The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-18
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A WORD WITH KIPLING.

ADVICE from a Friendly Crltlc Wno
Loves Him Well.
Mr.. Kipling must hold himself well
in hand. No one now before the world
is in a position more perilous. 1t Is de-
pressing to be underestimated,and may
even have a baleful effect upon the
temper. But to be overestimated is far
more dangerous to those qualities
which a man needs in the prosecution
of his daily work. We shall be asked
whether it is true that Rudyard Kip
ling has been overestimated, and what
is our reason for attacking" him. We
have seen this word used half dozen
times within as many months to de-
scribe attempts, of a wholly sympath et-
ic character, to discriminate in praise
of Mrs. Kipling. We will, therefore-al-
though to attack this delightful and
even splendid national hero Is not with
in the circle of our thoughts--answer the
question in bold affirmative. Mr..
| Kipling has been, and now habitually
| is, overpraised The language adopted
regarding him would be excessive, be-
cause unbalanced and irrational, If it
We're applied to Sir Walter Scott to
Tennyson, to Victor Hugo. Ten years
have passed, and no more, since the
wonderful boy published THE Story of
the Gadsbys," and already he is raised
on pinnacle of golden alteration high
er, perhaps, than any author ever
reached in his lifetime. The world
grovels at his feet, and those few of us
who have kept our heads gaze up in
the dim air to see whether the little fig,
J., frr1, tn, chi N,,, tofo
will be able to endure this dedication,
1t is very dangerous thing to be
raised to this height. Let Mr.. Kipling
beware that he does not assume the
god, affect to nod, and seem to shake
the spheres The temptation to do SO
is almost irresistible.
Two elements have combined to place
the youthful author of "a Fleet in Be-
ing" in the extremely exalted position
which he holds. OF these of course, is
his own genius-the pungency of his
style the closeness and abundance Of
his observation, his rich and multiform
Imagination. An praise which these
qualities secure for him Is safe and
wholesome; on this side he need not eus-
pect a straining of the note. But these
alone would not account for his popu-
larity, and the preponderatng element
in this Is the encouragement his writ
ings have given to a certain national
state of mind All that is unitarian
and materialistic, all that Is inimical
to thought and favorable to action, all
the external rowdiness and latent pur-
itanism with which this century is
closing so surprisingly in England, find
their exact echo and confirmation In
Mr.. Kipling's books. We observe that |
the admirers now claim for their hero |
that he set all this great imperial ma |
chinery in motion; that England was
lying spellbound when the majestic |
genius Of Kipling brooded over the deep |
and called forth the forces which ran |
throbbng with life, to the extremities
of the Seven Seas. But this Is to ex- |
aggerate the function of an author. The |
greatest poet does not start national
the most that he can do is |
to identify himself with 1t, and to speed |
it smoothly on its way. That we cam
not deny that Mr.. Kiplng has done.
But what will be Mr.. Kipling's posi-
ton when this fit of popular material
ism hae played itself out? We are sure
day will be the first to turn upon their
image and pelt it with stones. Public
taste will change. but Mr.. Kipling is
far too deeply scored with the charac-
of his talent to change with it.
Within certain flexible limits we know
now what he will give us. AT present
everything tends to the glorification of
his strength, and to the minimizing of |
his weaknesses. Borne along on the
crest of the wave of public satisfaction,
he seems to have no defects at all. But
he is not that faultless monster which
the world ne'er saw, the author equally
equipped on all sides. If the tickle pub
lie should turn round and demand philo-
sophical reflection from it's poets, or ten
Ter sentiment, or the symbolism of
aerial melancholy, there will be no RE
,luse" and no 'In Memoriam" and no
Kubla Kahn" to be expected from
In these and other provinces
much lesser men, with the public at
heir back, will go far beyond him,
These are the reflections which make
is trembe for Kipling in the gddy al
itude of his triumphs of to-day He
o |