robert louis stevenson-第7章
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By this time some trouble and cause for anxiety had arisen about the lungs； and trials of various places had been made。 ORDERED SOUTH suggests the Mediterranean； sunny Italy； the Riviera。 Then a sea…trip to America was recommended and undertaken。 Unfortunately； he got worse there； his original cause of trouble was complicated with others； and the medical treatment given was stupid； and exaggerated some of the symptoms instead of removing them； All along … up； at all events； to the time of his settlement in Samoa … Stevenson was more or less of an invalid。
Indeed； were I ever to write an essay on the art of wisely 〃laying… to；〃 as the sailors say； I would point it by a reference to R。 L。 Stevenson。 For there is a wise way of 〃laying…to〃 that does not imply inaction； but discreet； well…directed effort； against contrary winds and rough seas； that is； amid obstacles and drawbacks； and even ill…health； where passive and active may balance and give effect to each other。 Stevenson was by native instinct and temperament a rover … a lover of adventure； of strange by…ways； errant tracts （as seen in his INLAND VOYAGE and TRAVELS WITH A DONKEY THROUGH THE CEVENNES … seen yet more； perhaps； in a certain account of a voyage to America as a steerage passenger）； lofty mountain…tops； with stronger air； and strange and novel surroundings。 He would fain； like Ulysses； be at home in foreign lands； making acquaintance with outlying races； with
〃Cities of men； And manners； climates； councils； governments： Myself not least； but honoured of them all； Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy。〃
If he could not move about as he would； he would invent； make fancy serve him instead of experience。 We thus owe something to the staying and restraining forces in him； and a wise 〃laying…to〃 … for his works； which are； in large part； finely…healthy； objective； and in almost everything unlike the work of an invalid； yet； in some degree； were but the devices to beguile the burdens of an invalid's days。 Instead of remaining in our climate； it might be； to lie listless and helpless half the day； with no companion but his own thoughts and fancies （not always so pleasant either； if； like Frankenstein's monster； or； better still like the imp in the bottle in the ARABIAN NIGHTS； you cannot； once for all liberate them； and set them adrift on their own charges to visit other people）； he made a home in the sweeter air and more steady climate of the South Pacific； where； under the Southern Cross； he could safely and beneficially be as active as he would be involuntarily idle at home； or work only under pressure of hampering conditions。 That was surely an illustration of the true 〃laying…to〃 with an unaffectedly brave； bright resolution in it。
CHAPTER VI … SOME EARLIER LETTERS
CARLYLE was wont to say that； next to a faithful portrait； familiar letters were the best medium to reveal a man。 The letters must have been written with no idea of being used for this end； however … free； artless； the unstudied self…revealings of mind and heart。 Now； these letters of R。 L。 Stevenson； written to his friends in England； have a vast value in this way … they reveal the man … reveal him in his strength and his weakness … his ready gift in pleasing and adapting himself to those with whom he corresponded； and his great power at once of adapting himself to his circumstances and of humorously rising superior to them。 When he was ill and almost penniless in San Francisco； he could give Mr Colvin this account of his daily routine：
〃Any time between eight and half…past nine in the morning a slender gentleman in an ulster； with a volume buttoned into the breast of it； maybe observed leaving No。 608 Bush and descending Powell with an active step。 The gentleman is R。 L。 Stevenson； the volume relates to Benjamin Franklin； on whom he meditates one of his charming essays。 He descends Powell； crosses Market； and descends in Sixth on a branch of the original Pine Street Coffee…House； no less。 。 。 。 He seats himself at a table covered with waxcloth； and a pampered menial of High…Dutch extraction； and； indeed； as yet only partially extracted； lays before him a cup of coffee； a roll； and a pat of butter； all； to quote the deity； very good。 A while ago； and R。 L。 Stevenson used to find the supply of butter insufficient； but he has now learned the art to exactitude； and butter and roll expire at the same moment。 For this rejection he pays ten cents； or fivepence sterling。
〃Half an hour later； the inhabitants of Bush Street observed the same slender gentleman armed； like George Washington； with his little hatchet； splitting kindling； and breaking coal for his fire。 He does this quasi…publicly upon the window…sill； but this is not to be attributed to any love of notoriety； though he is indeed vain of his prowess with the hatchet （which he persists in calling an axe）； and daily surprised at the perpetuation of his fingers。 The reason is this： That the sill is a strong supporting beam； and that blows of the same emphasis in other parts of his room might knock the entire shanty into hell。 Thenceforth； for from three hours； he is engaged darkly with an ink…bottle。 Yet he is not blacking his boots； for the only pair that he possesses are innocent of lustre； and wear the natural hue of the material turned up with caked and venerable slush。 The youngest child of his landlady remarks several times a day； as this strange occupant enters or quits the house； 'Dere's de author。' Can it be that this bright…haired innocent has found the true clue to the mystery？ The being in question is； at least； poor enough to belong to that honourable craft。〃
