robert louis stevenson-第12章
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ill hours。〃
CHAPTER VIII … WORK OF LATER YEARS
MR HAMMERTON； in his STEVENSONIANA （pp。 323…4）； has given the humorous inscriptions on the volumes of his works which Stevenson presented to Dr Trudeau； who attended him when he was in Saranac in 1887…88 … very characteristic in every way； and showing fully Stevenson's fine appreciation of any attention or service。 On the DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE volume he wrote：
〃Trudeau was all the winter at my side： I never saw the nose of Mr Hyde。〃
And on KIDNAPPED is this：
〃Here is the one sound page of all my writing； The one I'm proud of and that I delight in。〃
Stevenson was exquisite in this class of efforts； and were they all collected they would form indeed； a fine supplement and illustration of the leading lesson of his essays … the true art of pleasing others； and of truly pleasing one's self at the same time。 To my thinking the finest of all in this line is the legal （？） deed by which he conveyed his birthday to little Miss Annie Ide； the daughter of Mr H。 C。 Ide； a well…known American； who was for several years a resident of Upolo； in Samoa； first as Land Commissioner； and later as Chief Justice under the joint appointment of England； Germany； and the United States。 While living at Apia； Mr Ide and his family were very intimate with the family of R。 L。 Stevenson。 Little Annie was a special pet and protege of Stevenson and his wife。 After the return of the Ides to their American home； Stevenson 〃deeded〃 to Annie his birthday in the following unique document：
I； ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON； advocate of the Scots Bar； author of THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE and MORAL EMBLEMS； civil engineer； sole owner and patentee of the palace and plantation known as Vailima； in the island of Upolo； Samoa； a British subject； being in sound mind； and pretty well； I thank you； in mind and body；
In consideration that Miss Annie H。 Ide； daughter of H。 C。 Ide； in the town of Saint Johnsbury； in the County of Caledonia； in the State of Vermont； United States of America； was born； out of all reason； upon Christmas Day； and is； therefore； out of all justice； denied the consolation and profit of a proper birthday；
And considering that I； the said Robert Louis Stevenson； have attained the age when we never mention it； and that I have now no further use for a birthday of any description；
And in consideration that I have met H。 C。 Ide； the father of the said Annie H。 Ide； and found him as white a land commissioner as I require； I have transferred； and do hereby transfer； to the said Annie H。 Ide； all and whole of my rights and privileges in the 13th day of November； formerly my birthday； now； hereby and henceforth； the birthday of the said Annie H。 Ide； to have； hold； exercise； and enjoy the same in the customary manner； by the sporting of fine raiment； eating of rich meats； and receipt of gifts； compliments； and copies of verse； according to the manner of our ancestors；
And I direct the said Annie H。 Ide to add to the said name of Annie H。 Ide the name of Louisa … at least in private … and I charge her to use my said birthday with moderation and humanity； ET TAMQUAM BONA FILIA FAMILIAS； the said birthday not being so young as it once was and having carried me in a very satisfactory manner since I can remember；
And in case the said Annie H。 Ide shall neglect or contravene either of the above conditions； I hereby revoke the donation and transfer my rights in the said birthday to the President of the United States of America for the time being。
In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 19th day of June； in the year of grace eighteen hundred and ninety…one。
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。 ＇Seal。＇ WITNESS； LLOYD OSBOURNE。 WITNESS； HAROLD WATTS。
He died in Samoa in December 1894 … not from phthisis or anything directly connected with it； but from the bursting of a blood…vessel and suffusion of blood on the brain。 He had up to the moment almost of his sudden and unexpected death been busy on WEIR OF HERMISTON and ST IVES； which he left unfinished … the latter having been brought to a conclusion by Mr Quiller…Couch。
CHAPTER IX … SOME CHARACTERISTICS
IN Stevenson we lost one of the most powerful writers of our day； as well as the most varied in theme and style。 When I use the word 〃powerful；〃 I do not mean merely the producing of the most striking or sensational results； nor the facility of weaving a fascinating or blood…curdling plot； I mean the writer who seemed always to have most in reserve … a secret fund of power and fascination which always pointed beyond the printed page； and set before the attentive and careful reader a strange but fascinating PERSONALITY。 Other authors have done that in measure。 There was Hawthorne； behind whose writings there is always the wistful； cold； far… withdrawn spectator of human nature … eerie； inquisitive； and； I had almost said； inquisitorial … a little bloodless； eerie； weird； and cobwebby。 There was Dr Wendell Holmes； with his problems of heredity； of race…mixture and weird inoculation； as in ELSIE VENNER and THE GUARDIAN ANGEL； and there were Poe and Charles Whitehead。 Stevenson； in a few of his writings … in one of the MERRY MEN chapters and in DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE； and； to some extent； in THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE … showed that he could enter on the obscure and； in a sense； weird and metaphysical elements in human life； though always there was； too； a touch at least of gloomy suggestion； from which； as it seemed； he could not there wholly escape。 But always； too； there was a touch that suggests the universal。
Even in the stories that would be classed as those of incident and adventure merely； TREASURE ISLAND； KIDNAPPED； and the rest； there is a sense as of some unaffected but fine symbolism that somehow touches something of possibility in yourself as you read。 The simplest narrative from his hand proclaimed itself a deep study in human nature … its motives tendencies； and possibilities。 In these stories there is promise at once of the most realistic imagination； the most fantastic romance； keen insights into some sides of human nature； and weird fancies； as well as the most delicate and dainty pictures of character。 And this is precisely what we have … always with a vein of the finest autobiography … a kind of select and indirect self…revelation … often with a touch of quaintness； a subdued humour； and sweet…blooded vagary； if we may be allowed the word； which make you feel towards the writer as towards a friend。 He was too much an artist to overdo this； and his strength lies there； that generally he suggests and turns away at the right point； with a smile； as you ask for MORE。 Look how he sets； half slyly； these words into the mouth of David Balfour on his first meeting with Catriona in one of the steep wynds or closes off the High Street of Edinburgh：
〃There is no greater wonder than the way the face of a young woman fits in a man's mind； and stays there； and he never could tell you why： it just seems it was the thing he wanted。〃
Take this alongside of his remark made to his mother while still a youth … 〃that he did not care to understand the strain on a bridge〃 （when he tried to study engineering）； what he wanted was something with human nature in it。 His style； in his essays； etc。； where he writes in his own person； is most polished； full of phrases finely drawn； when he speaks through others； as in KIDNAPPED and DAVID BALFOUR； it is still fine and effective； and generally it is fairly true to the character； with cunning glimpses； nevertheless； of his own temper and feeling too。 He makes us feel his confidants and friends； as has been said。 One could almost construct a biography from his essays and his novels … the one would give us the facts of his life suffused with fancy and ideal colour； humour and fine observation not wanting； the other would give us the history of his mental and moral being and development； and of the traits and determinations which he drew from along a lengthened line of progenitors。 How characteristic it is of him … a man who for so many year
