New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-02
LITERARY NOTES.

II Is said OF Rudyard Kipling by the genial
critic OF "Blackwood" that 1t has been his por-
ton TO gain the OF the great non-lterary
reading public. and at the same time TO WIN
the enthusiastic applause Of that limited pody
Of men whose pleasure In a work OF art 10 de-
rived from perception Of the means as well
ms Of the end Such good fortune falls to rev.
adds this critic.
There are writer's whose work is keenly ap-
nreciated by their literary brethren. but VINO
make little or no impression upon the great
heart Of the people OF such Mr. stevenson
was typical representative There are others
again who sell their tens OF thousands. yet
whose glazing faults OF taste enectua"y repei
the synpathes Of the educated minority the
cachet of whose appreciation. while they profess
70 despise. they secretly long for. But the critic
N whose nalate the works Of Miss CoreN or MT
Caine arc as ungrateful as a meal Of dust ana
ashes is well aware that from the point OF
view Of literature neither the lady nor the gen
,ler,an ox,sts Their performances viii have
as much sirn,fcancs for the competent critic
OF the future as the 'Dagonet Ballads or cap
tain Goes finals So. too. the reviewer TO "hose
hardened sensbilties the pathos ana 'he ho-
NOR Of the Kafyerd alike appeal In vain mas
more than suspicion that Messrs. CrocKe''
and Maclaren will not enter into the reckoning
OF our sons sons But he knows that Mr. Bar
RE is certain to count. And even so 1t Is with
Mr. Kipling You may lay your finger on iauns
real or imaginary; you may find his verse hashF
and his prose irritating. But you cannot 'neins
IN full possession Of your senses pass MN pE'
YOU cannot maintain that. in estimating the
literary forces and tendencies Of our age II Is
possible to leave him out CT account.
Mr. Kipling being. not long ESQ. modesty IN
vited by The Cantab" to contribute something
70 its pages returned this genial reply:
September u, 1868
To the Edieor Of The Cantab.
There once was n writer who wrote:
Dear Sir. In reply to your note
OF yesterdays cate.
7 am sorry state
rs no goOd-at the prices you quote
RUDYARD KIPL1NG.
Thereupon the editor consulted with his COL
leaeues and the result a letter desiring to
know what Mr.. Kpling's terms. and con-
Guiding thus: so long we have any garments
left IN our wardrobes and an obhging avuncular
relative. prepared TO make any sacri-
fees 10 obtain some Of your spirited lines" The
author fastened 70 deprecate such sacrifice.
and introduced the following reply. with hui
morous sketch Of his unknown correspondents:
September % 1898
Dear Sir Heaven forbid that the staff Of
The Cantab" should go about pawning their
raiment in a publicspirited attempt to secure
q contribution from my pen The fact is tina;
] can't do things 10 order with any satisfaction
10 myself or the buyer otherwise 1 would have
sent you something. Sincerely.
RUDYARD KIPLING.
Not yet satisfied. the young collegans begged
for a photograph. and had for an answer this;
AS to photos of myself. have not one by me
at present but when ! find one Will send 1t;
but not for publication. because my beauty is
such that ii fades like flower II You expose II.
Very sincerely RUDYARD KlPL1NG.
The marvellous tales Of adventure which the
parsonage known as Louis de Rougemont has
been telling in London have evolved among
other amusing comments this lively bit of verse:
THE PSEUDO TEsTUDO: OR. THE TWO
LOUIS.
To Louis de Rougemont spake Louis de Becke:
Il can swallow your pearls. can swallow your
wreck;
But this fancful leapjng on turtles asleep.
And riding them round. is trhe too steep.
On your passion for trimmings you must put
Louis de Rougeront~ said Louis de Becke
To Louis de Rougemont spake Louis de Becke:
Not a turtle exists but would fan on my neck.
Such a sound understanding together have We.
so well know them. and so we'll they know
me.
But to ride them, Theyd snap you in twain in
o Louis de Rougemont." said Louis de Beckt
Spake Louis de Rougemont to Louis de Becke
Il will clear up this point importunate tee!
When wrote down the tale left out in my
hurry
The word which would stop all this turmoil
and worry
The turtle rode was mock turtle Trek"
SAID Louis de ROugemont to Louis de Becke.
Ranaelli the painter writing in The Pail Nal
Magazine" about his dead friend Alphonse Dau
Diet. describes the novelist in private Ike as
transforming everything that impressed him
into interesting stories. Many were the exciting
Sunday afternoons spent by animated group
OF friends in Gonoourts study. IF any one Of
US says Raffaelli began 10 tell story, Daudet
was seen 10 move restessly in his chair I'M
patient 70 relate his own: and Daudets story,
which always had a basis OF reality, became. &C
coTdag 20 circumstances. 10 the persons pres
ent or 20 the amount OF attention paid in listen.
ing light and short. or ample. magnificent.
extravarant ever. lie the hTst 10 be amused
at his exercise like child.
And here beg TO insist for a moment upon
The childike nature of Daudet's character. 1t
IS true that everything seems to have been said
IN praise CT Daudet. All the forms Of eulogy
have been exhausted in enumeratng his great
and luminous qualities. But l have not seen
noted in any Of his studies on the novels. this
striking feature Of his character. Daudet was
q child a marvellous child, exceptionally gifted,
and possessing all the beautiful and adorable
qualities OF childhood: confidence, generosity.
fever!sh imagination. and passionate desire
10 live. 10 act, u enjoy. without intermisson
cessation. And to the end Of his life. although
riyeted TO his armchair. Daudet gave US with
& generous and childlike enthusiasm the best OF
advice. showed us how ardent his passion
for iusticp and humanity and made rs share 3