The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-02
KIPLING'S AMERICAN LETTERS.
Tho Satirist's Structures justified By
the Rancor They Cause.
Kansas City Star

Th0 Sot1rist'S Structures justified by
the Rancor They Cause.
Kansas City Star.
The light and airy efforts of Mr.. Kipling
in the way of the portrayal of American
national characters have stirred up feel
ing of rancor which amounts to positive
absurdity. Behold how great matter a
little fire kindleth. Here is an array of
critics on both sides of the Atlantic,
headed by Andrew Lang and "Nyn
Crinkle," pitching into hot-headed, inn
pulsive boy for an error of which men of
all nations and all times have been guilty.
Instead of calmly treating the matter as a
joke, and more Of a Joke on the young
writer than on the American people, the
writers have lost their tempers and their
manners, thus in measure justlfying
some Of Mr.: Kipling's structures. For
to learn by this time that the ..impres-
sions" Of railroad tourists are merely a
kind of evil to be borne good-naturedly or
dismissed CONTEMPORARY.
Mr.. Dickens set the fashion with his So
called American Notes." but nobody
nowadays reads the IN otes" with sense
of burning indignation or resentment. The
American reader is merely amused by the
grotesque. exaggeration and the limited
perception Of the writer. What could be
more diverting than the result of Matthew
Arnold's observations in America, as ex-
ampled by "Nym Crinkle," to the effect
that "ice and apples are cheap and cab
fares are high?" Who can read that ridic-
ulous mess Of stuff attributed to Henry
Irving In the impressions of America
and believe that the eminent actor ever
gave thought to thevmaterial condition
of the country or the characteristics and
impulses of the people2 And so might be
extended Indefinitely The list of tourists,
some bright, some prosy, who have rushed
their impressions" into print with the
same ridiculous haste with which they
and down dale. Perhaps it was grievous
wrong, but what of it? In the end it is
the writer who is laughed at, not the peo-
pie he essays to criticise.
This vagary of the human mind is so
common that it has been made the butt of
ridicule in the playhouse and in the field
OF satire. The author of Mr.. Florence's
play, Our Governor, introduces an English
woman who is preparing work on Amer
lea. The Governor offers to assist her.
Touching Indians" suggests the lady.
Touching Indians" says the Governor
gravely, 'is very dangerous occupation.
unless" he adds meditatingly, "you touch
'em with rifle" And it is so recorded
with due precision in the note book. Six
ySoAS USAoAC N.Y. DiCkcuS puDllSucO Ills
american Notes he brought out the
famous "Pickwick Papers" It is in
teresting to observe that in the character
OF Count Smorltork, who was gathering
materials for his famous work on Eng
land, Mr.. Dickens satirized the very folly
OF which he was subsequently guilty. The
count remained three weeks in England,
gathering materials" "Count," said Mrs.
Leo Hunter. Mr.. hckwick" what You
say?" replied the count, "Pig Wig or Big
Vig-what you call-lawyer-eh? I see
that is it-Big Wig" And Mr.. Pickmick
was entered as gentleman "who derived
the name from the profession to which he
belonged" And all England roared at the
clever satire.
What matters it whether Russian saws
that Pickwick or big Wig" is named in
honor OF profession or that an English
man writes that Chicago is ''inhabited by
savages?" Where is the boosted American
sense OF humor that discriminates so an
grlly between the traveller in real life and
the traveller In the play? This sort of thing
did not end with Dickens or Matthew Ar
mold or Irving or Sidney Smith, the mean
est OF them ali, and it is not likely to end
with kipling. But the probability is that
it will be laughed out of court after all the
TRADE of abuse which fancy can conjecture
has failed. When Americans can rise
above petty feeling of chagrin at every
Ignorant commentary or absurd criticism
they Will appreciate the wisdom of Mr..
Pope's advice to Belinda:
.And trust me. dear, good humor can prevail
When airs and fights and screams and seedlings