along. Moors." said he; LET'S
get il Of our mind.
informed him thst Colonel De Coet-
logon was himself q new man in the
place-he had been in Apia but little
vhile-and | had not yet met him
People who had met him had mostly
declared him 10 be an exclusive, crust!
old fellow. full Of ponposity. 1 was
therefore very loath 10 90 until the new
arrival had simmered down somewhat
II was runored that be had been for
years governor Of some great jail in
Britain and people remarked that he
treated many OF his callers as ticket OF
leave men who had come In TO report
But Stevenson. feeling very sure Of
his powers 10 charm this Gorg0n.
would take no warning but shouted
Eayly- Gene On Noors. I'll attend
10 this case. He'll welcome u al
right ! pointed out his attire and
lis lack of Shoes. and. with a sigh. he
compromised 50 far as 70 put On Z
clean SHIRT and 4 pair Of trousers and
shoes. but my best efforts would not
induce him 10 wear coat. In the rig
he wore and under his little yachting
cap lie positively looked no more than
twenty or twenty-five years Of age.
He dubbed with enthusiasm over ev-
erything new and strange that came
within his view as we passed along
the road TO Matautu. where De Coet-
logon lived. From the beginning |
doubted Il we would receive anything
Ike an ELUSIVE welcome. and ! took
care 10 impart ny fears 10 my friend.
but he only laughed Particularly did
] 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. ! following close be-
hind A tail soldierly person. with
white mustachios and close cropped
hair. was sitting peacefully on the
veranda. He 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 hare been a couple of dis
tresSed prisoners coming to pray for
some amelioratiOn.
Stevenson would have embraced this
cold representative IF his country's
greatness. l.Ut the v.lill restrained him.
Good morning. sir"
\ grlnt We'll. what do you want:T
My ne me IS Stevenson. ! am well
known in Britain by my works-in
fact. am a novelist. This is Mr.
Mcors'-
We'll. what do you want:"
No friendly hand was stretched out
| to greet Us. We noted face as hard
as stone. IS uncompromiSinc and as
unsympathetic as a brick wall Steven
son stood there as one petrifed; was
| quite appalled,. My friend had not
| counted on such start. There was no
seam or crevice in which he might
momentarily locate to reconnoiter be-
fore he should attack again The con-
| surs brow was sad TO look upon. He
had not even risen civilly 10 hear US.
We have come. sir. TO pay our re-
| spects.''
| If you have any business and de-
| sire to see me | will listen to you on
week days and in nIy ONCE at the prop
er time. Good morning.
Stevenson quite lost the power OF
| speech and looked appealingly at me.
] cannot remember exactly what |
said. but l know that l endeayored TO
,.epict TO the consul the worth and hon
ssty of my companion.
In return came this: Il don't care
who you are-ei-her Of you. If ya,i
have any business al this consulate
come and state ii nj the proper time .
Without more than Il profound bow
Stevenson turned and made his way
out into the road again. l having pre-
ceded him. BY heavens, Moors. you