St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-29
INTERVIEWING RUDYARD.

This is the story of how Rudyard Kip1ing
wasn't interviewed. 1t is a true story. All
otheraccounts are like unto the sayings of
Ananias and Sapphira. l could tell lie
about it, but have sworn mighty cath to
tell the truth to the bitter end.
Il
Rudyard Kipling and Mrs. Rudyard Kipling
came to st. Paul yesterday. They had no
more luggage than the railroad rules allow
passenger to have without paying extra for
st. They brought no retinue. no dog. Rud-
yard Kipling thought to foil the vulgar
crowd. He hired him a room at the Aber
sdeen. and Rugged himself in fancied security
But the reporters knew of his coming. There
were city editors who mentioned it GU their
assignment books Yesterday morning short
reporters and tall, broad reporters aud thin
girded up their loins and besieged the mighty
man in his castle on the hill. But first they
lied to each other not after the manner of
men ard brethren. but as villains and cut
Threats. They said to each other: 'We will
not try to interview Kipling. He is not of
our Kind. Let us repudiate and ignore him.
And By devious ways they went to his hotel
and sentup their cards. which were returned
By Mr. KlDling with the verbal message that
he was not in. At noon Rudyard Kipling,
being of The flesh, ate. He came down to
the cafe SO quietly that he WAS unnoticed,
but as he sat at meat the reporters
spied him and laid snares for him when he
should come out. One reporter, thinking to
beguile his brother, and so be rid OF MIN and
free to scoop him. said. Come, let us shake
for the cigars ana as the dice ratified and
fell from the box he whom they sought,
being satisfied came out of the cafe. and
went away to his room again.
Il
All afternoon reporters stormed him with
cards, but of no avail. a last he sent down
word that no more cards were to be sent up.
The reporters went away, and as they went
they concocted fictitious and fGundationless
stories. They had committed LA Mutt
Blanche to memory. They had pored over
Ortheris AMI Learoyd and "The End of the
Passage. ana had chanted DANNY Deever''
as they came toward the hotel, but as they
went away they said nothing of Kipling's
fame.
i
Then it was that the great Rudyard came
down stairs. l saw him. l met him face to
face. His eyes are as blue as if the skies of
thousand summers slept in them. They
look out straight through gold-bowed
glasses, hooked behind his ears. His nous
tache does not droop. 1t does not sweep; it
is simply q brown moustache. The chin is
cleft with a deep dimple. and he has hunted
look which the reporters of America have
given him. lie is not tall. and he has just
the slightest stoop of the shoulders. His
clothes fit like English clothes. They are
not original, nor loud nor extreme He
speaks III a mellow voice, a trifle higher i'll
pitch than one would expect. and his accent
is not marked. He is not striking in appear
ance. One often sees such young men
thirty or thereabout.
i
What he has to say. he says in print. He
will not tell you any of those wonderful
stories he says he knows. He will not ex-
plain anything. He Will not recite poetry to
you. for he is not here for that. He came
quietly and peacefully with his bride. He
said what he thought of us and our country
before he came. He doesn't care to add any
thing to it. If he does he will write ii, but
he refuses to be interviewed; and really, so
long as man is not after an Office. and has
not committed murder or stolen another
mans wife. it occurs to one who thinks of
these things that bis wishes In the matter
might with proprety be respected. Some
day he Will bitterly regret that he did not
learn to know US better, but until he does, If
he will not be interviewed, he will not and
there's all end ont. r. X.