Evening journal., 1912-02-28
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
When Stevenson Revealed
Bis Greatness as a
Writer

By Holland.


when Robert Louis Stevenson ar
rived in New York city in the spring
of 1888 from the Adirondacks, where
he had gone in the search of health,
he met few men and women who
had learned greatly TO admire not only
his style as a writer. but also the
stories he had already told. Among
those who called upon Stevenson.
whose stories had not then been pub
lished outside Of England, was Pro-
fessor Brander Matthews. widely
known as Que Of the great living au-
thorities on American literature. Pro-
fessor Matthew'S admiration for Stew
enson's work and his future as a
writer were unbounded.
A few days later Professor Mat
thews, while strolling along Fourth
avenue, New York. of a sudden met
face to face his friend, S. S. Mcclure,
then in the newspaper syndicate bus
iness.
DO you know that Robert Louis
Stevenson is in the city?' asked Mr..
Matthews. ~ have seen him recently.
] think he might be disposed to talk
about the publication of a new story.
You know. Of course, how successful
his Kidnapped and Treasure Island
have been He told me he has several
other plots Of stories Of adventure in
mind, although he has not done any
thing with them" Professor Mat
thews seemed to think that there was
needed only some stimulus to per-
suade Mr.. Stevenson to undertake a
new story.
In a day or two Mr.. Mcclure met
Stevenson and asked him if he had
on hand any unpublished manuscript,
or If he had any new stories Of ad-
venture In mind. Stevenson medi-
tated.
There was story Of mine pub
lished serially in an English news
paper some years ago" he said at
last 81 don't think II is known at
all in the United States. The title
Of II is The Black Arrow
do you control the copyright?'
asked Mr.. Mcclure.
"Oh, yes. But should have 10
send to England for the scrapbook
in which I preserved the story, col
umn by column, as it appered in the
English newspaper"
Stevenson promised to send by the
next mail for the scrapbook. and
within the course Of month he re-
ceived it and turned it over to Mr..
Mcclure for reading. A day or two
later the latter called upon the
author, gravely doubling whether the
proposition which he had in view
would be accepted by Stevenson. Sc
it was with considerable caution that
Mr.. Mcclure said.
"If you will cut off the hrst fiv,
chapters Of this story, ! shall be glad
70 accept Il for American serial pub
lfcation az your own terms"
The experience Of all publisher
has. taught them that the great ma
jority OF writer's are extremely sensi
tive about the use of the blue pencil
or the scissors on their manuscript
Imagine. Mr. McClure's surprise
therefore. when Stevenson replied
without hesitation:
1T you tulllh IL VIII lulpioNt tu'
story. or serve to make it more ac
ceptable to American readers. why,
ought cheerfully TO accept youi
Judgment Cut out the first five chap
ters. have no objection" And il
this ready reply Stevenson revealed
his greatness as a writer. It has al
most passed into an axiom with pub
fishers that the greater the write
the more willing he is to submit t,
excision and even to great devastation
by the blue pencil.
Published serially, with the fiv
chapters cut off and under a ney
title "The Outlaws OF Tunstel Hill,
the story was one Of the creates
successes of the year. But until nov
IL has not been generally known hoV
this first American serial by Steven
son came to be printed here with tn
first FIVE chapters as it appeared i
England completely eliminated.
Copyright, 1912. by e. j. Edwards
All rights reseryed).
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