Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-17
BOX AND STEVENSON
The story Of the NovelIsts Romance
Recalled by the Editors Autobi.
ooraphy-The Mystery Of Sam
( osbourne's Disappearance
BY GEORGE NOx MCCAIN

"1THE Americanination Of Edward Box"
i has reached It's eighth edition in ten
months!
1t is the photographed work most in
demand In this country at the present day.
In the course of his "reminiscences the
author tells how he conducted his first news
paper syndicate under the name Of his
brother. This was during the period when
ne was q young stenographer in the employ
OF Scribner & Sons.
From a number of newspaper clippings,
following with age, sent me by friend,
came across the other day. column Of these
once famous Literary Leaves" II was
signed with the name Of William ]. Box.
Its leading paragraphs were an advance
notice Of an article that was to appear In the
Book Buyer from the pen of Robert Louis
Stevenson.
The fact is mentioned here because among
the many interesting anecdotes Of the world
famous characters In his book there Is the
story OF Mr.. Bok's experiences with Steven
son.
Strangely enough these Same saffron
colored clippings also tell in detail the little
known story Of the greatest romance in the
Scotch novelists career. s.
% OMANCE had already been written large
~ on the fragile pages of Stevenson's life
when Mr.. Box met him.
1t was the meeting, mutual infatuation,
courtship and marriage Of the ictionist and
the wife of Samuel o. Osbourne.
Connected with that event is the mystery
Of the first husband of the woman who was
the inspiration Of the later years of Steven
sons life.
She shared the latter's voluntary exile in
Samoa. She was his companion. during his
dying hours.
Tho Box reference has furnished tsIt
for what follows; story that has been
rarely told. -
INDIANA may still have within Its boun-
L daries few venerable politicians who re-
call Samuel o. Osbourne.
Hs first came into notice as private Sec
retary to Governor A. p. Willard in the later
fifties.
To a magnificent physique he added YER
satility, wit and talent as a musician. He
was good mixer.
Sam Osbourne married a young lady named
Van de Grit; anglicized Vandergrif. She
was an attractive woman, not pretty but
brilliant. with considerable literary ability.
Osbourne at this time was one of the staff
OF reporters of the Supreme Court Of Indiana.
He was one Of the finest stenographers in
the Middle West.
fellow reporter at this period was James
B. Beach.
Beach and Osbourne, attracted by the gilt
tering tales Of gold discoveries In Arizona,
started for the far Southwest. Osbourne was
accompanied by his wife and two children, a
boy and a girl.
The boy, Lloyd Osbourne. the noted novel;
ist and magazine writer, subsequently
collaborated in his maturing years with
Stevenson in some Of his literary work.
i sand dollars. pooled their capital and in
vested IL in n mine their arrival in the
territory.
Within month it gave indication of being
a bonanza. They were, it Is said, offered
100000 cash for it.
a fatal error Of judgment. The mine within
six months proved to be an improbable
hole In the ground.
Osbourne, disguised with his luck, started
for San Francisco with his family. He
had 81 in his pocket when he reached the
Golden Gate.
He knew considerable about law and being
rapid and accurate stenographer, expert
enced no difficult In securing employment.
1t was but q short time until he could
command his own terms for his services. 1t
Is said that he often received as much as
$1,000 for reporting case.
OSBOURNE'S prosperity was reflected in
~ the subsequent life Of his family. His
two children were sent abroad to complete
their education, the son to England and the
daughter to France.
Later their mother went to Europe and
spent some time, alternately, with each Of
them.
1t was in 1876, during one Of her visits
to Paris. that Mrs. Osbourne met Robert
Louis Stevenson. He was already a celeb
rity. He was rapidly climbing the ladder
Of literary fame.
Their acquaintance rapidly developed into
mutual love. The tastes Of the pair ran in
parallel lines.
Mrs. Osbourne wrote to her husband and
told him Of her affection for the Scotch
genius.
Instantly the reply came that if she loved
Stevenson she had better return at once to
San Francisco, secure a divorce and marry
him. She followed the advice.
Shortly after the divorce was granted, to
which her husband interposed no defense
Invitations for her wedding to Stevenson
were sent out.
Samuel o. Osbourne was invited to the
wedding and accepted. The night Of the
ceremony he appeared In faultless attire and
seemingly high spirits.
He was accompanied by a lady Of rare
beauty. Mutual introductions proved her
to be his wife. They had been quietly
married as soon as Mrs. Osbourne's divorce
had been granted.
TN SPITE of Osbourne's seeming indiffer
i ence to the wreck of his home. later
events proved the falsity Of it all
The blow, it Is said, broke his heart.
There has persisted the story that Samuel
o. Osbourne completely disappeared after
the episode.
with his new wife he went to Australia.
His former friends lost all trace of him.
Stevenson and his wife, after returning
to Europe, started for the South Sea is-
land where he subsequently died