The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2

Name: The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2
Author: Stevenson, Robert Louis

Stevenson, Robert Louis

Authors, Scottish -- 19th century -- Correspondence; Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894 -- Correspondence

They’re pretty second-rate, but felt.  I can’t be bothered to copy the
other.

I have bought 314½ acres of beautiful land in the bush behind Apia; when
we get the house built, the garden laid, and cattle in the place, it will
be something to fall back on for shelter and food; and if the island
could stumble into political quiet, it is conceivable it might even bring
a little income. . . . We range from 600 to 1500 feet, have five streams,
waterfalls, precipices, profound ravines, rich tablelands, fifty head of
cattle on the ground (if any one could catch them), a great view of
forest, sea, mountains, the warships in the haven: really a noble place.
Some day you are to take a long holiday and come and see us: it has been
all planned.

With all these irons in the fire, and cloudy prospects, you may be sure I
was pleased to hear a good account of business.  I believed _The Master_
was a sure card: I wonder why Henley thinks it grimy; grim it is, God
knows, but sure not grimy, else I am the more deceived.  I am sorry he
did not care for it; I place it on the line with _Kidnapped_ myself.
We’ll see as time goes on whether it goes above or falls below.

                                                                  R. L. S.



TO E. L. BURLINGAME


               _SS. Lübeck_, [_between Apia and Sydney_, _February_] 1890.

MY DEAR BURLINGAME,—I desire nothing better than to continue my relation
with the Magazine, to which it pleases me to hear I have been useful.
The only thing I have ready is the enclosed barbaric piece.  As soon as I
have arrived in Sydney I shall send you some photographs, a portrait of
Tembinoka, perhaps a view of the palace or of the ‘matted men’ at their
singing; also T.’s flag, which my wife designed for him: in a word, what
I can do best for you.  It will be thus a foretaste of my book of
travels.  I shall ask you to let me have, if I wish it, the use of the
plates made, and to make up a little tract of the verses and
illustrations, of which you might send six copies to H. M. Tembinoka,
King of Apemama _via_ Butaritari, Gilbert Islands.  It might be best to
send it by Crawford and Co., S. F.  There is no postal service; and
schooners must take it, how they may and when.  Perhaps some such note as
this might be prefixed:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2Stevenson, Robert Louis

General

The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2

Stevenson, Robert Louis

Authors, Scottish -- 19th century -- Correspondence; Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894 -- Correspondence

They’re pretty second-rate, but felt.  I can’t be bothered to copy the
other.

I have bought 314½ acres of beautiful land in the bush behind Apia; when
we get the house built, the garden laid, and cattle in the place, it will
be something to fall back on for shelter and food; and if the island
could stumble into political quiet, it is conceivable it might even bring
a little income. . . . We range from 600 to 1500 feet, have five streams,
waterfalls, precipices, profound ravines, rich tablelands, fifty head of
cattle on the ground (if any one could catch them), a great view of
forest, sea, mountains, the warships in the haven: really a noble place.
Some day you are to take a long holiday and come and see us: it has been
all planned.

With all these irons in the fire, and cloudy prospects, you may be sure I
was pleased to hear a good account of business.  I believed _The Master_
was a sure card: I wonder why Henley thinks it grimy; grim it is, God
knows, but sure not grimy, else I am the more deceived.  I am sorry he
did not care for it; I place it on the line with _Kidnapped_ myself.
We’ll see as time goes on whether it goes above or falls below.

                                                                  R. L. S.



TO E. L. BURLINGAME


               _SS. Lübeck_, [_between Apia and Sydney_, _February_] 1890.

MY DEAR BURLINGAME,—I desire nothing better than to continue my relation
with the Magazine, to which it pleases me to hear I have been useful.
The only thing I have ready is the enclosed barbaric piece.  As soon as I
have arrived in Sydney I shall send you some photographs, a portrait of
Tembinoka, perhaps a view of the palace or of the ‘matted men’ at their
singing; also T.’s flag, which my wife designed for him: in a word, what
I can do best for you.  It will be thus a foretaste of my book of
travels.  I shall ask you to let me have, if I wish it, the use of the
plates made, and to make up a little tract of the verses and
illustrations, of which you might send six copies to H. M. Tembinoka,
King of Apemama _via_ Butaritari, Gilbert Islands.  It might be best to
send it by Crawford and Co., S. F.  There is no postal service; and
schooners must take it, how they may and when.  Perhaps some such note as
this might be prefixed:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2

The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2

No reviews yet