Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-01
RInNARD KIPLING.


The reading public of the civilized world
await with interest the outcome of the
dangerous malady which has Frustrated
Rudyard Kiplng. The last decade has
seen him flash like ii meteor across the
skies Of the literary world. and though
his past has been brilliant beyond eXpec-
tation his future Of he is spared holds
forth still greater promise.
There are thousands both on this Con-
tlnent and in Europe who maintain that
Kipling is facile princeps among con-
tomporaneous authors. And as many
more predict that if restored to health he
will gain additional force with maturity
and add to the literature Of the English
tongue monument which will long per
petuate his name. Whatever be his faults
Of style or manner, the famous young
Englishman who now battles for life at
the age Of "a is a man Of illimitable YER
satilitv. With that self-confidence which
is born of ability, he has boldly plunged
into every field of literature. In prose
and verse he has shown equal ability, nor
has he in either restricted himself by
models or precedents. Only few weeks
ago his imperialisic poem-"The White
Mans Burden" appeared to create
mild sensation in the literary and political
world. Like all his other productions,
the verses were read far and wide, and
while his views are antagonistic to those
of millions. there are few TO gainsay the
merit of the effort. Men had hardly
finished discussing his Truce Of the
Bear" when Kipling. whose eagle eye
apparently surveys the world, urged us
to take in hand "the sullen, silent peo-
plcs' of the Orient.
No one who is touched by the beautiful
and sublime can ever forget Kipling's
professional" which was prompted 10y
the Queens jubilee, or fail 10 appreciate
the grim humor Of his Fuzzy Wuzzy."
a poem descriptive Of the Soudan eXpe-
dictionary force. The following, from the
Aforementioned verses, however daring and
regardless of precedent. is inimitably
unique:
"'E's all 'ot sand and ginger when alive,
And 'cs generally shammin when 'e's
dead,
'E"S Il daisy, G ) uuchys idHlO'
! Els q Inja-rubber idiot on the spree,
! Els the on'y thing that doesn't care a
damn
For a regiment o British infantree."
Kiplings prose works, for the most part,
! are on a parity of merit with his poems,
| though a few of them may have lost force
among Americans on account of the dia-
lects used. He has yet to write line,
/ so far as we have seen, nat is common
place or lacking in orL3~,lity.
! While Americans can in no sense claim
Kipling as in any way representative Of
! their country, the people OF the United
States have seen no little Of the promising
| young author. He married Miss Carolyn
! Balestier, an American girl. who for many
years resided in Rochester, n. Y.
| Her brother, Wolcott Balestier, had been
his most intimate friend and with him
collaborated "The Naulahka." a novel Of
! American and Indian life. Balester. like
his famous brother-iI-law, was a man
Of unusual promise, hut die died before
completing his 30th year. There are many
who think his demise was due to constant
overwork in literary lines.
Another brother of Mrs. Kipling's-
| Beatty-does not appear to have gotten
along so pleasantly with his English
kinsman. In the summer of 1886 the public
read with interest Of a squabbe between
J the two and the subsequent arrest OF
Balestier. who was charged with threaten
ing Kiplings life. As an outcome OF this
affair Balestier recently brought suit
against Kipling for alleged malicious pros
ecutlon and false arrest. The damages
are placed by the plaintiff at $4,000. The
! whole affair has been most distasteful to
| Mr. Kiping. and II Is to be hoped that
bis illness and recovery may patch up this
family quarrel
The young Englishman Is extremely re-
ticent and appears to shrink from noto-
riety. Indeed. there have been many who
misconstrue his diffidence and attribute
II TO pride engendered by success. Be
| this as 1t may, Kipllng as an author is
the delight OF the hour. and the prices he
commands Ia literary marts are almost
fabulous.