The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-17
Kipling's Home in Nottingham.

Kiplins's Home in rockingham.
Rudyard Kiplings home in the little
Sussex village of rockingham, some
four miles to the eastward of Brighton,
is doubtless dear to him for old asso-
cations sake. 1t was here that he
spent his holidays during the period of
his career at Westward Ho! school. All
the old villagers remember him, when,
as the nephew of Burne-Jones, he was
known throughout the parish as the
little Indian" The Kipling house is an
old-fashioned place, surrounded by
high brick wall and looking out on the
tiny village green. 1t is called the Elms.
rockingham is a delightful survival
from the last century-a watering place
unmarried by railway facilities, and only
connected with the outside world
by the highway which runs
to Brighton. A greater con-
trast could scarcely be imagined
than that which exists between the
great, f1orid city last mentioned and its
out-of- the-way, picturesque little neigh
Dor. very ancient village is this
chosen home of the laureate of imper-
ialsm. The 'Doomsday Book men
tons it. In the reign of Richard II. the
French effected a landing here and at
tempted to march across the downs,
capture Lewes and avenge the Black
Princes victory a Crecy. They we're
opposed by a mere handful of yeomen,
but lost heart and returned to their
ships. The secret of this mysterious re-
treat will soon be made apparent to any
one who tries to cross the downs at
LeWes. The crossings of those wild
chalk hills and desoate valleys might
| well daunt a foreigner. But If nature
has given you stout heart, vigorous
lungs and the ability to climb ridge
after ridge uncomplainingly the very
best way to enter Nottingham is by
those selfsame downs from Lewes. The
| village lies at the extremity of long
| 'combe"-a narrow valley stretching
| far inland.
! Up to this combe, from the very edge
of the great chalk cliffs winds the sin
! gle street, to where the gray old Eng
i lsh church stands sentinel over the.
green. In the little churdlyard only a.
4 few weeks ago, William Black, the nov
elist, was laid to rest, and the flowers
are still banked upon his grave. In the
| middle of the green lies the horse pond,
/ and all around are houses, each Of
which possesses an interesting history
of its own. There is the vicarage, for
| instance, looking across the green to
Mr.. Kfpling's window. Under it's high
roof many famous men received their
early education. among the number be-
ing Bulwer Lytton, the great duke of
| Wellington and Cardinal Manning. For
the old Nottingham Wears also eked
out a livelihood by keeping school.
You may read in the earl of Lytton's
life of his father how the great novelist
became cock of the school" by thrash
ing bigger boy named Moreton. This
was under DR.. T. R. Hooker in 1917.
Long before then Wellington had frsk-
ed about the green and learned how to
construe in the vicarage. To the left of
the old school, with it's back to the great
chalk hill, is the house which the late
Sir Edward Burne-Jones built for him
self, and wherein he died. Sir Wamyss
Reid, another uncle of Mr.. Kipling, also
| lives near by, and new member of the
literary coloy here is l.. Cope Cornford,
| the novelist.
Mr.. Kipling's garden wall stretches
across the upper part of the green. The
house is two-storied with an attic The
front gate (by which a keen eye can
just discern two of the Kipling childen
at play is rarely opened. The entrance
is by the smaller wicket further down
the street, and directly facing the
church. The house was originally built
by Thomas D'Oyley, sergeant-at-law
in the last century Mr. Kiplinge
working room at present is that repre-
scented by the second floor bow window
downs, long range of cliffs and the Eng
fish channel. On clear days Beachey
head is distinctly visible, and the dep
pc steamers may be seen beating into
New Haven.
Straight opposite Mr.. Kipling's house
on the other side of the green, is a
quaint old inn-the Plough, kept by one
Bleyber, who knew the author of Re.
cessional' when he was a swarthy
youngster just home from India. Bley.
Der and Mr.. Kipling are fast friends
although they differ widely in politics
= Not long since Bleyber fell ill., and Mr.
Kipling by way of cheering Trim up
was wont to drop in of an evening tc
argue Imperialism versus little England
policy. The discussion invariably wax
ed hot: so that when Mr.. Kfpling lief,
the innkeeper's pulse had quickened alb.
normally, and he was feverish to de-
gree which puzzled the local physician
At length, however, the medical mar
heard of these visits. Going to Mr.
Kipling's house, he absolutely forbad,
him to pay any more visits to Bleybe
unless he wanted to murder the maj
with argument" The incident excited
, much amusement in Nottingham, bu
nobody laughs more heartily over i
than Mr. Kipling himself, unless it b
) the now recovered Chicag,
Chronicle.