robert louis stevenson-第4部分
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s most characteristic that when； in his travels in America； he met a gentleman who expressed plainly his keen disappointment on learning that he had but been introduced to the son and not to the father … to the as yet but budding author … and not to the builder of the great lighthouse beacons that constantly saved mariners from shipwreck round many stormy coasts； he should record the incident； as his readers will remember； with such a strange mixture of a pride and filial gratitude； and half humorous humiliation。 Such is the penalty a son of genius often pays in heart…throbs for the inability to do aught else but follow his destiny … follow his star； even though as Dante says：…
〃Se tu segui tua stella Non puoi fallire a glorioso porto。〃 （3）
What added a keen thrill as of quivering flesh exposed； was that Thomas Stevenson on one side was exactly the man to appreciate such attainments and work in another； and I often wondered how far the sense of Edinburgh propriety and worldly estimates did weigh with him here。
Mr Stevenson mentioned to me a peculiar fact which has since been noted by his son； that； notwithstanding the kind of work he had so successfully engaged in； he was no mathematician； and had to submit his calculations to another to be worked out in definite mathematical formulae。 Thomas Stevenson gave one the impression of a remarkably sweet； great personality； grave； anxious； almost morbidly forecasting； yet full of childlike hope and ready affection； but； perhaps； so earnestly taken up with some points as to exaggerate their importance and be too self…conscious and easily offended in respect to them。 But there was no affectation in him。 He was simple…minded； sincere to the core； most kindly； homely； hospitable； much intent on brotherly offices。 He had the Scottish PERFERVIDUM too … he could tolerate nothing mean or creeping； and his eye would lighten and glance in a striking manner when such was spoken of。 I have since heard that his charities were very extensive； and dispensed in the most hidden and secret ways。 He acted here on the Scripture direction； 〃Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth。〃 He was much exercised when I saw him about some defects； as he held； in the methods of Scotch education （for he was a true lover of youth； and cared more for character being formed than for heads being merely crammed）。 Sagacious； with fine forecast； with a high ideal； and yet up to a certain point a most tolerant temper； he was a fine specimen of the Scottish gentleman。 His son tells that； as he was engaged in work calculated to benefit the world and to save life； he would not for long take out a patent for his inventions； and thus lost immense sums。 I can well believe that： it seems quite in keeping with my impressions of the man。 There was nothing stolid or selfishly absorbed in him。 He bore the marks of deep； true； honest feeling； true benevolence； and open…handed generosity； and despite the son's great pen…craft； and inventive power； would have forgiven my saying that sometimes I have had a doubt whether the father was not； after all； the greater man of the two； though certainly not； like the hero of IN MEMORIAM； moulded 〃in colossal calm。〃
In theological matters； in which Thomas Stevenson had been much and deeply exercised； he held very strong views； leading decisively to ultra…Calvinism； but； as I myself could well sympathise with such views； if I did not hold them； knowing well the strange ways in which they had gone to form grand； if sometimes sternly forbidding characters； there were no cross…purposes as there might have been with some on that subject。 And always I felt I had an original character and a most interesting one to study。
This is another very characteristic letter to me from Davos Platz：
〃CHALET BUOL； DAVOS； GRISONS； SWITZERLAND。 （NO DATE。）
〃MY DEAR DR JAPP； … You must think me a forgetful rogue； as indeed I am； for I have but now told my publisher to send you a copy of the FAMILIAR STUDIES。 However； I own I have delayed this letter till I could send you the enclosed。 Remembering the night at Braemar； when we visited the picture…gallery； I hoped they might amuse you。
〃You see we do some publishing hereaway。
〃With kind regards； believe me； always yours faithfully； ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。〃
〃I shall hope to see you in town in May。〃
The enclosed was the second series of MORAL EMBLEMS； by R。 L。 Stevenson； printed by Samuel Osbourne。 My answer to this letter brought the following：
〃CHALET…BUOL； DAVOS； APRIL 1st； 1882。
〃MY DEAR DR JAPP； … A good day to date this letter； which is； in fact； a confession of incapacity。 During my wife's wretched illness … or I should say the worst of it； for she is not yet rightly well … I somewhat lost my head； and entirely lost a great quire of corrected proofs。 This is one of the results： I hope there are none more serious。 I was never so sick of any volume as I was of that； I was continually receiving fresh proofs with fresh infinitesimal difficulties。 I was ill； I did really fear； for my wife was worse than ill。 Well； 'tis out now； and though I have already observed several carelessnesses myself； and now here is another of your finding … of which indeed； I ought to be ashamed … it will only justify the sweeping humility of the preface。
