Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-08-06
orhs Great Pie Belt"

We quote this heading as it is riginal
with the man whose literary efforts have
of late been receiving more consideration
than those Of any other individual who
makes his living by driving hispen.
This man, who is no other than Rudyard
Kipling, is now in England and we are
indebted to epresentstive.of the st
James Gazette, Of London, for some In
teresting information regarding him
Mr. Kipling does not speak as unchsrlta
bly, Of this country as English writers have
been prone to do, but he inclines to treat
us In humorous vein. In speaking Of
Northern New England he says "Oh,
the climate is excellent for nine months
OF the year. A lovely green country and
soft gold sunshine all the summer, and a
perfect winter Snow three feet deep,
and such sleighing Did you ever
sleigh No; then you don't know one
Of the best things In life Then the still
clearness Of the cold is delightful. There
is hardly stir Of wind for days together
and with the thermometer 90 degrees be
low zero you can't catch cold II You try.
/ admit when the wind does come Il is
pretty bad-a blizzard &c TO blow the
plates of the side Of an ironclad The
New England Spring, too, is a surprise
frost, wind and baking sun in layers as
it were, IN three consecutive days. Still,
on the whole the climate is good one
for foreigner. Whether it Is Just the
sort to build up q tough race is another
question. It is too dry-the air is too
highly oxygenated. It makes brain better
then muscle and nerves more than either
Our moist, gray, English weather is the
thing. after all, to keep the blood in the
veins and gastric juices in work. Now
the Yankee does not seem to be able to
sleep o'nights, or laugh out loud, or as
simulate his food in peace"
Mr.. Kipling says he thought this last
mentioned trouble with Americans was
cause by the kind of food they tried Ia
assimilate. He said he spoke with
knowledge for be lived on the borders OF
the great pie belt" and continued "The
pie belt extends through the New Eng
land States and across Northern New
York. Pie is a habit all over the East
ern States; in the belt It is a debauch.
Have you considered the physiological
condition Of a people which eats pie foI
breakfast, pie for dinner ard pie for sup
per, and takes ice water and sweetstu a
between whilesi Dyspepsia - epidemic
you can't expect anything else.
Il was suggested TO Mr.. Kipling that
be did not regard America as an idea
place for comfort. To this he cautiously
replied: 81 may, OF / may not admire
the Americans; but our comfort they dc
not understand. Everything is too TEN
porary for that. They are in the railway
station waiting room stage Of civiliza
tion. They are resting tin the cars come
up and take them on some where else (;
and II Is hardly worth while yet for any
one 10 settle down and be solidly com
Portable. It feels like one vast encamp-
ment with frame hous,s or steel and con
crete barrieks. instead Of tents
Perhaps 10 this astute Englishman hat
tried some other part Of the country 4,
would have found that creature com
forts" were in a more advanced state
Even the southern part of New Englan,
would have introduced him to a societ,
as bent upon solid comfort as any to b
found In the world. The homes Of th
multi millionaires in Newport would hav
been a re violation to him. for there h
would have found the comforts and lux
uries Of life rs literally dispensed as any
where on the globe.
Mr.. Kipling appears to enjoy life /
this country, even in rugged New Ems
land, and in reply to a question as {
whether he should continue to live s
America he said: Eyes, il suits my pul
pose for the time An answer who
will arouse a great amount of euriosi.
among his American neighbors.