The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-01-18
AN OFFICIAL SNUB
.-RadeIy Flung at Genial Robert
Louis Stevenson.
-coASyl-Ml4H-k-6 CROUCH.

.-A-CoASul-Mi4A--
The Author Called on the Newly Ap-
pointed Official at Apia to Pay Hia-
Respects and Was Shown the Door
With Few Words and No Ceremony. =
When Robert Louis Stevenson lived
in Samoa he dressed as the others
there did. Up at Yailima they all went
about in their bare feet. except when
expecting guests.
When Stevenson came into Apla he
looked only half dressed, He always
came down with soft shirt on and
generally white flannel trousers, some
times with red sash round the waist
On one occasion the genial author was
cruelty snubbed by newly appoint
ed British consul at Apia, one Colonel
De CoetlOgon. The story is told In
with Stevenson In Samoa" by Ii. ].
Moors, the author:
One Sunday morning while Steven
son and myself, barefoot and in paja-
mas. we're discussing the various local
celebrities. my friend suddenly jumped
up and announced that he had ne
elected a bounden duty. Here he 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 n duty at the earliest possible
moment! ! must Introduce him with
out one moments further delay,
Come along, MOors," said he; lets
get It off our mindr'
| informed him that Colonel De COet-
logon was himself q new man in the
place-he had been In Apia but little
whlle-and | had not yet met him.
People who had met him had mostly
declared him to be an exclusive, crusty
old fellow, full Of pomposity. l 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 his callers as ticket Of
leave men who had come in to report
But Stevenson, feeling very sure Of
1iS-pcwers--to-ctarr -ttrfs--cSurrun,-
would take no warning. but shouted
gayly+ Come on, Moors, I'll attend
TO this case. He'll welcome us all
-rfglr''-- l p6nted- out his attire AMI
his lack Of shoes. and, with a sigh. he
compromised so. far. as to, put on q.
clean shirt and a pair Of trousers and
Shoes, but my best ederts' would not
induce him to wear a coat. In the rig
he wore and under his little yachting
cap, he positively looked no more than
twenty or twenty-five years Of age.
He bubbled With enthusiasm over ey-
erything new and. strange. that came
within his view rs we passed along
the road to Matattu. where De Coet-
logon lived. From the beginning /
doubted if we would receive anything
like an ELUSIVE welcome, and 1 took
care to inpaFt' my fears to my frisnds-
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 aud strobe manfully
across the lawn, | following close be-
hind. A tall, soIdierIy person. with
white mustachioS and close cropped
hair. was sitting peacefully on the
Yeranda. He made no attempt to rise
and welcome us A whisky and soda
had just then bis raDt attention. We
assembled the steps. The statue in the
chair merely regarded US. We might
as WELL, have been "a couple of dis
tressed prisoners coming to pray for
some atnelioratiOn.
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 want?"
my, name. is Stevenson. Lam well
! known in Britain by my wOrks-in
fact, I am a novelist This is Mr..
Aoors."
"Well. what do you want?"
: No friendly hand, was stretched out
TO greet us. We noted face rs hard
rs stone, as uneompropising and as
unsympathetic as a brick wall. Steven
son stood there as one petrified; was
quite appalled,. My friend had not
counted on such a start. There was no
seam or crevice in Which he might
mOmentariIy- locate TO recOnnOiter be-
fore he should attack again. The CON
surs brow was sad to look upon. He
had not even risen civilly to hear us
I'VE have come, sir, to pay our re-
spects."
"If you have any business and de-
sire to see NE will usten to you on
week days and in my office ut the prop
er time, Good mOrningS
Stevenson quite lost the power OF
speech and looked appealingly at me.
l cannot remember exactly what ]
said, but / know that 1 endeavOred. to
depict to the consul the worth and hon
esty Of my companion.
In return came this: 81 don't care
who you are-either of, you! IL you
have any business at this consulate
come and state it at the proper time;
Without more than a profound bow
Stevenson turned and made ms way
out into the road again. I having pre-
ceded him. by heavens, MoOrs, you
were right. What a beast. What q
/ d-d--welf. fsuppose he has a right
70 choose his own Sunday morning
company. ! had thought that was
one of the foremost men of letters Of
+he dny.but this fellow differs. Whai
a situation for a.man Of my supposed
anlinence to find himself in. People
will differ in their opinions, wont
they?- And he burst out into a merry