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Robert Louis Stevenson； A Record； An Estimate； A Memorial
by A。 H。 Japp
PREFACE
A FEW words may here be allowed me to explain one or two points。 First； about the facsimile of last page of Preface to FAMILIAR STUDIES OF MEN AND BOOKS。 Stevenson was in Davos when the greater portion of that work went through the press。 He felt so much the disadvantage of being there in the circumstances （both himself and his wife ill） that he begged me to read the proofs of the Preface for him。 This illness has record in the letter from him （pp。 28… 29）。 The printers； of course； had directions to send the copy and proofs of the Preface to me。 Hence I am able now to give this facsimile。
With regard to the letter at p。 19； of which facsimile is also given； what Stevenson there meant is not the 〃three last〃 of that batch； but the three last sent to me before … though that was an error on his part … he only then sent two chapters； making the 〃eleven chapters now〃 … sent to me by post。
Another point on which I might have dwelt and illustrated by many instances is this； that though Stevenson was fond of hob…nobbing with all sorts and conditions of men； this desire of wide contact and intercourse has little show in his novels … the ordinary fibre of commonplace human beings not receiving much celebration from him there； another case in which his private bent and sympathies received little illustration in his novels。 But the fact lies implicit in much I have written。
I have to thank many authors for permission to quote extracts I have used。
ALEXANDER H。 JAPP。
CONTENTS
I。 INTRODUCTION AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS II。 TREASURE ISLAND AND SOME REMINISCENCES III。 THE CHILD FATHER OF THE MAN IV。 HEREDITY ILLUSTRATED V。 TRAVELS VI。 SOME EARLIER LETTERS VII。 THE VAILIMA LETTERS VIII。 WORK OF LATER YEARS IX。 SOME CHARACTERISTICS X。 A SAMOAN MEMORIAL OF R。 L。 STEVENSON XI。 MISS STUBBS' RECORD OF A PILGRIMAGE XII。 HIS GENIUS AND METHODS XIII。 PREACHER AND MYSTIC FABULIST XIV。 STEVENSON AS DRAMATIST XV。 THEORY OF GOOD AND EVIL XVI。 STEVENSON'S GLOOM XVII。 PROOFS OF GROWTH XVIII。 EARLIER DETERMINATIONS AND RESULTS XIX。 MR EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN'S ESTIMATE XX。 EGOTISTIC ELEMENT AND ITS EFFECTS XXI。 UNITY IN STEVENSON'S STORIES XXII。 PERSONAL CHEERFULNESS AND INVENTED GLOOM XXIII。 EDINBURGH REVIEWERS' DICTA INAPPLICABLE TO LATER WORK XXIV。 MR HENLEY'S SPITEFUL PERVERSIONS XXV。 MR CHRISTIE MURRAY'S IMPRESSIONS XXVI。 HERO…VILLAINS XXVII。 MR G。 MOORE； MR MARRIOTT WATSON； AND OTHERS XXVIII。 UNEXPECTED COMBINATIONS XXIX。 LOVE OF VAGABONDS XXX。 LORD ROSEBERY'S CASE XXXI。 MR GOSSE AND MS。 OF TREASURE ISLAND XXXII。 STEVENSON PORTRAITS XXXIII。 LAPSES AND ERRORS IN CRITICISM XXXIV。 LETTERS AND POEMS IN TESTIMONY APPENDIX
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
CHAPTER I … INTRODUCTION AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS
MY little effort to make Thoreau better known in England had one result that I am pleased to think of。 It brought me into personal association with R。 L。 Stevenson； who had written and published in THE CORNHILL MAGAZINE an essay on Thoreau； in whom he had for some time taken an interest。 He found in Thoreau not only a rare character for originality； courage； and indefatigable independence； but also a master of style； to whom； on this account； as much as any； he was inclined to play the part of the 〃sedulous ape；〃 as he had acknowledged doing to many others … a later exercise； perhaps in some ways as fruitful as any that had gone before。 A recent poet； having had some seeds of plants sent to him from Northern Scotland to the South； celebrated his setting of them beside those native to the Surrey slope on which he dwelt； with the lines …
〃And when the Northern seeds are growing； Another beauty then bestowing； We shall be fine； and North to South Be giving kisses； mouth to mouth。〃
So the Thoreau influence on Stevenson was as if a tart American wild…apple had been grafted on an English pippin； and produced a wholly new kind with the flavours of both； and here wild America and England kissed each other mouth to mouth。
The direct result was the essay in THE CORNHILL； but the indirect results were many and less easily assessed； as Stevenson himself； as we shall see； was ever ready to admit。 The essay on Thoreau was written in America； which further； perhaps； bears out my point。
One of the authorities； quoted by Mr Hammerton； in STEVENSONIANA says of the circumstances in which he found our author； when he was busily engaged on that bit of work：
〃I have visited him in a lonely lodging in California； it was previous to his happy marriage； and found him submerged in billows of bed…clothes； about him floated the scattered volumes of a complete set of Thoreau； he was preparing an essay on that worthy； and he looked at the moment like a half…drowned man； yet he was not cast down。 His work； an endless task； was better than a straw to him。 It was to become his life…preserver and to prolong his years。 I feel convinced that without it he must have surrendered long since。 I found Stevenson a man of the frailest physique； though most unaccountably tenacious of life； a man whose pen was indefatigable； whose brain was never at rest； who； as far as I am able to judge； looked upon everybody and everything from a supremely intellectual point of view。〃 （1）
We remember the common belief in Yorkshire and other parts that a man could not die so long as he could stand up … a belief on which poor Branwell Bronte was fain to act and to illustrate； but R。 L。 Stevenson illustrated it； as this writer shows； in a better； calmer； and healthier way； despite his lack of health。
On some little points of fact； however； Stevenson was wrong； and I wrote to the Editor of THE SPECTATOR a letter； titled； I think； 〃Thoreau's Pity and Humour；〃 which he inserted。 This brought me a private letter from Stevenson； who expressed the wish to see me； and have some talk with me on that and other matters。 To this letter I at once replied； directing to 17 Heriot Row； Edinburgh； saying that； as I was soon to be in that City； it might be possible for me to see him there。 In reply to this letter Mr Stevenson wrote：
〃THE COTTAGE； CASTLETON OF BRAEMAR； SUNDAY； AUGUST （？ TH）； 1881。
〃MY DEAR SIR； … I should long ago have written to thank you for your kind and frank letter； but； in my state of health； papers are apt to get mislaid； and your letter has been vainly hunted for until this （Sunday） morning。
〃I must first say a word as to not quoting your book by name。 It was the consciousness that we disagreed which led me； I daresay； wrongly； to suppress ALL references throughout the paper。 But you may be certain a proper reference will now be introduced。
〃I regret I shall not be able to see you in Edinburgh： one visit to Edinburgh has already cost me too dear in that invaluable particular； health； but if it should be at all possible for you to pass by Braemar； I believe you would find an attentive listener； and I can offer you a bed； a drive； and necessary food。
〃If； howeve