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had。 Well； you pay high； it is fit that I should have to work
hard； it somewhat quiets my conscience。 … Yours very truly；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO J。 A。 SYMONDS
SARANAC LAKE； ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS； NEW YORK； U。S。A。； NOVEMBER 21；
1887。
MY DEAR SYMONDS； … I think we have both meant and wanted to write
to you any time these months； but we have been much tossed about；
among new faces and old； and new scenes and old； and scenes （like
this of Saranac） which are neither one nor other。 To give you some
clue to our affairs； I had best begin pretty well back。 We sailed
from the Thames in a vast bucket of iron that took seventeen days
from shore to shore。 I cannot describe how I enjoyed the voyage；
nor what good it did me； but on the Banks I caught friend catarrh。
In New York and then in Newport I was pretty ill； but on my return
to New York； lying in bed most of the time； with St。 Gaudens the
sculptor sculping me； and my old friend Low around； I began to pick
up once more。 Now here we are in a kind of wilderness of hills and
firwoods and boulders and snow and wooden houses。 So far as we
have gone the climate is grey and harsh； but hungry and somnolent；
and although not charming like that of Davos； essentially bracing
and briskening。 The country is a kind of insane mixture of
Scotland and a touch of Switzerland and a dash of America； and a
thought of the British Channel in the skies。 We have a decent
house …
DECEMBER 6TH。
… A decent house； as I was saying； sir； on a hill…top； with a look
down a Scottish river in front； and on one hand a Perthshire hill；
on the other； the beginnings and skirts of the village play hide
and seek among other hills。 We have been below zero； I know not
how far （10 at 8 A。M。 once）； and when it is cold it is delightful；
but hitherto the cold has not held； and we have chopped in and out
from frost to thaw； from snow to rain； from quiet air to the most
disastrous north…westerly curdlers of the blood。 After a week of
practical thaw； the ice still bears in favoured places。 So there
is hope。
I wonder if you saw my book of verses？ It went into a second
edition； because of my name； I suppose； and its PROSE merits。 I do
not set up to be a poet。 Only an all…round literary man： a man
who talks； not one who sings。 But I believe the very fact that it
was only speech served the book with the public。 Horace is much a
speaker； and see how popular！ most of Martial is only speech； and I
cannot conceive a person who does not love his Martial； most of
Burns； also； such as 'The Louse；' 'The Toothache；' 'The Haggis；'
and lots more of his best。 Excuse this little apology for my
house； but I don't like to come before people who have a note of
song； and let it be supposed I do not know the difference。
To return to the more important … news。 My wife again suffers in
high and cold places； I again profit。 She is off to…day to New
York for a change； as heretofore to Berne； but I am glad to say in
better case than then。 Still it is undeniable she suffers； and you
must excuse her （at least） if we both prove bad correspondents。 I
am decidedly better； but I have been terribly cut up with business
complications： one disagreeable； as threatening loss； one； of the
most intolerable complexion； as involving me in dishonour。 The
burthen of consistent carelessness： I have lost much by it in the
past； and for once （to my damnation） I have gained。 I am sure you
will sympathise。 It is hard work to sleep； it is hard to be told
you are a liar； and have to hold your peace； and think； 'Yes； by
God； and a thief too！' You remember my lectures on Ajax； or the
Unintentional Sin？ Well； I know all about that now。 Nothing seems
so unjust to the sufferer： or is more just in essence。 LAISSEZ
PASSER LA JUSTICE DE DIEU。
Lloyd has learned to use the typewriter； and has most gallantly
completed upon that the draft of a tale； which seems to me not
without merit and promise； it is so silly； so gay； so absurd； in
spots （to my partial eyes） so genuinely humorous。 It is true； he
would not have written it but for the New Arabian Nights； but it is
strange to find a young writer funny。 Heavens； but I was
depressing when I took the pen in hand！ And now I doubt if I am
sadder than my neighbours。 Will this beginner move in the inverse
direction？
Let me have your news； and believe me； my dear Symonds； with
genuine affection； yours；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO W。 E。 HENLEY
SARANAC ＇DECEMBER 1887＇。
MY DEAR LAD； … I was indeed overjoyed to hear of the Dumas。 In the
matter of the dedication； are not cross dedications a little
awkward？ Lang and Rider Haggard did it； to be sure。 Perpend。 And
if you should conclude against a dedication； there is a passage in
MEMORIES AND PORTRAITS written AT you； when I was most desperate
（to stir you up a bit）； which might be quoted： something about
Dumas still waiting his biographer。 I have a decent time when the
weather is fine； when it is grey； or windy； or wet （as it too often
is）； I am merely degraded to the dirt。 I get some work done every
day with a devil of a heave； not extra good ever； and I regret my
engagement。 Whiles I have had the most deplorable business
annoyances too； have been threatened with having to refund money；
got over that； and found myself in the worse scrape of being a kind
of unintentional swindler。 These have worried me a great deal；
also old age with his stealing steps seems to have clawed me in his
clutch to some tune。
Do you play All Fours？ We are trying it； it is still all haze to
me。 Can the elder hand BEG more than once？ The Port Admiral is at
Boston mingling with millionaires。 I am but a weed on Lethe wharf。
The wife is only so…so。 The Lord lead us all： if I can only get
off the stage with clean hands； I shall sing Hosanna。 'Put' is
described quite differently from your version in a book I have；
what are your rules？ The Port Admiral is using a game of put in a
tale of his； the first copy of which was gloriously finished about
a fortnight ago； and the revise gallantly begun： THE FINSBURY
TONTINE it is named； and might fill two volumes； and is quite
incredibly silly； and in parts （it seems to me） pretty humorous。 …
Love to all from
AN OLD； OLD MAN。
I say； Taine's ORIGINES DE LA FRANCE CONTEMPORAINE is no end； it
would turn the dead body of Charles Fox into a living Tory。
Letter： TO MRS。 FLEEMING JENKIN
＇SARANAC LAKE； DECEMBER 1887。＇
MY DEAR MRS。 JENKIN； … The Opal is very well； it is fed with
glycerine when it seems hungry。 I am very well； and get about much
more than I could have hoped。 My wife is not very well； there is
no doubt the high level does not agree with her； and she is on the
move for a holiday to New York。 Lloyd is at Boston on a visit； and
I hope has a good time。 My mother is really first…rate； she and I；
despairing of other games for two； now play All Fours out of a
gamebook； and have not yet discovered its niceties； if any。
You will have heard； I dare say； that they made a great row over me
here。 They also offered me much money； a great deal more than my
works are worth： I took some of it； and was greedy and hasty； and
am now very sorry。 I have done with big prices from now out。
Wealth and self…respect seem； in my case； to be strangers。
We were talking the other day of how well Fleeming managed to grow
rich。 Ah； that is a rare art； something more intellectual than a
virtue。 The book has not yet made its appearance here； the life
alone； with a little preface； is to appear in the States； and the
Scribners are to send you half the royalties。 I should like it to
do well； for Fleeming's sake。
Will you please sen