The age-herald., 1898-10-23
~ n That Are-S Books R.! !.!: o!!. -Read R, cad


 of jubilee year. In this stately and majes-
 tic lyric the world recognized the fearless
 expression of sober thought while the
 very essence of things was moulded into
 forms and figures that strongly imprinted
 themselves upon the memory with con
 ciseness and precision. The same courage
 ous expression of thought and feeling
 which gave "The Recessionar' worldwide
 fame also characterizes his latest poem,
 .The Truce of the Bear" recently publish
 ed. Humility was the keynote of the one,
 fearlessness of the other. One has to read
 carefully and re-read to get the full
 strength and beauty of "The Truce of the
 Bear" There is no truce with Adam-Zad-
 the bear that walks like man. gives ex-
 pression to the feeling in many hearts Tn
 regard to the czars proclamation in behalf
 of universal disarmament. The entire poem
 breathes the marvellous sincerity, origin
 alty and verility of the young poet.
 Kipling has certain mannerisms which
 have often been quoted by reviewers as his
 most familiar one-"but that is another
 story" in "The Man Who Would Be
 King" he often says Tt was all in days
 work" So he has elaborated upon this
 thought and called his latest volume of
 short stories "The Days Work" Before
 the book was published the enterpris1ng
 publisher announced that the "new book nau Dee0 HldhlHS, iiiiSC oi AcoA SNoAS S'
 and contained his most mature and power- full work" This aroused the ire of cer- tain prom: :nent critic, and he pertinently asked "who is it that takes publisher S opinion on such matters for gospel" and then adds that "even in America we wei come a new book by Kipling. I say even in America, because the welcome in this case is from a country which MT. Kipling steadily disparages." Well, it is true, per haps, when MT. Kipling wrote his "Amer-
 ican Notes that he didn't think as well of
 us as he might, but then, you know, he had grievance-the grievance of pirated editions. Since he married an American
 and settled in home in Vermont we ought to forgive these earlier sentiments; and. too, now that we continue to pay hard
 cash for as many of his books as we can get, it is more than probable that his heart has softened towards us.
 It is contestably true that so far, Mir.
 Kiplings strongest and most skillful and gifted work is found in his short stories. Few men succeed both in the "coute" and the novel. '"The Light That Failed" is a delightful work, readable and wel-written, yet 1t cannot compare with many of his
 short stories; while "Captan's Courage
 ous'' is infinitely inferior to them The twelve stories in "The Days Work are indeed, no doubt, the most finished and thoughtful work the author has yet done. The initial story. "The Bridge Bu'lders," is worth the price of the book
 We naturally expect MT. F. Hopkinson Smith to be an adept in mechanical skill, and to ascribe with ease all the details of lighthouse building, etc.. but it is some- | thing of surprise to find MT. Kipling, who is supposed to have spent his days in the
 press rooms writing popular ballads, turn ing out story that for expert mechanical
 skill, finish and beauty of presentment and treatment cannot be surpassed.
 We all know the earnestness of this young writer; his commendable ambition to give to the world only the best of which he is capable.
 | In these stories the reader recognizes the perfected work of a man who has spared
 neither time nor energy, who has taken no note of the waning hours of daylight, but has relentiessly burned the midnight oil; and who has mastered and assimlated many scientific works to fit him for his sef-imposed task. No living writer can l. equal the power Kipling possesses to present types from widely diverse but con temporaneous civiliza ton with such strik- ing artistic effect; his perception of the real nature of each is profound and accurate. His preponderent characteristic Is his in-
 csive manner of getting at the very heart of things, and then his picturesque power of making the reader see clearly just what he, himself sees His wonderful magina-
 ton and originality is emphasized by a style that is stately and cheerful and pre-
 cison of dction that always seems to
 choose the right word.
 In several of the stories the author for diversion and relief, it were, transports the reader, bodily almost, so wildly is the coloring of the scene, to India; the land he
 has made his own, and which he seems to know intimately and by heart.
 Then, in "A Walking Delegate" he gives | one of his incomparable beast epics which is wondrously imbued with Kipling's truest art. The originality and inventive power of the story, pervaded by delicate and sub tie humor, can hardly be surpassed. The scene is Back Pasture" in Yer mont; the .characters'' in the story are some seven or eight "horses'' of varying degree of nobility from east, south and west Would it be permissible to say the Characterization" is superb? Well, you read 1t and decide.
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