Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-19
KiPilNG FRANKS AT SCHOOL.
HOW WIT AND LUCK SAVED HIM FROM GOOD PUNISHMENT.
By Michael White.

unexpected nocturnal visit, and to his dis
may received an avalanche of wet towels
pieces of soap, shoes and candle ends
Shortly discovering the names of the cul-
prits, they were sternly ordered to appear
and explain their conduct after rol-call
next morning bringing with them the inno-
cent cause OF the trouble, who on account
of his suspicious connections was presumed
to be an accessory before the fact.
Undoubtedly the matter looked serious,
for in an English school no boy can hall
soap and candle ends on a masters head
with impunity. Then a bright idea Oc
Cured to Gigs. Il say, you fellows he
whispered, Il tell you what. Well all
stare at old Hooters feet, when hell die
with confusion. He cannot stand that
The next morning, therefore, when the
three youths appeared for sentence before
the tribunal of justice, with humble mien,
they fixed a downcast concentrated gaze
upon the masters boots.
At first, not divining their intent, he pro-
ceeded to reprimand them for their action
of the previous night, but on becoming sud
denly conscious OF his feet, crimson with
confusion he dismissed them on the spot.
Kipiing as an Acrobnt.
When Kipling was quite a small boy he
once performed an untimeiy acrobatic feat,
escape so easily
The evening hour from to . was passed
by the lower form boys in a long suite Of
classrooms, preparing work for the follow
ing day, a master being on duty who
passed back and forth between the various
rooms.
ON the particular night 1t so happened
that master had charge of the prep
who was regarded as demon incarnate by
the boys.
Never did a man more firmly believe in
/ the old maxim about "sparing the rod and
/ spelling the child" than this instructor OF
| youthful minds lie had drawer in his
| study escritoire lined with baize in which
/ ne .kept rows of beautiful canes that ne
/ took special delight in showing to little
new boys. He was not exactly the sort
of man for even a Gigs to trhe with.
| Gigs presumably having finished his work
and believing that the master had passed
on into a further room, thought il would
be a little diversion TO swing on the gas
/ pipe hut it unfortunately happened that the
! master had only gone few PAGES beyond
| the threshold and returned just in time to
see Gigs, with his back to the door, COM
mencing his acrobatic feat Horror was at
! once depicted on the faces Of those who
beheld the awe-inspiring spectacle, for the
master had drawn forth a cane from the
sleeve of his gown and with an il-bodine
| smile ON his face was advancing on tip-toe
toward the unconscious performer, when
down came Gigs, gaspipe and all and the
room was enyelOped in total darkness.
OF those days, the subsequent saying OF
Kipling that IAN inkpot having beer
emptied into his veins it was bound tc
come out through his fingers" might vel
have been changed to the pores OF the
skin, for he was ever greatly smudged anc
smeared with that fluid, while pencils anC
pens stuck out Of his pockets like the Quill'
on the back of a porcupine.
On the last day of the term the boys
We're driven To the railroad terminus, three
miles away, where compartments were re
served i'm the train for ther use and II
which they amused themselves during tho
eight-uour journey to London by stuihnl
| candies and cakes, singing songs and II