SEVEN WHITE ELEPHANTS

 
"On the death of Mr. Luxmore, I sought oblivion in the details of business.   I believe I have mentioned that seven mansions, besides this, formed part of Mr. Luxmore’s property:  I have found them seven white elephants.  The greed of tenants, the dishonesty of solicitors, and the incapacity that sits on the bench, have combined together to make these houses the burden of my life."

Robert Louis Stevenson:  Narrative Of The Spirited Old Lady, from More New Arabian Nights, New York, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905.

 

The Mrs. Charles B. Alexander residence in Tuxedo Park, NY. (Land of 1,000 white elephants) 

Cannibal and the Headhunters: Land of 1,000 Dances (Link).

TELLS HOW I BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH MY WIFE

  
   For some time the girl remained where he had left her, looking out past the islet and over the bright sea. Then with a start, as one who throws off preoccupation and puts energy again upon its mettle, she broke into a rapid and decisive walk. She also was much incensed by what had passed. She had forgotten where she was. And I beheld her walk straight into the borders of the quicksand where it is most abrupt and dangerous. Two or three steps farther and her life would have been in serious jeopardy, when I slid down the face of the sand hill, which is there precipitous, and, running halfway forward, called to her to stop.

  She did so, and turned round. There was not a tremor of fear in her behavior, and she marched directly up to me like a queen. I was barefoot, and clad like a common sailor, save for an Egyptian scarf round my waist; and she probably took me at first for some one from the fisher village, straying after bait. As for her, when I thus saw her face to face, her eyes set steadily and imperiously upon mine, I was filled with admiration and astonishment, and thought her even more beautiful than I had looked to find her. Nor could I think enough of one who, acting with so much boldness, yet preserved a maidenly air that was both quaint and engaging; for my wife kept an old-fashioned precision of manner through all her admirable life--an excellent thing in woman, since it sets another value on her sweet familiarities.

   "What does this mean?" she asked.



 "You were walking," I told her, "directly into Graden Floe."



Slapp Happy: A Little Something (Link) and The Secret (Link)
 


Excerpt:  Robert Louis Stevenson,  “The Pavilion On The Links,” first published in Cornhill Magazine 42-43, London (Sept-Oct 1880).