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would be able to run your magazine to much greater advantage if the
terms of authors were on the same scale with those of my cannibals。
We have also a house about the size of a manufacturer's lodge。
'Tis but the egg of the future palace； over the details of which on
paper Mrs。 Stevenson and I have already shed real tears； what it
will be when it comes to paying for it； I leave you to imagine。
But if it can only be built as now intended； it will be with
genuine satisfaction and a growunded pride that I shall welcome you
at the steps of my Old Colonial Home； when you land from the
steamer on a long…merited holiday。 I speak much at my ease； yet I
do not know； I may be now an outlaw； a bankrupt； the abhorred of
all good men。 I do not know； you probably do。 Has Hyde turned
upon me？ Have I fallen； like Danvers Carew？
It is suggested to me that you might like to know what will be my
future society。 Three consuls； all at logger…heads with one
another； or at the best in a clique of two against one； three
different sects of missionaries； not upon the best of terms； and
the Catholics and Protestants in a condition of unhealable ill…
feeling as to whether a wooden drum ought or ought not to be beaten
to announce the time of school。 The native population； very
genteel； very songful； very agreeable； very good…looking；
chronically spoiling for a fight （a circumstance not to be entirely
neglected in the design of the palace）。 As for the white
population of （technically； 'The Beach'）； I don't suppose it is
possible for any person not thoroughly conversant with the South
Seas to form the smallest conception of such a society； with its
grog…shops； its apparently unemployed hangers…on； its merchants of
all degrees of respectability and the reverse。 The paper； of which
I must really send you a copy … if yours were really a live
magazine； you would have an exchange with the editor： I assure
you； it has of late contained a great deal of matter about one of
your contributors … rejoices in the name of SAMOA TIMES AND SOUTH
SEA ADVERTISER。 The advertisements in the ADVERTISER are
permanent； being simply subsidies for its existence。 A dashing
warfare of newspaper correspondence goes on between the various
residents； who are rather fond of recurring to one another's
antecedents。 But when all is said； there are a lot of very nice；
pleasant people； and I don't know that Apia is very much worse than
half a hundred towns that I could name。
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
HOTEL SEBASTOPOL； NOUMEA； AUGUST 1890。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … I have stayed here a week while Lloyd and my
wife continue to voyage in the JANET NICOLL； this I did； partly to
see the convict system； partly to shorten my stay in the extreme
cold … hear me with my extreme！ MOI QUI SUIS ORIGINAIRE D'EDINBOURG
… of Sydney at this season。 I am feeling very seedy； utterly
fatigued； and overborne with sleep。 I have a fine old gentleman of
a doctor； who attends and cheers and entertains； if he does not
cure me； but even with his ministrations I am almost incapable of
the exertion sufficient for this letter； and I am really； as I
write； falling down with sleep。 What is necessary to say； I must
try to say shortly。 Lloyd goes to clear out our establishments：
pray keep him in funds； if I have any； if I have not； pray try to
raise them。 Here is the idea： to install ourselves； at the risk
of bankruptcy； in Samoa。 It is not the least likely it will pay
（although it may）； but it is almost certain it will support life；
with very few external expenses。 If I die； it will be an endowment
for the survivors； at least for my wife and Lloyd； and my mother；
who might prefer to go home； has her own。 Hence I believe I shall
do well to hurry my installation。 The letters are already in part
done； in part done is a novel for Scribner； in the course of the
next twelve months I should receive a considerable amount of money。
I am aware I had intended to pay back to my capital some of this。
I am now of opinion I should act foolishly。 Better to build the
house and have a roof and farm of my own； and thereafter； with a
livelihood assured； save and repay 。 。 。 There is my livelihood；
all but books and wine； ready in a nutshell； and it ought to be
more easy to save and to repay afterwards。 Excellent； say you； but
will you save and will you repay？ I do not know； said the Bell of
Old Bow。 。 。 。 It seems clear to me。 。 。 。 The deuce of the affair
is that I do not know when I shall see you and Colvin。 I guess you
will have to come and see me： many a time already we have arranged
the details of your visit in the yet unbuilt house on the mountain。
I shall be able to get decent wine from Noumea。 We shall be able
to give you a decent welcome； and talk of old days。 APROPOS of old
days； do you remember still the phrase we heard in Waterloo Place？
I believe you made a piece for the piano on that phrase。 Pray； if
you remember it； send it me in your next。 If you find it
impossible to write correctly； send it me A LA RECITATIVE； and
indicate the accents。 Do you feel （you must） how strangely heavy
and stupid I am？ I must at last give up and go sleep； I am simply
a rag。
The morrow： I feel better； but still dim and groggy。 To…night I
go to the governor's； such a lark … no dress clothes … twenty…four
hours' notice … able…bodied Polish tailor … suit made for a man
with the figure of a puncheon … same hastily altered for self with
the figure of a bodkin … sight inconceivable。 Never mind； dress
clothes； 'which nobody can deny'； and the officials have been all
so civil that I liked neither to refuse nor to appear in mufti。
Bad dress clothes only prove you are a grisly ass； no dress
clothes； even when explained； indicate a want of respect。 I wish
you were here with me to help me dress in this wild raiment； and to
accompany me to M。 Noel…Pardon's。 I cannot say what I would give
if there came a knock now at the door and you came in。 I guess
Noel…Pardon would go begging； and we might burn the fr。 200 dress
clothes in the back garden for a bonfire； or what would be yet more
expensive and more humorous； get them once more expanded to fit
you； and when that was done； a second time cut down for my gossamer
dimensions。
I hope you never forget to remember me to your father； who has
always a place in my heart； as I hope I have a little in his。 His
kindness helped me infinitely when you and I were young； I recall
it with gratitude and affection in this town of convicts at the
world's end。 There are very few things； my dear Charles； worth
mention： on a retrospect of life； the day's flash and colour； one
day with another； flames； dazzles； and puts to sleep； and when the
days are gone； like a fast…flying thaumatrope； they make but a
single pat