Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-31
FAMOUS AUTHOR HELPED
PUBLISH SAMOAN PAPER
X o bert Louis Stevenson
Proved Himself Friend to
Islands Natives.
GAVE THEM "BOTTLE IMP
Story WINS Head In Nearly Every
samoan Home Before IL Was Pub
Iishcd In England, According to
Writer'S Statement

II; was my privilege to enjoy the
friendship Of Il. l.. 5. from Deccm-
Der. 1889. until 1892. when / left the
Samoan Islands for England" writes
the Rev. y. Il. ClaSton. in Chambers
Journal. Stevenson" he continued.
arrived in Samoa on the Eth of De-
cember. and came to lunch in my mis-
s!onarE home, at Leulumocnga, elgh-
teen miles from Apia. about a week
later.
Early in 1890 I was transferred
from LcuiumocnEa to Apia, and came
into closer touch with Stevenson
One of my duties at Apia was to
originate and edit a periodical in the
samoan language. which was called
Ole Suiu Samoa This periodical was
10 contain, besides very fun lesson
helps for sunday school teachers
special articles. general information.
and news. Mr. Newell Chen our Sc
Nor missionary, at my suggestion.
sounded II. l.. S. as TO his Willingness
{" let me translate and publish I'm
the Sulu one of his short stories. To
this he agreed, and The Bottle linn"
was the one selected.
Gave Much Time.
That is how II came TO PASS thai
this story was read in nearly every
home in Samoa before II was pub
ltshcd in English. BY mutual agree
mcnt Stevenson and ! spent an even
ing together each month. going over
each chapter before il was printed,
and discussing my translation. He
was rapidly picking up knowledge
Of the Samoan language. and he
seemed TO enjoy the balancing of
rival expressions in the Samoan i'd
ION. II We were prevented from
meeting TO talk 1t over. correspond
ence passed between us concerning
the next monthly chapter.
Unfortunately most OF this CORE
spondence has been lost by shipwrcck
in the rapids OF the Yangtzc River
in China.
The story became popular with
the Samoans at once, and led To Il
great increase in the circulation Of
the Sulu.
Stevenson said TO ME one day. I
sometimes almost wish had not
agreed 10 the printing of The Bottle
Imp" in your paper, for I get such n
lot OF Samoan visitors, who stay a
long time. keeping me from my work
and when am Obliged to excuse
myself they shyly ask If they might
have a peep at the imp himself be-
fore they go away. They THINK keep
him in my safe.
When a reprint of the story in
Samoan was called for few years
later. MIR. Newell. who succeeded me
In the editorship OF the Sulu. could
lay his hand upon only "A single copy.
'Stevcnson's sympathetic help was
always to he relied on. When the
little iron church was replaced by
better building he heartily sent me
A donation. and attended the opening
services Of the first instalment OF
the new building-a new chanccl. At
the close, with characteristics k!ndli-
ness. he waited TO congratulate me
on the brightness and suitability OF
the service. and especially on the
artistic unity of the mise en- scene.
III religion could have been al
ways and only artistic he would
have been religious always. but he
deplored the marring, and often the
destruction. of the artistic or aeS-
thctic unity by puritanic doctrine.
"Stevenson's choice OF Samoa 10
settle in. after several years of wan
dcring among the islands. was char
acteristic. Mountain ranges, sunny
cline. luNuriant tropical vegetation.
a delightful race with gentle and
courtly manners in times of peace.
and savage daring in war--a race on
TIL. bordcrland between savagery and
Western culture-and history in the
crucible really for the making, all
appealed TO him. Nothing that hap
pened escaped his notice or failed to
enlist his ardent interest. His inn
questionable. artistic temperament
lent itself to every influence. He had
rare power OF being all things 10
all men.
lie congratulated himself on be-
ing an exile as his friends called
hin. He pitied. not ironically. but
quite sincerely. those friends who
were in bondage to the conventional
lilies OF Edinburgh and London and
Paris. because. to his many sided
mentality. life there was tame by
comparison"