robert louis stevenson-第9章
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stood； though he was not。 Posing as 'Velvet Coat' among the slums； he did no good to himself。 He had not the Dickens aptitude for depicting the ways of life of his adopted friends。 When with refined judgment he wanted a figure for a novel； he went back to the Bar he scorned in his callow days and then drew in WEIR OF HERMISTON。〃
CHAPTER V … TRAVELS
HIS interest in engineering soon went … his mind full of stories and fancies and human nature。 As he had told his mother： he did not care about finding what was 〃the strain on a bridge；〃 he wanted to know something of human beings。
No doubt； much to the disappointment and grief of his father； who wished him as an only son to carry on the traditions of the family； though he had written two engineering essays of utmost promise； the engineering was given up； and he consented to study law。 He had already contributed to College Magazines； and had had even a short spell of editing one； of one of these he has given a racy account。 Very soon after his call to the Bar articles and essays from his pen began to appear in MACMILLAN'S； and later； more regularly in the CORNHILL。 Careful readers soon began to note here the presence of a new force。 He had gone on the INLAND VOYAGE and an account of it was in hand； and had done that tour in the Cevennes which he has described under the title TRAVELS WITH A DONKEY IN THE CEVENNES； with Modestine； sometimes doubting which was the donkey； but on that tour a chill caught either developed a germ of lung disease already present； or produced it； and the results unfortunately remained。
He never practised at the Bar； though he tells facetiously of his one brief。 He had chosen his own vocation； which was literature； and the years which followed were； despite the delicacy which showed itself； very busy years。 He produced volume on volume。 He had written many stories which had never seen the light； but； as he says； passed through the ordeal of the fire by more or less circuitous ways。
By this time some trouble and cause for anxiety had arisen about the lungs； and trials of various places had been made。 ORDERED SOUTH suggests the Mediterranean； sunny Italy； the Riviera。 Then a sea…trip to America was recommended and undertaken。 Unfortunately； he got worse there； his original cause of trouble was complicated with others； and the medical treatment given was stupid； and exaggerated some of the symptoms instead of removing them； All along … up； at all events； to the time of his settlement in Samoa … Stevenson was more or less of an invalid。
Indeed； were I ever to write an essay on the art of wisely 〃laying… to；〃 as the sailors say； I would point it by a reference to R。 L。 Stevenson。 For there is a wise way of 〃laying…to〃 that does not imply inaction； but discreet； well…directed effort； against contrary winds and rough seas； that is； amid obstacles and drawbacks； and even ill…health； where passive and active may balance and give effect to each other。 Stevenson was by native instinct and temperament a rover … a lover of adventure； of strange by…ways； errant tracts （as seen in his INLAND VOYAGE and TRAVELS WITH A DONKEY THROUGH THE CEVENNES … seen yet more； perhaps； in a certain account of a voyage to America as a steerage passenger）； lofty mountain…tops； with stronger air； and strange and novel surroundings。 He would fain； like Ulysses； be at home in foreign lands； making acquaintance with outlying races； with
〃Cities of men； And manners； climates； councils； governments： Myself not least； but honoured of them all； Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy。〃
If he could not move about as he would； he would invent； make fancy serve him instead of experience。 We thus owe something to the staying and restraining forces in him； and a wise 〃laying…to〃 … for his works； which are； in large part； finely…healthy； objective； and in almost everything unlike the work of an invalid； yet； in some degree； were but the devices to beguile the burdens of an invalid's days。 Instead of remaining in our climate； it might be； to lie listless and helpless half the day； with no companion but his own thoughts and fancies （not always so pleasant either； if； like Frankenstein's monster； or； better still like the imp in the bottle in the ARABIAN NIGHTS； you cannot； once for all liberate them； and set them adrift on their own charges to visit other people）； he made a home in the sweeter air and more steady climate of the South Pacific； where； under the Southern Cross； he could safely and beneficially be as active as he would be involuntarily idle at home； or work only under pressure of hampering conditions。 That was surely an illustration of the true 〃laying…to〃 with an unaffectedly brave； bright resolution in it。
CHAPTER VI … SOME EARLIER LETTERS
CARLYLE was wont to say that； next to a faithful portrait； familiar letters were the best medium to reveal a man。 The letters must have been written with no idea of being used for this end； however … free； artless； the unstudied self…revealings of mind and heart。 Now； these letters of R。 L。 Stevenson； written to his friends in England； have a vast value in this way … they reveal the man … reveal him in his strength and his weakness … his ready gift in pleasing and adapting himself to those with whom he corresponded； and his great power at once of adapting himself to his circumstances and of humorously rising superior to them。 When he was ill and almost penniless in San Francisco； he could give Mr Colvin this account of his daily routine：
〃Any time between eight and half…past nine in the morning a slender gentleman in an ulster； with a volume buttoned into the breast of it； maybe observed leaving No。 608 Bush and descending Powell with an active step。 The gentleman is R。 L。 Stevenson； the volume relates to Benjamin Franklin； on whom he meditates one of his charming essays。 He descends Powell； crosses Market； and descends in Sixth on a branch of the original Pine Street Coffee…House； no less。 。 。 。 He seats himself at a table covered with waxcloth； and a pampered menial of High…Dutch extraction； and； indeed； as yet only partially extracted； lays before him a cup of coffee； a roll； and a pat of butter； all； to quote the deity； very good。 A while ago； and R。 L。 Stevenson used to find the supply of butter insufficient； but he has now learned the art to exactitude； and butter and roll expire at the same moment。 For this rejection he pays ten cents； or fivepence sterling。
〃Half an hour later； the inhabitants of Bush Street observed the same slender gentleman armed； like George Washington； with his little hatchet； splitting kindling； and breaking coal for his fire。 He does this quasi…publicly upon the window…sill； but this is not to be attributed to any love of notoriety； though he is indeed vain of his prowess with the hatchet （which he persists in calling an axe）； and daily surprised at the perpetuation of his fingers。 The reason is this： That the sill is a strong supporting beam； and that blows of the same emphasis in other parts of his room might knock the entire shanty into hell。 Thenceforth； for from three hours； he is engaged darkly with an ink…bottle。 Yet he is not blacking his boots； for the only pair that he possesses are innocent of lustre； and wear the natural hue of the material turned up with caked and venerable slush。 The youngest child of his landlady remarks several times a day； as this strange occupant enters or quits the house； 'Dere's de author。' Can it be that this bright…haired innocent has found the true clue to the mystery？ The being in question is； at least； poor enough to belong to that honourable craft。〃
Here are a few letters belonging to the winter of 1887…88； nearly all written from Saranac Lake； in the Adirondacks； celebrated by Emerson； and now a most popular holiday resort in the United States； and were originally published in SCRIBNER'S MAGAZINE。 。 。 〃It should be said that； after his long spell of weakness at Bournemouth； Stevenson had gone West in search of health among the bleak hill summits … 'on the Canadian border of New Y
