The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-02
Rudyard KipIing.

The later dispatches indicate that
Rudyard Kipling is in a fair way
to successfully resist the attack of
pneumonia which came upon him ten
days ago. That he has been a very
sick man no one will question, and
every one will be gratif1ed to know
when he has reached the stage Of con-
valescence.
Mr.. Kipling, in some respects. is a
marvellous Intellectual product. AL
though not yet thirty-four years old,
his fame has extended around the en-
tire globe. He first struck the popular
chord in his poem consisting of only
thirty lines, entitled THE Recessional."
At the close of the ceremonies attend
ing upon the celebration of Queen Vic
toria's reign of sixty years, in 1897,
there issued from his pen some serious
words of warning against the excess of
enthusiasm and intoXication over Eng
lands martial power as reflected by her
great army and naval demonstrations
ON that historic occasion. Kipling be-
ing himself a subject of her majesty,
the effect of his utterance was all the
more pronounced. There can be no
doubt that what he said in that little
combination of verses produced a pro-
found and SOLDERING effect,
On the occasion of the call Of the
car Of Russia upon the powers for
peace congress. Kipling issued what
appeared to be an allegory In the poem
entitled ''The Truce of the Bear" and
in which he seemed to reveal the hol
lowness and mockery OF the real in
tentions Of the young ruler. It's time
Illness and aptness were alike startling,
and the poem itself. from a literary
standpoint, was so striking that. fol-
lowing so closely "The Recessional," it's
author was elevated to the highest
rank of International writers.
More recently. and Just previous to
his return to the United States, Feb
ruary 1, his poem Take Up the; White
Mans Burden" was accepted as a
pointed appeal to the United States in
the direction Of an imperial policy. The
marshaling of ideas in condensed Ian
guage. combined with striking choice
and combination of words. filled with
much meaning, rendered this last pro-
duction Of his pen even more notable
than anything which had preceded 1t.
Stricken by disease shortly after his
arrival in port and while criticism Of
his latest poem was most active,
especially in this country, public inter
est in his welfare and sympathy with
him In his affection have been quick
ened in an astonishing degree. Mr..
Kipling certainly occupies q unique po-
sition among the writer's Of the present
day. Much that he has offered to the
public is not fully appreciated because
Of its novelty and originality of pre-
sentation. That he is possessed of rare
literary talent is unquestfonable.
Whether in the event Of his recovery
from his existing illness he will be able
to sustain the high reputation he
has already acquired remains to
be seen. But every one, whether
eomprehending and approaching
his abilities. either In the faintest or
fullest measure or not. must look with
increasing cheerfulness toward the
promise Of his restoration to health.
and hopefully to the rounding out Of a
career which has thus far supplied SO
many indications of rare intellectual
resources In the personality Of the
[ author.