robert louis stevenson-第2章
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on him； sometimes he has the look as of the Ancient Mariner； and could fix you with his glittering e'e； and he would； as he points his sentences with a movement of his thin white forefinger； when this is not monopolised with the almost incessant cigarette。 There is a faint suggestion of a hair…brained sentimental trace on his countenance； but controlled； after all； by good Scotch sense and shrewdness。 In conversation he is very animated； and likes to ask questions。 A favourite and characteristic attitude with him was to put his foot on a chair or stool and rest his elbow on his knee； with his chin on his hand； or to sit； or rather to half sit； half lean； on the corner of a table or desk； one of his legs swinging freely； and when anything that tickled him was said he would laugh in the heartiest manner； even at the risk of bringing on his cough； which at that time was troublesome。 Often when he got animated he rose and walked about as he spoke； as if movement aided thought and expression。 Though he loved Edinburgh； which was full of associations for him； he had no good word for its east winds； which to him were as death。 Yet he passed one winter as a 〃Silverado squatter；〃 the story of which he has inimitably told in the volume titled THE SILVERADO SQUATTERS； and he afterwards spent several winters at Davos Platz； where； as he said to me； he not only breathed good air； but learned to know with closest intimacy John Addington Symonds； who 〃though his books were good； was far finer and more interesting than any of his books。〃 He needed a good deal of nursery attentions； but his invalidism was never obtrusively brought before one in any sympathy…seeking way by himself； on the contrary； a very manly； self…sustaining spirit was evident； and the amount of work which he managed to turn out even when at his worst was truly surprising。
His wife； an American lady； is highly cultured； and is herself an author。 In her speech there is just the slightest suggestion of the American accent； which only made it the more pleasing to my ear。 She is heart and soul devoted to her husband； proud of his achievements； and her delight is the consciousness of substantially aiding him in his enterprises。
They then had with them a boy of eleven or twelve； Samuel Lloyd Osbourne； to be much referred to later （a son of Mrs Stevenson by a former marriage）； whose delight was to draw the oddest； but perhaps half intentional or unintentional caricatures； funny； in some cases； beyond expression。 His room was designated the picture… gallery； and on entering I could scarce refrain from bursting into laughter； even at the general effect； and； noticing this； and that I was putting some restraint on myself out of respect for the host's feelings； Stevenson said to me with a sly wink and a gentle dig in the ribs； 〃It's laugh and be thankful here。〃 On Lloyd's account simple engraving materials； types； and a small printing… press had been procured； and it was Stevenson's delight to make funny poems； stories； and morals for the engravings executed； and all would be duly printed together。 Stevenson's thorough enjoyment of the picture…gallery； and his goodness to Lloyd； becoming himself a very boy for the nonce； were delightful to witness and in degree to share。 Wherever they were … at Braemar； in Edinburgh； at Davos Platz； or even at Silverado … the engraving and printing went on。 The mention of the picture…gallery suggests that it was out of his interest in the colour…drawing and the picture…gallery that his first published story； TREASURE ISLAND； grew； as we shall see。
I have some copies of the rude printing…press productions； inexpressibly quaint； grotesque； a kind of literary horse…play； yet with a certain squint…eyed； sprawling genius in it； and innocent childish Rabelaisian mirth of a sort。 At all events I cannot look at the slight memorials of that time； which I still possess； without laughing afresh till my eyes are dewy。 Stevenson； as I understood； began TREASURE ISLAND more to entertain Lloyd Osbourne than anything else； the chapters being regularly read to the family circle as they were written； and with scarcely a purpose beyond。 The lad became Stevenson's trusted companion and collaborator … clearly with a touch of genius。
I have before me as I write some of these funny momentoes of that time； carefully kept； often looked at。 One of them is； 〃THE BLACK CANYON； OR； WILD ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST： a Tale of Instruction and Amusement for the Young； by Samuel L。 Osbourne； printed by the author； Davos Platz；〃 with the most remarkable cuts。 It would not do some of the sensationalists anything but good to read it even at this day； since many points in their art are absurdly caricatured。 Another is 〃MORAL EMBLEMS； A COLLECTION OF CUTS AND VERSES； by R。 L。 Stevenson； author of the BLUE SCALPER； etc。； etc。 Printers； S。 L。 Osbourne and Company； Davos Platz。〃 Here are the lines to a rare piece of grotesque； titled A PEAK IN DARIEN …
'Broad…gazing on untrodden lands； See where adventurous Cortez stands； While in the heavens above his head； The eagle seeks its daily bread。 How aptly fact to fact replies； Heroes and eagles； hills and skies。 Ye； who contemn the fatted slave； Look on this emblem and be brave。〃
Another； THE ELEPHANT； has these lines …
〃See in the print how； moved by whim； Trumpeting Jumbo； great and grim； Adjusts his trunk； like a cravat； To noose that individual's hat； The Sacred Ibis in the distance； Joys to observe his bold resistance。〃
