robert louis stevenson-第2章
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irit of that practice would still seem to me to be unjustly described by the word pity。
〃When I try to be measured； I find myself usually suspected of a sneaking unkindness for my subject； but you may be sure； sir； I would give up most other things to be as good a man as Thoreau。 Even my knowledge of him leads me thus far。
〃Should you find yourself able to push on so far … it may even lie on your way … believe me your visit will be very welcome。 The weather is cruel； but the place is； as I daresay you know； the very WALE of Scotland … bar Tummelside。 … Yours very sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。〃
Some delay took place in my leaving London for Scotland； and hence what seemed a hitch。 I wrote mentioning the reason of my delay； and expressing the fear that I might have to forego the prospect of seeing him in Braemar； as his circumstances might have altered in the meantime。 In answer came this note； like so many； if not most of his； indeed； without date：…
THE COTTAGE； CASTLETON OF BRAEMAR。 （NO DATE。）
〃MY DEAR SIR； … I am here as yet a fixture； and beg you to come our way。 Would Tuesday or Wednesday suit you by any chance？ We shall then； I believe； be empty： a thing favourable to talks。 You get here in time for dinner。 I stay till near the end of September； unless； as may very well be； the weather drive me forth。 … Yours very sincerely； ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。〃
I accordingly went to Braemar； where he and his wife and her son were staying with his father and mother。
These were red…letter days in my calendar alike on account of pleasant intercourse with his honoured father and himself。 Here is my pen…and…ink portrait of R。 L。 Stevenson； thrown down at the time：
Mr Stevenson's is； indeed； a very picturesque and striking figure。 Not so tall probably as he seems at first sight from his extreme thinness； but the pose and air could not be otherwise described than as distinguished。 Head of fine type； carried well on the shoulders and in walking with the impression of being a little thrown back； long brown hair； falling from under a broadish…brimmed Spanish form of soft felt hat； Rembrandtesque； loose kind of Inverness cape when walking； and invariable velvet jacket inside the house。 You would say at first sight； wherever you saw him； that he was a man of intellect； artistic and individual； wholly out of the common。 His face is sensitive； full of expression； though it could not be called strictly beautiful。 It is longish； especially seen in profile； and features a little irregular； the brow at once high and broad。 A hint of vagary； and just a hint in the expression； is qualified by the eyes； which are set rather far apart from each other as seems； and with a most wistful； and at the same time possibly a merry impish expression arising over that； yet frank and clear； piercing； but at the same time steady； and fall on you with a gentle radiance and animation as he speaks。 Romance； if with an indescribable SOUPCON of whimsicality； is marked upon him； sometimes he has the look as of the Ancient Mariner； and could fix you with his glittering e'e； and he would； as he points his sentences with a movement of his thin white forefinger； when this is not monopolised with the almost incessant cigarette。 There is a faint suggestion of a hair…brained sentimental trace on his countenance； but controlled； after all； by good Scotch sense and shrewdness。 In conversation he is very animated； and likes to ask questions。 A favourite and characteristic attitude with him was to put his foot on a chair or stool and rest his elbow on his knee； with his chin on his hand； or to sit； or rather to half sit； half lean； on the corner of a table or desk； one of his legs swinging freely； and when anything that tickled him was said he would laugh in the heartiest manner； even at the risk of bringing on his cough； which at that time was troublesome。 Often when he got animated he rose and walked about as he spoke； as if movement aided thought and expression。 Though he loved Edinburgh； which was full of associations for him； he had no good word for its east winds； which to him were as death。 Yet he passed one winter as a 〃Silverado squatter；〃 the story of which he has inimitably told in the volume titled THE SILVERADO SQUATTERS； and he afterwards spent several winters at Davos Platz； where； as he said to me； he not only breathed good air； but learned to know with closest intimacy John Addington Symonds； who 〃though his books were good； was far finer and more interesting than any of his books。〃 He needed a good deal of nursery attentions； but his invalidism was never obtrusively brought before one in any sympathy…seeking way by himself； on the contrary； a very manly； self…sustaining spirit was evident； and the amount of work which he managed to turn out even when at his worst was truly surprising。
His wife； an American lady； is highly cultured； and is herself an author。 In her speech there is just the slightest suggestion of the American accent； which only made it the more pleasing to my ear。 She is heart and soul devoted to her husband； proud of his achievements； and her delight is the consciousness of substantially aiding him in his enterprises。
They then had with them a boy of eleven or twelve； Samuel Lloyd Osbourne； to be much referred to later （a son of Mrs Stevenson by a former marriage）； whose delight was to draw the oddest； but perhaps half intentional or unintentional caricatures； funny； in some cases； beyond expression。 His room was designated the picture… gallery； and on entering I could scarce refrain from bursting into laughter； even at the general effect； and； noticing this； and that I was putting some restraint on myself out of respect for the host's feelings； Stevenson said to me with a sly wink and a gentle dig in the ribs； 〃It's laugh and be thankful here。〃 On Lloyd's account simple engraving materials； types； and a small printing… press had been procured； and it was Stevenson's delight to make funny poems； stories； and morals for the engravings executed； and all would be duly printed together。 Stevenson's thorough enjoyment of the picture…gallery； and his goodness to Lloyd； becoming himself a very boy for the nonce； were delightful to witness and in degree to share。 Wherever they were … at Braemar； in Edinburgh； at Davos Platz； or even at Silverado … the engraving and printing went on。 The mention of the picture…gallery suggests that it was out of his interest in the colour…drawing and the picture…gallery that his first published story； TREASURE ISLAND； grew； as we shall see。
I have some copies of the rude printing…press productions； inexpressibly quaint； grotesque； a kind of literary horse…play； yet with a certain squint…eyed； sprawling genius in it； and innocent childish Rabelaisian mirth of a sort。 At all events I cannot look at the slight memorials of that time； which I still possess； without laughing afresh till my eyes are dewy。 Stevenson； as I understood； began TREASURE ISLAND more to entertain Lloyd Osbourne than anything else； the chapters being regularly read to the family circle as they were written； and with scarcely a purpose beyond。 The lad became Stevenson's trusted companion and collaborator … clearly with a touch of genius。
I have before me as I write some of these funny momentoes of that time； carefully kept； often looked at。 One of them is； 〃THE BLACK CANYON； OR； WILD ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST： a Tale of Instruction and Amusement for the Young； by Samuel L。 Osbourne； printed by the author； Davos Platz；〃 with the most remarkable cuts。 It would not do some of the sensationalists anything but good to read it even at this day； since many points in their art are absurdly caricatured。 Another is 〃MORAL EMBLEMS； A COLLECTION OF CUTS AND VERSES； by R。 L。 Stevenson； author of the BLUE SCALPER； etc。； etc。 Printers； S。 L。 Osbourne and Company； Davos Platz。〃 Here are the lines to a rare piece of grotesque； titled A PEAK IN DARIEN …
'Broad…gazing on untrodden lands； See where adventurous Cortez stands； While in the heavens above his head； The eagle seeks its d
