The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1911-02-07
AN OFFICIAL SNUB
RudeIy Flung at Genial Robert
Louis Stevenson.
A CONSUL WITH A CROUCH

Respects and Was Shown the 0eose
With Few Words and No csrsmenys.
When Robert Louis Stevenson lived
in Samoa he dressed as the others
there did. Up at vailima they all vent
about in their bare feet, except when
expecting guests.
When Stevenson came into Ap!a be-
looked only half dressed. He alway1F
came down with a 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 H. J.
Moors, the author:
One Sunday morning while Stevens
son and myself, barefoot and in paja-
mas. were discussing the various local
celebrities, my friend suddenly jumped
up and announced that he had me-
elected a bOunden duty. Here be had
been in Apia for some considerable
time and had not yet called or her
Britannia majesty's representative. Ev-
cry Britisher Of mark should attend 20
such a duty az the earliest possible
moment, I must Introduce him with.
out one moments further deiays
Come along. Moors." said he; let's
get 1t OF our mindI'
informed him that Colonel De COet-.
logon was himself a new man in the
place-he had been in Apia but a little
whjle-and I had not yet met him.
People who had met him had mostly:
declared him TO be an exclusive, crusty
old fellow. full Of pomposity. i was
therefore very loath to go until the new
arrival had simmered down somewhat,
1t was rumored that he had been fog
years governor Of some great jail IN
Britain. and people remarked that 10
treated many of his callers rs ticket OF
leave men who had come In TO report :
But Stevenson, feeling very sure OF
his powers 10 charm this Goryon.
would take no warning. but shouted
gayly: Come on. Moors. I'll attend
to this case. He'll welcome Us ar
, right" i pointed out his attire and
his lack of shoes and. with a sigh. ha
compromised SO far as to put CT y
clean shirt and pair OF trousers and
shoes. but my best efforts would cot
induce him TO wear coat. In the rig
he wore and under his little~yachtinx
, 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 rs we passed along
the road 10 Matautu. where DE Coet-
logon lived. From the beginning I
doubted il we would receive anything
like an ELUSIVE welcome and l took
care TO impart my fears 10 my friend
. but he only laughed. Particularly did
i point out that this was Sunday andi
that We should choose another day fox
our visit. He still laughed .
With pride and joy he threw open
the consular gate and strobe nanfuIly
across the lawn. / following close be-
hind. \ tall. soldierly person. with
white mustachioS and close cropped
! hair. was sitting peacefully on the
veranda. He made no attempt 20 risor
and welcome Us. A whisky and soda
had just then his rapt attention We
assembled the steps. The statue i'm the
chair merely regarded US. We might
as well have been a couple Of dis
tressed prisoners coming to pray for
some ameiioration.
Stevenson would have embraced this
cold representative Of his couEtry'S-
greatness. but the chill restrained him.
Good morning. sir"
A grunt. We'll. what do you want:''-
My name is Stevenson. ! am welb
known in Britain by my works-in
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 harH
as stone. as uncompromisinS and as
unsympathetic as "A brick wall. Steven
son stood there as one petrified; ] was
quite appalled,. Ny 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-
sufs brow was sad TO look upon He
had not even risen civilly to hear US.
"We have come, sir, 10 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 ut me.
I cannot remember exactly what
said, but / know that L endeav0fcd to
depict to the consul the worth and hon.
esty Of my companion.
In return came this: Il don't care
who YOU are-either Of you. IL you
have any business at this consulate
come and state il at the proper time.
Without more than profound bowE
Stevenson turned and masle his Way
our iufo tho rpad again I having DFe>