New-York tribune., 1920-01-06
Steuenson at Saranac
4 Modest Memorial That viii
Appeal to Many
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Will you be good enough to per-
nit me, through your columns, to call
attention to project that will doubtless
appeal to many Scots and other lovers
of Robert Louis Stevenson?
About five years ago the Stevenson
Memorial Committee was formed for the
purpose of placing a tablet on the cot
tage occupied by Il. l.. S. during his
stay in Saranac Lake. Mr.. Gutzon
Borglum designed a handsome bas-relief,
and on October 80. 1915. it was unveiled
with appropriate ceremonies, after hav-
ing been set in the wall of the veran-
da, where the author walked and
thought.
The committee then resolved to con-
tinue the work by forming a permanent
organization to be known as the Steven
son Society, with a membership open to
all persons interested in the author and
his writings, and with the following
purposes:
The collection and preservation of
relics of Robert Louis Stevenson; also of
original manuscripts and first editions
of his works, as we'll as books relating
to him. In addition to these, the acquir-
ing of a permanent home for the proper
housing of said collection.
These purposes have, in measure
been carried out. The rooms he occu-
pied as bedroom and study are leased
yearly, and a fine collection of relics,
books, pictures, letters, ETC., has been
donated by Stevensonians in various
parts of the world A yearly meeting is
held at which reports are read, officers
elected, and such matters as may come
up are gone into. There are also month
ly directors meetings.
Membership fees are: Active, 81
year; sustaining, s25 a year; life men,
bership, 500 Zone payment
The money received from dues, ind-
vidual contributions, sale of miniature
bronzes and postcards, goes to meet the
expenses incurred by rent of memorial
rooms, insurance on their valuable con-
tents, printing, stationery and postage.
The tablet has been reproduced in mnia-
ture, 2l4 by 3a4 inches, and sells to
members at SIS for bronze and $40 for
silver
Mr.. Robert Hobart Davis is practically
the founder of the society. Mr.. Borglum
contributed his genius to the creation of
the memorial, and Mr.. Stephen Cha!-
mers, for four years secretary, has by
hard and efficient work brought the or
ganization to a healthy condition.
At present the memorial museum con-
tains over one hundred relics of Robert
Louis Stevenson. In the summer Of 1917
eleven hundred persons visited it, and
the attendance continues to average
about the same.
1t is the earnest wish Of the directors
that the society purchase the property.
One Of the members, Colonel Walter
Scott, Of New York, an ardent Steven
sonan, has given $2,500 as foundation
for the memorial fund. The society is
now being incorporated, and as the cot
tage is more particularly identified with
r. l.. S. than any other place in the
country, it is hoped that sufficient con-
tributions will be received Checks or
money should be sent to Mr.. F. O. w.
Very, Saranac Lake, N. Y, with q
memorandum of donors address, and
stating that it is for the Stevenson So
ciety Memorial Fund.
LIVINGSTON CHAPMAN,
Secretary, Stevenson Society.
Saranac Lake, N. Y, Jan. 3, 1920.