Here are a few letters belonging to the winter of 1887…88； nearly all written from Saranac Lake； in the Adirondacks； celebrated by Emerson； and now a most popular holiday resort in the United States； and were originally published in SCRIBNER'S MAGAZINE。 。 。 〃It should be said that； after his long spell of weakness at Bournemouth； Stevenson had gone West in search of health among the bleak hill summits … 'on the Canadian border of New York State； very unsettled and primitive and cold。' He had made the voyage in an ocean tramp； the LUDGATE HILL； the sort of craft which any person not a born child of the sea would shun in horror。 Stevenson； however； had 'the finest time conceivable on board the 〃strange floating menagerie。〃'〃 Thus he describes it in a letter to Mr Henry James：
〃Stallions and monkeys and matches made our cargo； and the vast continent of these incongruities rolled the while like a haystack； and the stallions stood hypnotised by the motion； looking through the port at our dinner…table； and winked when the crockery was broken； and the little monkeys stared at each other in their cages； and were thrown overboard like little bluish babies； and the big monkey； Jacko； scoured about the ship and rested willingly in my arms； to the ruin of my clothing； and the man of the stallions made a bower of the black tarpaulin； and sat therein at the feet of a raddled divinity； like a picture on a box of chocolates； and the other passengers； when they were not sick； looked on and laughed。 Take all this picture； and make it roll till the bell shall sound unexpected notes and the fittings shall break loose in our stateroom； and you have the voyage of the LUDGATE HILL。 She arrived in the port of New York without beer； porter； soda…water； curacoa； fresh meat； or fresh water； and yet we lived； and we regret her。〃
He discovered this that there is no joy in the Universe comparable to life on a villainous ocean tramp； rolling through a horrible sea in company with a cargo of cattle。
〃I have got one good thing of my sea voyage； it is proved the sea agrees heartily with me； and my mother likes it； so if I get any better； or no worse； my mother will likely hire a yacht for a month or so in the summer。 Good Lord！ what fun！ Wealth is only useful for two things： a yacht and a string quartette。 For these two I will sell my soul。 Except for these I hold that 700 pounds a year is as much as anybody can possibly want； and I have had more； so I know； for the extra coins were of no use； excepting for illness； which damns everything。 I was so happy on board that ship； I could not have believed it possible； we had the beastliest weather； and many discomforts； but the mere fact of its being a tramp ship gave us many comforts。 We could cut about with the men and officers； stay in the wheel…house； discuss all manner of things； and really be a little at sea。 And truly there is nothing else。 I had literally forgotten what happiness was； and the full mind … full of external and physical things； not full of cares and labours； and rot about a fellow's behaviour。 My heart literally sang； I truly care for nothing so much as for that。
〃To go ashore for your letters and hang about the pier among the holiday yachtsmen … that's fame； that's glory … and nobody can take it away。〃
At Saranac Lake the Stevensons lived in a 〃wind…beleaguered hill… top hat…box of a house；〃 which suited the invalid； but； on the other hand； invalided his wife。 Soon after getting there he plunged into THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE。
〃No thought have I now apart from it； and I have got along up to page ninety…two of the draught with great interest。 It is to me a most seizing tale： there are some fantastic elements； the most is a dead genuine human problem … human tragedy； I should say rather。 It will be about as long； I imagine； as KIDNAPPED。 。 。 。 I have done most of the big work； the quarrel； duel between the brothers； and the announcement of the death to Clementina and my Lord … Clementina； Henry； and Mackellar （nicknamed Squaretoes） are really very fine fellows； the Master is all I know of the devil； I have known hints of him； in the world； but always cowards： he is as bold as a lion； but with the same deadly； causeless duplicity I have watched with so much surprise in my two cowards。 'Tis true； I saw a hint of the same nature in another man who was not a coward； but he had other things to attend to； the Master has nothing else but his devilry。〃
His wife grows seriously ill； and Stevenson has to turn to household work。
〃Lloyd and I get breakfast； I have now； 10。15； just got the dishes washed and the kitchen all clean； and sit down to give you as much news as I have spirit for； after such an engagement。 Glass is a thing that really breaks my spirit； and I do not like to fail； and with glass I cannot reach the work of my high calling … the artist's。〃
In the midst of such domestic tasks and entanglements he writes THE MASTER； and very characteristically gets dissatisfied with the last parts； 〃which shame； perhaps degrade； the beginning。〃
Of Mr Kipling this is his judgment … in the year 1890：
〃Kipling is by far the most promising young man who has appeared since … ahem … I appeared。 He amazes me by his precocity and various endowments。 But he alarms me by his copiousness and haste。 He should shield his fire with both hands； 'and draw up all his strength and sweetness in one ball。' （'