〃Symonds was actually dining with us when your letter came； and I communicated your remarks； which pleased him。 He is a far better and more interesting thing than his books。
〃The elephant was my wife's； so she is proportionately elate you should have picked it out for praise from a collection； let us add； so replete with the highest qualities of art。
〃My wicked carcass； as John Knox calls it； holds together wonderfully。 In addition to many other things； and a volume of travel； I find I have written since December ninety Cornhill pp。 of Magazine work … essays and stories … 40；000 words； and I am none the worse … I am better。 I begin to hope I may； if not outlive this wolverine upon my shoulders； at least carry him bravely like Symonds or Alexander Pope。 I begin to take a pride in that hope。
〃I shall be much interested to see your criticisms： you might perhaps send them on to me。 I believe you know that I am not dangerous … one folly I have not … I am not touchy under criticism。
〃Sam and my wife both beg to be remembered； and Sam also sends as a present a work of his own。 … Yours very sincerely； ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。〃
As indicating the estimate of many of the good Edinburgh people of Stevenson and the Stevensons that still held sway up to so late a date as 1893； I will here extract two characteristic passages from the letters of the friend and correspondent of these days just referred to； and to whom I had sent a copy of the ATALANTA Magazine； with an article of mine on Stevenson。
〃If you can excuse the garrulity of age； I can tell you one or two things about Louis Stevenson； his father and even his grandfather； which you may work up some other day； as you have so deftly embedded in the ATALANTA article that small remark on his acting。 Your paper is pleasant and modest： most of R。 L。 Stevenson's admirers are inclined to lay it on far too thick。 That he is a genius we all admit； but his genius； if fine； is limited。 For example； he cannot paint （or at least he never has painted） a woman。 No more could Fettes Douglas； skilful artist though he was in his own special line； and I shall tell you a remark of Russel's thereon some day。 （4） There are women in his books； but there is none of the beauty and subtlety of womanhood in them。
〃R。 L。 Stevenson I knew well as a lad and often met him and talked with him。 He acted in private theatricals got up by the late Professor Fleeming Jenkin。 But he had then； as always； a pretty guid conceit o' himsel' … which his clique have done nothing to check。 His father and his grandfather （I have danced with his mother before her marriage） I knew better； but 'the family theologian；' as some of R。 L。 Stevenson's friends dabbed his father； was a very touchy theologian； and denounced any one who in the least differed from his extreme Calvinistic views。 I came under his lash most unwittingly in this way myself。 But for this twist； he was a good fellow … kind and hospitable … and a really able man in his profession。 His father…in…law； R。 L。 Stevenson's maternal grandfather； was the Rev。 Dr Balfour； minister of Colinton … one of the finest…looking old men I ever saw … tall； upright； and ruddy at eighty。 But he was marvellously feeble as a preacher； and often said things that were deliciously； unconsciously； unintentionally laughable； if not witty。 We were near Colinton for some years； and Mr Russell （of the SCOTSMAN）； who once attended the Parish Church with us； was greatly tickled by Balfour discoursing on the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife； remarking that Mrs P…'s conduct was 'highly improper'！〃
The estimate of R。 L。 Stevenson was not and could not be final in this case； for WEIR OF HERMISTON and CATRIONA were yet unwritten； not to speak of others； but the passages reflect a certain side of Edinburgh opinion； illustrating the old Scripture doctrine that a prophet has honour everywhere but in his own country。 And the passages themselves bear evidence that I violate no confidence then； for they were given to me to be worked into any after…effort I might make on Stevenson。 My friend was a good and an acute critic who had done some acceptable literary work in his day。
CHAPTER III … THE CHILD FATHER OF THE MAN
R。 L。 STEVENSON was born on 13th November 1850； the very year of the death of his grandfather； Robert Stevenson； whom he has so finely celebrated。 As a mere child he gave token of his character。 As soon as he could read； he was keen for books； and； before very long； had read all the story…books he could lay hands on； and； when the stock ran out； he would go and look in at all the shop windows within reach； and try to piece out the stories from the bits exposed in open pages and the woodcuts。
He had a nurse of very remarkable character … evidently
