The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-26
In Regard to kipIing.


II read Mr.. Kipling's work. and especi-
ally his later work. Alright. thers IS one
dominating idea TO be traced IN his writ
ings-Jhe capacity. the duty. OF the men
OF the Angl0-Saxon race 10 do thoroughly
the task laid on their shoulders. not for
love OF gain, not for hope OF praise. bur
for the very JOY of ire accomplished
thing. writes ". Alleyne Ireland in the
Atlantic Monthly. Il seems &c me thar
we have become IN these latter years OF
the century peculiarly sensitive 70 emo
tional stimulus, more apt than ever be-
fore 10 be controlled for good or evil 5y
sentimental considerations. Il IS 10 this
quality in Us that Kipling appeals II :.
OF course. extremely difficult 70 gauge
the influence which is exerted by a writer
like Mr.. Kipling. but ny own experience
Of Englishmen in many lands-and can
scarcely think il exeeptional-has shown
me thu his books have contributed more
than those of any other writers 20 bring
about, realization and an appreciation
OF the ma gnificent work which IS being
done by the silent thousands wto are
quietly but earnestly building up the
British Empire. The creed ne would have
Us learn is a simple one:
Go to work and be strong. hating not in
your ways,
Baking the end half-won for an instant
dole Of praise.
Stand 10 your work and be wise-certain
Of sword and pen.
Who are neither children nor Gods, but
men in a world Of men
A former schoolfenow Of Kipling's
writes entertainingly in The Independent
concerning that authors youthful days at
Union Service College. Westward Ho,
North Devon. There the future literary
man was known simply as Gigs
Gigs" the irrepressihle fellow. always In
some harmless mischief, always playing
of some jokes upon either one ~ the
masters or his sChoolfelIows. no respector
Of persons, and not caring one joJ what
good or evil opinion those held OF him
with whom he came in daily contact.
Il is a coincidence, worthy OF notice. 70
those parents whose children are NOT per-
haps SO devoted TO their books as might
seem desirable. that not only Kipling bu,
both his chosen companions evincec little
ambition 10 stand at the head OF a class
The whole world is aware of the pedestal
upon which one of the three now stands.
but il may be interesting also 20 cali 10
mind the fact that the other two. when
the time came. passed brilliantly into the
service.
As an Illustration OF Kipling's behavior
in class. there was a certain geography
master who greatly favored the drawing
Of sections Of the earth's surface which
were generally executed by his pupils on
sheets Of foolscap. AT first the master
was contented with quite ordinary dis
tances between two given points. as from
London to Edinburgh. Paris TO Berlin,
and so forth; but gradually ne came 70
lengthen them out 10 an alarming extent
Chicago to TmbUctOO. Nladivostok 70
Genoa. Cape Town 10 Moscow. which
while Il embarrassed the rest of the boys,
suggested a humorous idea 20 Kpiing.
From somewhere or other he procured
several rolls Of wallpaper. and then day
and night with pens and brushes he labor
ed diligently on a gigantic section insert
ing men, birds. beasts and fishes. trees
in fact. anything he could think Of which
being at length completed 70 his satisfac-
ton. Kipling calmly awaited the result
OF his joke.
When al last the geOgrap hical master
called for that particular section. 20 his
surprise and the amusement Of kipiing
classmates, Kipling unwound his gigantic
roll on the floor. At first It was evident
that the master mentally debated the
QuesiOn as TO Whether IL was Il case de-
handing a public rebuke by the instant
use OF the cane, or Commendation in Us
highest form by full marks, when Kip
ling's absolutely innocent expression ~
countenance decided MIN 90 adopt the
latter course.
At the end Of his college career Eipung
left Westward Ho in the ordinary manner,
and not as has been recently stated. as
runaway truant." having gained. in spite
Of his pranks and peculiar humors, the
regard of his masters and schooifeIows.
the general opinion being that he vas an
aWfuIIv clever chap-was Gigs