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days are gone； like a fast…flying thaumatrope； they make but a
single pattern。 Only a few things stand out； and among these …
most plainly to me … Rutland Square； … Ever； my dear Charles； your
affectionate friend；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
P。S。 … Just returned from trying on the dress clo'。 Lord； you
should see the coat！ It stands out at the waist like a bustle； the
flaps cross in front； the sleeves are like bags。
Letter： TO E。 L。 BURLINGAME
UNION CLUB； SYDNEY ＇AUGUST 1890＇。
MY DEAR BURLINGAME
BALLADS。
The deuce is in this volume。 It has cost me more botheration and
dubiety than any other I ever took in hand。 On one thing my mind
is made up： the verses at the end have no business there； and
throw them down。 Many of them are bad； many of the rest want nine
years' keeping； and the remainder are not relevant … throw them
down； some I never want to hear of more； others will grow in time
towards decent items in a second UNDERWOODS … and in the meanwhile；
down with them！ At the same time； I have a sneaking idea the
ballads are not altogether without merit … I don't know if they're
poetry； but they're good narrative； or I'm deceived。 （You've never
said one word about them； from which I astutely gather you are dead
set against： 'he was a diplomatic man' … extract from epitaph of
E。 L。 B。 … 'and remained on good terms with Minor Poets。'） You
will have to judge： one of the Gladstonian trinity of paths must
be chosen。 （1st） Either publish the five ballads； such as they
are； in a volume called BALLADS； in which case pray send sheets at
once to Chatto and Windus。 Or （2nd） write and tell me you think
the book too small； and I'll try and get into the mood to do some
more。 Or （3rd） write and tell me the whole thing is a blooming
illusion； in which case draw off some twenty copies for my private
entertainment； and charge me with the expense of the whole dream。
In the matter of rhyme no man can judge himself； I am at the
world's end； have no one to consult； and my publisher holds his
tongue。 I call it unfair and almost unmanly。 I do indeed begin to
be filled with animosity； Lord； wait till you see the continuation
of THE WRECKER； when I introduce some New York publishers。 。 。 It's
a good scene； the quantities you drink and the really hideous
language you are represented as employing may perhaps cause you one
tithe of the pain you have inflicted by your silence on； sir； The
Poetaster；
R。 L。 S。
Lloyd is off home； my wife and I dwell sundered： she in lodgings；
preparing for the move； I here in the club； and at my old trade …
bedridden。 Naturally； the visit home is given up； we only wait our
opportunity to get to Samoa； where； please； address me。
Have I yet asked you to despatch the books and papers left in your
care to me at Apia； Samoa？ I wish you would； QUAM PRIMUM。
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO HENRY JAMES
UNION CLUB； SYDNEY； AUGUST 1890。
MY DEAR HENRY JAMES； … Kipling is too clever to live。 The BETE
HUMAINE I had already perused in Noumea； listening the while to the
strains of the convict band。 He a Beast； but not human； and； to be
frank； not very interesting。 'Nervous maladies： the homicidal
ward；' would be the better name： O； this game gets very tedious。
Your two long and kind letters have helped to entertain the old
familiar sickbed。 So has a book called THE BONDMAN； by Hall Caine；
I wish you would look at it。 I am not half…way through yet。 Read
the book； and communicate your views。 Hall Caine； by the way；
appears to take Hugo's view of History and Chronology。 （LATER； the
book doesn't keep up； it gets very wild。）
I must tell you plainly … I can't tell Colvin … I do not think I
shall come to England more than once； and then it'll be to die。
Health I enjoy in the tropics； even here； which they call sub… or
semi…tropical； I come only to catch cold。 I have not been out
since my arrival； live here in a nice bedroom by the fireside； and
read books and letters from Henry James； and send out to get his
TRAGIC MUSE； only to be told they can't be had as yet in Sydney；
and have altogether a placid time。 But I can't go out！ The
thermometer was nearly down to 50 degrees the other day … no
temperature for me； Mr。 James： how should I do in England？ I fear
not at all。 Am I very sorry？ I am sorry about seven or eight
people in England； and one or two in the States。 And outside of
that； I simply prefer Samoa。 These are the words of honesty and
soberness。 （I am fasting from all but sin； coughing； THE BONDMAN；
a couple of eggs and a cup of tea。） I was never fond of towns；
houses； society； or （it seems） civilisation。 Nor yet it seems was
I ever very fond of （what is technically called） God's green earth。
The sea； islands； the islanders； the island life and climate； make
and keep me truly happier。 These last two years I have been much
at sea； and I have NEVER WEARIED； sometimes I have indeed grown
impatient for some destination； more often I was sorry that the
voyage drew so early to an end； and never once did I lose my
fidelity to blue water and a ship。 It is plain； then； that for me
my exile to the place of schooners and islands can be in no sense
regarded as a calamity。
Good…bye just now： I must take a turn at my proofs。
N。B。 … Even my wife has weakened about the sea。 She wearied； the
last time we were ashore； to get afloat again。 … Yours ever；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO MARCEL SCHWOB
UNION CLUB； SYDNEY； AUGUST 19TH； 1890。
MY DEAR MR。 SCHWOB； … MAIS； ALORS； VOUS AVEZ TOUS LES BONHEURS；
VOUS！ More about Villon； it seems incredible： when it is put in
order； pray send it me。
You wish to translate the BLACK ARROW： dear sir； you are hereby
authorised； but I warn you； I do not like the work。 Ah； if you；
who know so well both tongues； and have taste and instruction … if
you would but take a fancy to translate a book of mine that I
myself admired … for we sometimes admire our own … or I do … with
what satisfaction would the authority be granted！ But these things
are too much to expect。 VOUS NE DETESTEZ PAS ALORS MES BONNES
FEMMES？ MOI； JE LES DETESTE。 I have never pleased myself with any
women of mine save two character parts； one of only a few lines …
the Countess of Rosen； and Madame Desprez in the TREASURE OF
FRANCHARD。
I had indeed one moment of pride about my poor BLACK ARROW： Dickon
Crookback I did； and I do； think is a spirited and possible figure。
Shakespeare's … O； if we can call that cocoon Shakespeare！ …
Shakespeare's is spirited … one likes to see the untaught athlete
butting against the adamantine ramparts of human nature； head down；
breach up； it reminds us how trivial we are to…day； and what safety
resides in our triviality。 For spirited it may