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first in Carolina； next in Darien。 I want also … I am the daughter
of the horse…leech truly … 'Black's new large map of Scotland；'
sheets 3； 4； and 5； a 7s。 6d。 touch。 I believe； if you can get the
CALDWELL PAPERS；
they had better come also； and if there be any reasonable work …
but no； I must call a halt。 。 。 。
I fear the song looks doubtful； but I'll consider of it； and I can
promise you some reminiscences which it will amuse me to write；
whether or not it will amuse the public to read of them。 But it's
an unco business to SUPPLY deid…heid coapy。
Letter： TO J。 M。 BARRIE
VAILIMA； SAMOA； DECEMBER 7TH； 1893。
MY DEAR BARRIE； … I have received duly the MAGNUM OPUS； and it
really is a MAGNUM OPUS。 It is a beautiful specimen of Clark's
printing； paper sufficient； and the illustrations all my fancy
painted。 But the particular flower of the flock to whom I have
hopelessly lost my heart is Tibby Birse。 I must have known Tibby
Birse when she was a servant's mantua…maker in Edinburgh and
answered to the name of Miss BRODDIE。 She used to come and sew
with my nurse； sitting with her legs crossed in a masculine manner；
and swinging her foot emphatically； she used to pour forth a
perfectly unbroken stream of gossip。 I didn't hear it； I was
immersed in far more important business with a box of bricks； but
the recollection of that thin； perpetual； shrill sound of a voice
has echoed in my ears sinsyne。 I am bound to say she was younger
than Tibbie； but there is no mistaking that and the indescribable
and eminently Scottish expression。
I have been very much prevented of late； having carried out
thoroughly to my own satisfaction two considerable illnesses； had a
birthday； and visited Honolulu； where politics are （if possible） a
shade more exasperating than they are with us。 I am told that it
was just when I was on the point of leaving that I received your
superlative epistle about the cricket eleven。 In that case it is
impossible I should have answered it； which is inconsistent with my
own recollection of the fact。 What I remember is； that I sat down
under your immediate inspiration and wrote an answer in every way
worthy。 If I didn't； as it seems proved that I couldn't； it will
never be done now。 However； I did the next best thing； I equipped
my cousin Graham Balfour with a letter of introduction； and from
him； if you know how … for he is rather of the Scottish character …
you may elicit all the information you can possibly wish to have as
to us and ours。 Do not be bluffed off by the somewhat stern and
monumental first impression that he may make upon you。 He is one
of the best fellows in the world； and the same sort of fool that we
are； only better…looking； with all the faults of Vailimans and some
of his own … I say nothing about virtues。
I have lately been returning to my wallowing in the mire。 When I
was a child； and indeed until I was nearly a man； I consistently
read Covenanting books。 Now that I am a grey…beard … or would be；
if I could raise the beard … I have returned； and for weeks back
have read little else but Wodrow； Walker； Shields； etc。 Of course
this is with an idea of a novel； but in the course of it I made a
very curious discovery。 I have been accustomed to hear refined and
intelligent critics … those who know so much better what we are
than we do ourselves； … trace down my literary descent from all
sorts of people； including Addison； of whom I could never read a
word。 Well； laigh i' your lug； sir … the clue was found。 My style
is from the Covenanting writers。 Take a particular case … the
fondness for rhymes。 I don't know of any English prose…writer who
rhymes except by accident； and then a stone had better be tied
around his neck and himself cast into the sea。 But my Covenanting
buckies rhyme all the time … a beautiful example of the unconscious
rhyme above referred to。
Do you know； and have you really tasted； these delightful works？
If not； it should be remedied； there is enough of the Auld Licht in
you to be ravished。
I suppose you know that success has so far attended my banners … my
political banners I mean； and not my literary。 In conjunction with
the Three Great Powers I have succeeded in getting rid of My
President and My Chief…Justice。 They've gone home； the one to
Germany； the other to Souwegia。 I hear little echoes of footfalls
of their departing footsteps through the medium of the newspapers。
。 。 。
Whereupon I make you my salute with the firm remark that it is time
to be done with trifling and give us a great book； and my ladies
fall into line with me to pay you a most respectful courtesy； and
we all join in the cry； 'Come to Vailima！'
My dear sir； your soul's health is in it … you will never do the
great book； you will never cease to work in L。； etc。； till you come
to Vailima。
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO R。 LE GALLIENNE
VAILIMA； SAMOA； DECEMBER 28TH； 1893。
DEAR MR。 LE GALLIENNE； … I have received some time ago； through our
friend Miss Taylor； a book of yours。 But that was by no means my
first introduction to your name。 The same book had stood already
on my shelves； I had read articles of yours in the ACADEMY； and by
a piece of constructive criticism （which I trust was sound） had
arrived at the conclusion that you were 'Log…roller。' Since then I
have seen your beautiful verses to your wife。 You are to conceive
me； then； as only too ready to make the acquaintance of a man who
loved good literature and could make it。 I had to thank you；
besides； for a triumphant exposure of a paradox of my own： the
literary…prostitute disappeared from view at a phrase of yours …
'The essence is not in the pleasure but the sale。' True： you are
right； I was wrong； the author is not the whore； but the libertine；
and yet I shall let the passage stand。 It is an error； but it
illustrated the truth for which I was contending； that literature …
painting … all art； are no other than pleasures； which we turn into
trades。
And more than all this； I had； and I have to thank you for the
intimate loyalty you have shown to myself； for the eager welcome
you give to what is good … for the courtly tenderness with which
you touch on my defects。 I begin to grow old； I have given my top
note； I fancy； … and I have written too many books。 The world
begins to be weary of the old booth； and if not weary； familiar
with the familiarity that breeds contempt。 I do not know that I am
sensitive to criticism； if it be hostile； I am sensitive indeed；
when it is friendly； and when I read such criticism as yours； I am
emboldened to go on and praise God。
You are still young； and you may live to do much。 The little；
artificial popularity of style in England tends； I think； to die
out； the British pig returns to his true love； the love of the
styleless； of the shapeless； of the slapdash and the disorderly。
There is trouble coming； I think； and you may have to hold the fort
for us in evil days。
Lastly； let me apologise for the crucifixion that I am inflicting
on you （BIEN A CONTRE…COEUR） by my bad writing。 I was once the
best of writers； landladies； puzzled as to my 'trade；' used to have
their honest bosoms set at rest by a sight of a page of manuscript。
… 'Ah；' they would say； 'no wonder they pay you for that'； … and
when I sent it in to the printers； it was given to the boys！ I was
about thirty…nine； I think； when I had a turn of scrivener's palsy；
my hand got worse； and for the first time； I received clean proofs。
But it has gone beyond that now； I know I am like my old friend
James Payn； a terror to correspondents； and you would not believe
the care with which this has been written。 … Believe me to be； very
sincerely yours；