Evening journal., 1912-02-29
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
ROw RObertLOuiS Stevenson
Came TO Go to the
South Seas

BY Holland.


MY illness and weakness, whatever
be their real nature. absolutely disap-
pear when am on the sea- said Rob-
ert Louis Stevenson TO a few friends
when upon visit to the United States
in 1887
Among these friends was the late
William N. Laffan, who succeeded
Charles A. Dana as editor Of the New
York Sun, and who was for a time in
charge OF the London offices Of Harper
and Brothers. While in London Mr..
Lafian made the acquaintance OF Mr..
Stevenson and was one of the first
Americans thoroughly TO appreciate
and understand the genius of that re-
markable man.
10 was the sea, always the sea, for
which Stevenson yearned. Upon the
deck Of a vessel he gained and main
/ tanned such yigor OF health as inspired
him to hope that he would be able 10
perfect some of the larger plans for
! literary work which were constantly
! I'm his mind Stevenson had tried the
tonic air Of the Adirondacks under the
impression that his physical ills were
due TO some bronchial or pulmonary
trouble. But he was persuaded while
there that the sea and nothing but
the sea would be his physical saliva
! tion.
The suggestion was made to him
that he secure a yacht and cruise
off the Atlantic coast, making frequent
trips from New York or Philadelphia
or Baltimore or Norfolk. possibly sail
ing as far east as the Bahama or Bcr-
muda islands.
'If / could earn enough to buy OF
charter a yacht and TO equip it so that
7 could live upon the ocean in that
way, ! should make short work of en-
tering upon the venture Mr.. Steven
son said.
You could easily earn enough to
charter a yacht and to make long eN-
cursions to sea upon her was the
emphatic statement made by Mr. Laf-
fan.
But how can that be done?' Mr.
Stevenson asked.
IF you will enter into contract to
write q series Of letters from the sea
or from aboard yacht, a series which
can be published once a week for an
entire year i'm the newspapers you
can be guaranteed a sum of money fof
the exclusive right OF publication suf'
ficient TO meet all the charges for at
least "A year"
Stevenson was delighted with toe
proposition. The very suggestion OF Il
seemed to impart new vigor TO him
But as the plan WAS carefully worked
out il was decided that a yacht should
be chartered which whonld take him
not over the Atlantic but into thu
south seas, where, upon some OF th'
always summer islands he could, ]
he cared to do so. live part OF tn
time upon the shores Of the ocean
Mr.. Lalfan looked at the proposition
from two points Of view. First. he tel
assured that the venture would prov
commercially a success. Second, y
was confident that VI Stevenson coul
live upon the sea going about almos
aimlessly upon his yacht. life woul
be long spared 10 him and the be'
work which he was capable of dom
would be written by him. Tho publi
never knew that Mr. Laffan stood b'
hind this proposition. He took owe
all the arrangements and financial n
sponsibilitics for the publication
the weekly letters and II was sourC
of great qualification to him that ho,
from the commercial and from n
healing point OF view the plan prove
very successful And by reason Of IN
venture Stevenson was able at la
10 settle permanently upon one of II
most beautiful islands Of the soui
seas
Copyright, 1912, by e. Edward
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
THE Remark That Made a Famo'