ren in
these parts; their parents obey them, they do not obey their parents;
and I am sorry to tell you (for I dare say you are already thinking the
idea a good one) that it does not pay one halfpenny. There are three
sorts of civilisation, Tomarcher: the real old-fashioned one, in which
children either had to find out how to please their dear papas, or their
dear papas cut their heads off. This style did very well, but is now out
of fashion. Then the modern European style: in which children have to
behave reasonably well, and go to school and say their prayers, or their
dear papas _will know the reason why_. This does fairly well. Then there
is the South Sea Island plan, which does not do one bit. The children
beat their parents here; it does not make their parents any better; so
do not try it.

Dear Tomarcher, I have forgotten the address of your new house, but will
send this to one of your papa's publishers. Remember us all to all of
you, and believe me, yours respectably,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

TO CHARLES BAXTER

_Tautira (The Garden of the World), otherwise called
Hans-Christian-Andersen-ville [November 1888]._

MY DEAR CHARLES,--Whether I have a penny left in the wide world, I know
not, nor shall know, till I get to Honolulu, where I anticipate a devil
of an awakening. It will be from a mighty pleasant dream at least:
Tautira being mere Heaven. But suppose, for the sake of argument, any
money to be left in the hands of my painful doer, what is to be done
with it? Save us from exile would be the wise man's choice, I suppose;
for the exile threatens to be eternal. But yet I am of opinion--in case
there should be _some_ dibbs in the hand of the P.D., _i.e._ painful
doer; because if there be none, I shall take to my flageolet on the
high-road, and work home the best way I can, having previously made away
with my family--I am of opinion that if ---- and his are in the
customary state, and you are thinking of an offering, and there should
be still some funds over, you would be a real good P.D. to put some in
with yours and tak' the credit o't, like a wee man! I know it's a
beastly thing to ask, but it, after all, does no earthly harm, only that
much good. And besides, like enough there's nothing in the till, and
there is an end. Yet I live here in the full lustre of millions; it is
thought I am the richest son of man that has yet been to Tautira:
I!--and I am secretly eaten with the fear o