R。 L。 Stevenson wrote from Davos Platz； in sending me THE BLACK CANYON：
〃Sam sends as a present a work of his own。 I hope you feel flattered； for THIS IS SIMPLY THE FIRST TIME HE HAS EVER GIVEN ONE AWAY。 I have to buy my own works； I can tell you。〃
Later he said； in sending a second：
〃I own I have delayed this letter till I could forward the enclosed。 Remembering the night at Braemar； when we visited the picture…gallery； I hope it may amuse you： you see we do some publishing hereaway。〃
Delightfully suggestive and highly enjoyable； too； were the meetings in the little drawing…room after dinner； when the contrasted traits of father and son came into full play … when R。 L。 Stevenson would sometimes draw out a new view by bold； half… paradoxical assertion； or compel advance on the point from a new quarter by a searching question couched in the simplest language； or reveal his own latest conviction finally； by a few sentences as nicely rounded off as though they had been written； while he rose and gently moved about； as his habit was； in the course of those more extended remarks。 Then a chapter or two of THE SEA…COOK would be read； with due pronouncement on the main points by one or other of the family audience。
The reading of the book is one thing。 It was quite another thing to hear Stevenson as he stood reading it aloud； with his hand stretched out holding the manuscript； and his body gently swaying as a kind of rhythmical commentary on the story。 His fine voice； clear and keen it some of its tones； had a wonderful power of inflection and variation； and when he came to stand in the place of Silver you could almost have imagined you saw the great one…legged John Silver； joyous…eyed； on the rolling sea。 Yes； to read it in print was good； but better yet to hear Stevenson read it。
CHAPTER II … TREASURE ISLAND AND SOME REMINISCENCES
WHEN I left Braemar； I carried with me a considerable portion of the MS。 of TREASURE ISLAND； with an outline of the rest of the story。 It originally bore the odd title of THE SEA…COOK； and； as I have told before； I showed it to Mr Henderson； the proprietor of the YOUNG FOLKS' PAPER； who came to an arrangement with Mr Stevenson； and the story duly appeared in its pages； as well as the two which succeeded it。
Stevenson himself in his article in THE IDLER for August 1894 （reprinted in MY FIRST BOOK volume and in a late volume of the EDINBURGH EDITION） has recalled some of the circumstances connected with this visit of mine to Braemar； as it bore on the destination of TREASURE ISLAND：
〃And now； who should come dropping in； EX MACHINA； but Dr Japp； like the disguised prince； who is to bring down the curtain upon peace and happiness in the last act； for he carried in his pocket； not a horn or a talisman； but a publisher； in fact； ready to unearth new writers for my old friend Mr Henderson's YOUNG FOLKS。 Even the ruthlessness of a united family recoiled before the extreme measure of inflicting on our guest the mutilated members of THE SEA…COOK； at the same time； we would by no means stop our readings； and accordingly the tale was begun again at the beginning； and solemnly redelivered for the benefit of Dr Japp。 From that moment on； I have thought highly of his critical faculty； for when he left us； he carried away the manuscript in his portmanteau。
〃TREASURE ISLAND … it was Mr Henderson who deleted the first title； THE SEA…COOK … appeared duly in YOUNG FOLKS； where it figured in the ignoble midst without woodcuts； and attracted not the least attention。 I did not care。 I liked the tale myself； for much the same reason as my father liked the beginning： it was my kind of picturesque。 I was not a little proud of John Silver also； and to this day rather admire that smooth and formidable adventurer。 What was infinitely more exhilarating； I had passed a landmark。 I had finished a tale and written The End upon my manuscript； as I had not done since THE PENTLAND RISING； when I was a boy of sixteen； not yet at college。 In truth； it was so by a lucky set of accidents： had not Dr Japp come on his visit； had not the tale flowed from me with singular ease； it must have been laid aside； like its predecessors； and found a circuitous and unlamented way to the fire。 Purists may suggest it would have been better so。 I am not of that mind。 The tale seems to have given much pleasure； and it brought （or was the means of bringing） fire； food； and wine to a deserving family in which I took an interest。 I need scarcely say I mean my own。〃
He himself gives a goodly list of the predecessors which had found a circuitous and unlamented way to the fire
〃As soon as I was able to write； I became a good friend to the paper…makers。 Reams upon reams must have gone to the making of RATHILLET； THE PENTLAND RISING； THE KING'S PARDON （otherwise PARK WHITEHEAD）； EDWARD DAVEN； A COUNTRY DANCE； and A VENDETTA IN THE WEST。 RATHILLET was attempted before fifteen； THE VENDETTA at twenty…nine； and the succession of defeats lasted unbroken till I was thirty…one。〃
Another thing I carried from Braemar with me which I greatly prize … this was a copy of CHRISTIANITY CONFIRMED BY JEWISH AND HEATHEN TESTIMONY； by Mr Stevenson's father； with his autograph signature and many of his own marginal notes。 He had thought deeply on many subjects … theological； scientific； and social … and had recorded； I am afraid； but the smaller half of his thoughts and speculations。 Several days in the mornings； before R。 L。 Stevenson was able to face the somewhat 〃snell〃 air of the hills； I had long walks with the
