Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-02-13
AN OFFICIAL SNUB
Rudely Flung at Genial Robe
Louis Stevenson.
A CONSUL NIrH A CROUCH.

in Samoa Ia dressed us the Others
there did. Up AT Nal.nm they all went
about In their bare feet. except when
expecting, guests.
When Stevenson came into Apia b.
looked only half dressed. He always
came down with soft shirt on ana
generally white flannel trousers, some.
times with Il red sash round the waist
On one occasion the genial author was
cruelty snubbed by u newly appoint
ed British consul at Apia. one Colonel
De CoetlogOn. The story is told in
with Stevenson In Samoa" by H. j.
MoorS. the author:
one Sunday morning while Steven
son and myself. barefoot and in pa in.
mas. were discussing the various local
celebrities. my friend suddenly jumped
up and announced that he had no
elected bounden duty. Here he had
been in Apia for some considerable
time and had not yet called on her
Britannia maieSty's representative. Ev-
cry Brtsher of mark should attend to
such 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 mind."
Informed him that Colonel De Coet
place-he had been in Apia but little
while-and | had not yet met him
People who had met him had mostly
declared him to 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 his callers as ticket of
leave men who had come in to report.
But Stevenson. feeling very sure of
his powers to charm this Gorgon.
would take no warming. but shouted
gayly: Come On. Moors. I'll attend
to this case. He'll welcome us all
right" l pointed out his attire and
his lack of shoes. and. with II sigh. he
compromised so far as to put on II
clean shirt and Il pair Of trousers and
shoes. but my best efforts would not
induce him to wear 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 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 If we would receive anything
like an ELUSIVE welcome. and l took
care to impart my fears to 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
hind A tall solderly person. with
white muStachios and close cropped
hair. was sitting peacefully on the
veranda. He made no attempt to rise
and welcome us. \ whisky and soda
had just then his rapt attention. We
assembled the steps. The statue in the
chair merely regarded us. We might
as we'll have been Il couple of dis
tressed prisoners coming to pray for
some ameioration.
Stevenson would have embraced this
cold representative of his country's
greatness. but the chill restrained him.
Good morning. sir
4 ,rvI,pt ..Tall what lo Won want
My name is Stevenson am well
known in Britain by my works-n
fact. am Il novelist. This is Mr.
MoorS'
well. what do you want?"
No friendly hand was stretched out
to greet us. We noted face as hard
as stone. us CncomprOmising and as
unsympathetir as Il brick wall. Steven
son stood there as one petrified: | was
quite appalled, My friend had not
counted on such Il start There was no
seam or crevice in which he might
momentarily locate to reconnoiter be-
fore he should attack again. The con-
sul's brow was sad to look upon. He
had not even risen civilly to hear u.s.
I'VE 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 my office at the prop
er time. Good morning."
Stevenson quite lost the power of
speech and looked appealingly at me.
cannot remember exactly what l
said, but know that endeavOred to
depict to the consul the worth and hon
eSty Of my companion.
In return came this: II don't care
who YOU are-either Of you. II you
have any business at this consulate
come and state it at the proper time"
Without more than profound bow
ktevenson turned and made his way
out into the road again. | having pre-
ceded him. by heavens. Moors. you
were right: What Il beast What a
d-d-well. ! suppose he has right
to choose his own Sunday morning
company. had thought that was
one Of the foremost men Of letters Of
the day. but this fellow differs. What
a situation for a man Of my supposed
eminence to find himself In. People