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the WILDERNESS is （as I gather） a collection of originals； I should
like to purchase it。 If it is a picturesque vulgarisation； I do
not wish to look it in the face。 Purchase； I say； for I think it
would be well to have some such collection by me with a view to
fresh works。 … Yours very sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
P。S。 … If you think of having the MASTER illustrated； I suggest
that Hole would be very well up to the Scottish； which is the
larger part。 If you have it done here； tell your artist to look at
the hall of Craigievar in Billing's BARONIAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
ANTIQUITIES； and he will get a broad hint for the hall at
Durrisdeer： it is； I think； the chimney of Craigievar and the roof
of Pinkie； and perhaps a little more of Pinkie altogether； but I
should have to see the book myself to be sure。 Hole would be
invaluable for this。 I dare say if you had it illustrated； you
could let me have one or two for the English edition。
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO WILLIAM ARCHER
＇SARANAC； WINTER 1887…8。＇
MY DEAR ARCHER； … What am I to say？ I have read your friend's book
with singular relish。 If he has written any other； I beg you will
let me see it； and if he has not； I beg him to lose no time in
supplying the deficiency。 It is full of promise； but I should like
to know his age。 There are things in it that are very clever； to
which I attach small importance； it is the shape of the age。 And
there are passages； particularly the rally in presence of the Zulu
king； that show genuine and remarkable narrative talent … a talent
that few will have the wit to understand； a talent of strength；
spirit； capacity； sufficient vision； and sufficient self…sacrifice；
which last is the chief point in a narrator。
As a whole； it is （of course） a fever dream of the most feverish。
Over Bashville the footman I howled with derision and delight； I
dote on Bashville … I could read of him for ever； DE BASHVILLE JE
SUIS LE FERVENT … there is only one Bashville； and I am his devoted
slave； BASHVILLE EST MAGNIFIQUE； MAIS IL N'EST GUERE POSSIBLE。 He
is the note of the book。 It is all mad； mad and deliriously
delightful； the author has a taste in chivalry like Walter Scott's
or Dumas'； and then he daubs in little bits of socialism； he soars
away on the wings of the romantic griffon … even the griffon； as he
cleaves air； shouting with laughter at the nature of the quest …
and I believe in his heart he thinks he is labouring in a quarry of
solid granite realism。
It is this that makes me … the most hardened adviser now extant …
stand back and hold my peace。 If Mr。 Shaw is below five…and…
twenty； let him go his path； if he is thirty； he had best be told
that he is a romantic； and pursue romance with his eyes open； … or
perhaps he knows it； … God knows！ … my brain is softened。
It is HORRID FUN。 All I ask is more of it。 Thank you for the
pleasure you gave us； and tell me more of the inimitable author。
（I say； Archer； my God； what women！） … Yours very truly；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO WILLIAM ARCHER
SARANAC； FEBRUARY 1888。
MY DEAR ARCHER； … Pretty sick in bed； but necessary to protest and
continue your education。
Why was Jenkin an amateur in my eyes？ You think because not
amusing （I think he often was amusing）。 The reason is this： I
never； or almost never； saw two pages of his work that I could not
have put in one without the smallest loss of material。 That is the
only test I know of writing。 If there is anywhere a thing said in
two sentences that could have been as clearly and as engagingly and
as forcibly said in one； then it's amateur work。 Then you will
bring me up with old Dumas。 Nay； the object of a story is to be
long； to fill up hours； the story…teller's art of writing is to
water out by continual invention； historical and technical； and yet
not seem to water； seem on the other hand to practise that same wit
of conspicuous and declaratory condensation which is the proper art
of writing。 That is one thing in which my stories fail： I am
always cutting the flesh off their bones。
I would rise from the dead to preach！
Hope all well。 I think my wife better； but she's not allowed to
write； and this （only wrung from me by desire to Boss and Parsonise
and Dominate； strong in sickness） is my first letter for days； and
will likely be my last for many more。 Not blame my wife for her
silence： doctor's orders。 All much interested by your last； and
fragment from brother； and anecdotes of Tomarcher。 … The sick but
still Moral
R。 L。 S。
Tell Shaw to hurry up： I want another。
Letter： TO WILLIAM ARCHER
＇SARANAC； SPRING 1888？＇
MY DEAR ARCHER； … It happened thus。 I came forth from that
performance in a breathing heat of indignation。 （Mind； at this
distance of time and with my increased knowledge； I admit there is
a problem in the piece； but I saw none then； except a problem in
brutality； and I still consider the problem in that case not
established。） On my way down the FRANCAIS stairs； I trod on an old
gentleman's toes； whereupon with that suavity that so well becomes
me； I turned about to apologise； and on the instant； repenting me
of that intention； stopped the apology midway； and added something
in French to this effect： No； you are one of the LACHES who have
been applauding that piece。 I retract my apology。 Said the old
Frenchman； laying his hand on my arm； and with a smile that was
truly heavenly in temperance； irony； good…nature； and knowledge of
the world； 'Ah； monsieur； vous etes bien jeune！' … Yours very
truly；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO E。 L。 BURLINGAME
SARANAC ＇FEBRUARY 1888＇。
DEAR MR。 BURLINGAME； … Will you send me （from the library） some of
the works of my dear old G。 P。 R。 James。 With the following
especially I desire to make or to renew acquaintance： THE
SONGSTER； THE GIPSY； THE CONVICT； THE STEPMOTHER； THE GENTLEMAN OF
THE OLD SCHOOL； THE ROBBER。
EXCUSEZ DU PEU。
This sudden return to an ancient favourite hangs upon an accident。
The 'Franklin County Library' contains two works of his； THE
CAVALIER and MORLEY ERNSTEIN。 I read the first with indescribable
amusement … it was worse than I had feared； and yet somehow
engaging； the second （to my surprise） was better than I had dared
to hope： a good honest； dull； interesting tale； with a genuine
old…fashioned talent in the invention when not strained； and a
genuine old…fashioned feeling for the English language。 This
experience awoke appetite； and you see I have taken steps to stay
it。
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO E。 L。 BURLINGAME
＇SARANAC； FEBRUARY 1888。＇
DEAR MR。 BURLINGAME； … 1。 Of course then don't use it。 Dear Man；
I write these to ple