The Portland daily press., 1891-07-04

Mr.. Rudyard Kipling, whose genius is
quite generally conceded by Americans as
well as by his own countrymen, has been de-
voting himself to ridicule and downright
abuse Of this country since his visit here.
About this Americans will not care very
much. The abuse and the ridicule are gen.
orally picturesque, and may iD spots show
the marks of genius, though for the most
part they are of a rather cheap and low des-
criptioD. The satire of Thackeray troubled
considerably the Americans of another gen.
GRAFTON; and therefore probably did them
considerable good. But since then Americans
have grown more confident of themselves as
nation and as men and women. There are
some metropolitan fools who put upon them
selves the handouts of slavish Difference to
British and other foreign ideals; but they
are not representative Americans. The rep
resentativa American is going about his bust
ness, paying his debts, avoiding baccarat and
the divorce court, educating his children &C.
cording to standards of culture in keeping
with his surroundings and certainly es good
as the standards of ether nations. Such an
American will read with amused interest,
or perhaps with pity for the author, Mr.. Kip
iing's latest poem, which is devoted to Amer
leans and the American copyright law. OF
our nation and the law the poet says:
Twas the broncho among nations-a severely
cultured race
Though their mode Of spelling centre proved them
clearly off their base,
Passed bill OF three dmensions-two of which
concerned the trade
And one, but this was fiction, books the British
author made.
In the foot note Mr.. Kipling explains that
the "broncho" is IAN underlined animal with
aswelled head, given to jumping nervously
upon inspection. Anglice, 'bounder.'"
The poet further dasnrihAA ,h-- fiL--- II, a
They are very like their babies-If YOU notice
HyOg don't they, steal your candy, and their
Ihelr Iather's name was Washington -mis-state-
ments made him vince; '''''
one like him since. ~
To American literature the Young man
from the jungle is as complimentary as N
Americans:
1t was woolly wild and wooIy-it was more
than three feet wide, ""' 'A0i0
For 1t ran from Maine TO oregon and out the other
With one nasal Halleluiah, like giant jews-harp
The Bounder among Nations claimed a bookcase
OF her own.
Now they're running ninety Shakespeares-all
- with Variegated dlctions;
Ihey nave put the growth of Millions under Inter-
State restrictions:
They brake the q. p. freight cars with the Laurie
ates OF the West,
Aud vigilance committee is sub-edting the
rest. Wv
They are writing Of Proportion and Reserve. and
Racial Feeling,
Like an irrespective sneak thief who has inst
abandoned stealing;
ana we can't attend to Baby, and we can't lie
down at night,
For those queer self-conscous school-boys howl
Gilt up and see us writem
But they're learning not to "wiggleo when YOU
n photograph their manners;
Iney are guessing at a medium 'twixt s'you
SKUNK" and mad Hosannas;
ana the men who know 'em famcy-if the meas
- ure they have made lasts
mat some DAY they'll be Public not a gals
school swapping "Trade-lasts."
Mr. Kipling kindly explains that by trade
lasts" he means complimentary criticisms,
which publishers swap as the school girls
exchange compliments for their new ribbons
and gowns. Mr.. Kipling will be lucky If he
does not find the trade last" arrangement
worked upon himself by some bright Ameri-
can who will give him retur for the COM
pliments which he has showered on the
heads of Americans.