The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-27
KHaiNG's ENGLISH HOME.
Charming Seat In the SUSSEX village
OF Betsingdsnn.


Rudyard Kipling's English home in
the little Sussex village OF Nottingham
Is some four miles TO tho eastward of
Brighton. Il was here that no spent his
holidays duiine the period Of his career
at Westward Hoi school. All the old
villagers remember him when, as the
nephew OF Burne-Jonss. he was known
throughout the parish as ''the little In
dian" The xipling house is an old.
fashioned place. surrounded by . high
brick wall. and looking out on the tins
village green. It is called the Films.
Nottingham Is delightful survival from
the last century--a watering place I'M
married by railway facilities, aud only
connected with the outside world by a
coach which runs to Brighton. In the
little churchyard only o few weeks ago
william Black, the uoveliet, was laid to
rest aud the flowers are still banked upon
his grave. In the middle of the green
lies the horsepond, and all around are
houses, each Of which possesses an inter
esting history of its own. There is the
vicarnge, for instance, looking across the
green to Mr.. Kipling's window. Under
its high roof many famous men reoeised
their early education, among the number
being Bulwer Lytton. the great duke OF
Wellington and Cardinal Manning. To
the lefs Of the old school, with its back TO
a great chalk hill, is the house which the
late Sir Edward Burne-Jones built for
himself, and wherein he's died. Sir
War Qaf1 -. "a A.
lfng) also lives near by and new mem.
Der Of the literary colony there Is L. Cope
Conford, the novelist.
Hr. Kipling's garden wall stretches
across the upper part Of the green. The
house Is two-storied, with an attic. The
front gate 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 Thorn
as ID Olyey, sergeant-at-law, In the last
century. Mr.. Kipiing's working room
at present is by the second floor bow win.
dows on the left. Hence he can see the
downs, the long range Of cliffs and the
English channel. On clear days Beachey
Head Is distinctly visible, and the Dieppe
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 Bley Der, who knew the author Of
u
younqster just home from India. Not
long since Bleyber fell III, and MIR. Kip
ling, by the way of cheering him I'M, was
wont to drop in OF an evening to argue
Imperialism. The discussion invariably
waxed hot, SO that when MIR. Kipling
left the innkeeper's pulse had quickened
abnormally and he was feverish to u de-
gree which puzzled the local physician.
Going TO Mr.. Kipling's house he forbade
him to nay any more visits to Bley Der
unless he wanted to murder the man
with argument
One who recently interviewed the post
In his English home writes: mir Kin
ling's work-room ia of surprising sim
plicity; the north wall Is covered with
books half its height; over the docrhangs
a portrait Of Burne-Jones lMr. kipiing's
uncle); to the right, near the window,
stands plain table-not a writing table
where lie a couple of pages containing
verses. No works Of art, no Convenience.
no knick-knacks-the unadorned room,
simple and earnest, like a Puritan
chapel"
81 much fear," began the intervlewer,
that ! have come too early and that /
have disturbed You in your work" "No,
no." interrupted Kipling, II have done
81 looked astonished at him. The late
iamented Trollope came to my mind, who
under all circumstances wrote his 10
pages every day-but Trollope and Kip
ling He guessed at once what had as
tonished me. ! do my daily task con
saientiously, but not all that l write is
printed; most Of 1t goes there The
waste-paper basket under the table here
received u vigorous kick, and a mass of
torn-up papers rolled on the ground.
kiphng's movements are quick and live
~ and perhaps somewhat nervous;
thoroughly southern temperament.