St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-02-15
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KIPLING IN VERMONT.

The experiment OF a foreign young |
man who has contracted a habit OF
speaking contemptuously and re-
proachfully of Americans, coming to
settle among them with view to
establishing himself in the country
for life, is nothing less than risky
one, and must be somewhat embar-
RAISING to him who tries it. Rud-
yard kipling, whose open attitude
of disfavor toward Americans since
certain publishers in this country
pirated his books, has become wide
" recognized, is in the course of such
an experiment in Dummerston, VT,
where he has built house and set
tied himself for literary work and his
family for a permanent home. When
l saw him last October everything
that he had planned seemed to be
proceeding according to his wishes,
and he was getting the feeling of
one quite at home. He has seques-
tGISu HlLHSCIlj having OuiiI OIl al
elevat ton on the farm of his wife's
family, the Balestiers, which is shut
out from the view of the nearest viii
Iage, Brattleboro, by hills, and which
is miles away from any but two or
three neighbors.
One reaches the place from Brattle-
boro by a winding road nearly tour
miles long, passing through some of
the most captivating scenery in
the Connecticut river valley.
looked toward Kipling's house
from Mount Wantastiquet, Tin
Chester6eld), the nearest mountain
which is fully 100 feet high, on a
clear day, but no glimpse could get
oft
He is as resolute IN his determina-
ton to be by himself and to be let
alone as he is in his determine ton
TO reproach and derogate Americans,
even after he has settled among
them. He is surrounded by his wife,
who was Caroline Balestier, sister
of Wolcott Balestier, the young wri-
ter, who died and was buried in
Dresden about three years ago.
his little girl, Josephine, his brother
in-law, Beat title Balestier, his wife
and little daughter, and Josephine
Balestier. his wife's sister, and, hav-
ing committed himself to authorship,
he has little need of society. He
goes often to Brattleboro, however,
and with Mrs. Kipling calls on GER
tain of her old friends She was
brought up in Dummerston, and has
long had many acquaintance in
Brattleboro. So her husband has
become acquainted with the old fam
lilies, in which he is liked as we'll as
admired.
He keeps his literary life utterly
distinct from his social life, and there
is no talking shop when he is call
ling. His heartiness where he be-
comes acquainted is early exhibited
and he shows that zest in conversa
ton which marks his storytelling
He is on excellent terms with men OF
all classes in the vicinity and is
known by sight and name by nearly
all who are not acquainted with hin
personally
The unkind illusions which he haG
made to Americans were resented by
the best citizens when he went tt
Dummerston, and Kipling had tc
give them the best proofs that he
could be a gentleman before they
opened their doors to him. know
that in one case a business man a
Brattleboro who knew all the slur.
which Ki pling had written agains
US. when the author called on him t.
buy something, while showing hin
ordinary courtesy, did no more
but was nevertheless we'll pleased
with his manner toward him, anC
on his next visit indicated his pleas
ure, which was met with the sam
hearty spirit, and ere long Kipling
alter calling one day, invited him t,
come and see him at any time. ''Th
latch-string," he added, lis Away
out over there"
This would have surprised any on
in the place who had not come t.
perceive the heartiness and good
fellowship to which l have referred
and which is characteristic of tn
man. There are still prominent Cit
zens who have never met Mr.. Kip
ling. who have not seen fit to revis
the opinion they formed of him afte
rond;nn his rnl.ind q Illusions to hi