The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-12
TWO NOTED AUTHORS.
Both KipIing and Hardy Prefer to
live in Retirement.
London Letter in New York Tribune.

London Letter in New York Tribune
A literary lion who refuses obstinately to
be lionized piques curiosity wherever ne
goes Mr.. Rudyard Kipling, who IS en-
barking to-day with his family for America,
commands idolatrOus worship IN Engllsh 1T
erarv circles vet is bored by admiration,
and persistently shuns observation and pub
licity. Since his return TO England ne mas
lived in retirement protected I'M, Hle
avoided social distractions, and mas
seldom been seen in London. Nhen
hia presence has been secured as a
drawing card for luncheon or dlnnl
he has come late and has gone early, ana
has seemed Indifferent to the interest taken
in him. If there have been constant refer
ences to his work in the press he has done
nothing to advertise himself or to stimulate
public curiosity. No newspaper reporter
has been allowed to interview him; there
has been no literary log-rolling for his bene-
fit, and he has not seemed to take hlmseI
as seriously as is the habit of most or the
celebrities of the day. lie mas gone on
quietly with his work and stoutly resisted
all efforts to exhibit and pet him as lion
The effect of this deliberate policy of self
effacement has been noticeable. Il has in
creased the power Of his personality by i'm
parting to it an air of mystery 1t has in
tensified the ardor of the Kipling worship
ers. who are never weary OF Offering IN
cense to his fame as the only poet or Eng
ton of Imperialism and tine greatest mas
ter of English prose" BY avoiding publicity
and social functions he has strengthened
his hold upon his circle CT admirers in lit
erary London, who find it easy to meet or
dinary celebrities, but very difficult to OBJ
tain access to him. AS for the great au-
noble Victorian hymn, "RecesSiOnal," its
respect has been increased for an author
who works in silence and will not be lion
lied In these days, when many literary
artists allow themselves to be drawn too
easily and are constantly on exhibition and
Vulgarized by persistent advertising, Mr..
klpling' preference for privacy and self-re-
spect is to be heartily commended. He re-
turns to America unostentatiously as he
n "A a rls
ries with him the characteristic trait of re-
serve and dislike of publicity.
Another eminent author, whom 1 would
myself describe as the greatest living
master of fiction Mr.. Thomas Hardy. has
similar manner OF life. lie lives In VII
lage Of his own well-beloved Wessex and
works out of sight in his own home. Like
Mr.. Kipling, he is member of the Athe-
naeum and Savile Clubs, but he is seldom
seen in London, and is not what is ordi-
narily known a club man. He comes to
London every spring to spend few weeks,
but is alV avs glad TO return to rural Eng
iand. Where he has peace and quiet In the
controversies which some of his later books
have excited he takes no part. What he
writes IS submitted for public judgment,
and he cOmmunes with his own heart and
| is still. He is one of the most modest ana
least pTetentious of men. and needs to be
coaxed to talk about his own work, ana
when he does speak of it the manner is one
| of slNDte charm, without "A tone OF self-as-
sertion. Mr.. Hardy is so simple and gentle
that It Is not necessary for him 70 De on
his guard against being honzed. lie does
not need TO assume Mr.. kiplings br1StHng
style and to warn intruders that he has no
intention of being bored. He does not go
out of his way 10 meet people, nor does
he avoid them ike a recluse. He is most
o. -ightful companion. with that freshness
ard simplicity of nature which are naturally
associated with great intellectual gifts.
The most characteristic portrait Of Mr.
| Hardy is a little etching by Mr.. William
/ Strong. which reveals the strongly marked
forehead. the deeply set, dreamy eyes ana
the well-modeled chin, and conveys an I'M
preston of intellectual power softened hy
/ pensive melancholy IL is rough-heWn
| face. with force of character behind II, ana
I an expression of refinement and gentleness
| He is not man Of the world, but a man
/ of Wessex. He has done for rural Englan0
! what Dickens in his day succeeded IN dong
for the svarming hives of London. With
realism like Baizac's. he has portrayed the
1 humOr. passion romance and pathos or
rural life in secluded and old-fashioned sec
tiOns of the southern counties. | once aSAeU
him whether he had drawn directly rom
| the life, and he said that he had not zone
SO. except in one or two instances Ills
| Joseph PoorgraSs, with the multiplying
/ eye" is, j fancy, one Of these EXCEPTIONS
and of Tess he had only passing ghmpse
1.-The sight of a face which haunted MS
memory and inspired his imagination. ny,
Hardy does not need 70 draw from the lie
as Dickens did In London. lie IS STEPPED II
the spirit of WeSsex, ana knows lnStinnc'
lively all its varying types Of character.