The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-03-17
K|PU|NG AND BALESTENS.
TWO BROTHERS-IN- LAw AND y
WIFE.
Something About Kipling's Family
Notes of the Balestier Family.

The Balestiers-Beatty and Wolcott-
were an odd pair. Wolcott was never
really boy. In his school days he
was grave and serious and given to
writing essays and stories which were
remarkable for one so young. He had
q good natured contempt for sports
and games of any kind. He was a
great reader and personally he was
very attractive in manner, though very
modest. After leaving school he took
up newspaper work and became tele-
graph editor of the Rochester Post
Express. His stories made him lit
erary reputation in a short time and
he left newspaper work to become the
London representative of John W. Lo-
veil, the New York publisher. He ar
rived in England without possessing
the acquaintance of a single English
man, and he died leaving behind him a
wider circle of literary friends than
probably any living American possess
SEES. 1t was while in England in 1889,
that Balestier became acquainted with
Rudyard Kipling, and he at once rec
ognized the genius of the young Ang-
o-Indian author. He secured the Anne
rican rights for Kipling's stories and
the two became fast friends, and finally
co-laborators. Balestier overworked
himself to such a degree that his
self. But he continued to work with
a feVerish anxiety, as If he had a pre-
monition of his short career. On sun
day, the 9Th of December, 1891, he died
having not quite completed his goth
year. He lies buried i'm the American
cemetery at Dresden.
Beatty Balestier was as unlike his
brother Wolcott as night is from day.
Beatty was a boy, and to this day ne
has hardly outgrown his boyish enthu-
siasm and love of sport and adventure.
! He is a jolly good fellow, bright and
! witty, and generous to a fault There
is nothing OF a literary turn to his
| mind, and he was wont to make good
natured fun of his brothers writings,
| calling him Delicate Touch" He likes
| a horse and dog and a gun, and has a
habit of living beyond his income. This
was what got him into trouble with
Mr. Kipling. Beatty got in debt to
some Vermont tradesmen in a small
way, and some of the creditors began
to ask Mr.. Kipling regarding his bro
ther-in-law's obligations. This great
| ly annoyed kipling, who spoke in
! picturesque language, which Beatty re-
! sented in forceful terms. On May 6,
| 1895, the two men met on a highway
near Brattleboro, and had a heated ar
gument. Kipling afterward claimed
that his brother-inlaw had threatened
| to take his life. He swore out a war
rant for Balestier's arrest, and when
the case came up for trial the court
room was crowded with as many citi-
zens of Brattleboro and the surround
ing country as could be packed, jam
med and wedged into 1t.
Kipling was married on January is,
1892, to Miss Carolyn Balestier. The
wedding took place in All Souls church
| in Portland Place London. 1t was said
said to be the fulfllment of a wish eX
pressed by Wolcott Balestier just be-
fore his death. Shortly after their
marriage Mr.. and Mrs. Kiplng came to
the United States. They visited Mrs.
Kipling's family at Brattleboro, and so
charmed was Kipling with the country
that he bought a piece of property in
the little hamlet of Dummerston, a
short distance from Brattleboro, and
there built a house, which, with fur
nishings, cost $4,000. The house is a
long, low building, 80 by 26 feet, with
a projecting roof, and has just the sug-
gestion of a thatch. A wide Veranda
extends along one entire end of the
house. A long hall divides the house
in the middle, there being eleven rooms
on either side of the hall. The house
was designed to represent an Indian
bungalow. 1t is built on hillside ov-
erlOoking the Connecticut river, and
the only entrance is in the rear.
Kipling's room is in the southeast
corner, from the windows of which a
view of the river may be had for miles
up and down. The room was plainly
furnished when the author lived there.
Only two books could be seen--a die
tionary and a book of synonyms. In
this room were written most of the
chapters of his Captain Courageous.
Mrs. Kipling is one of the six heirs
to large estate left by her grandfath-
er, the late Judge Peshine Smith. Judge
Smith was a remarkable man. William
| H. Seward asserted that Smith had a
profounder knowledge of international
law than any other living man. When
Seward was on his trip around the
world he was asked by the Mikado OF
Japan to recommend some one to draft
commercial treaties between Japan
and the great nations of the world.
, Seward was not long in answering.
II know of just one man who can dc
the work in a manner that will stand
every possible test" said the secreta.
ry, "he is Judge Peshine Smith"
The mikado sent for Judge Smith, of
fering him munifcent salary. The
judge remained in the flowery klne
dom for six years, and completed th'
commercial negotiations between tina
country and the United States, as wei
as with other nations. When Judge
Smith returned home it was with a for
tune and presents that required fifty
trunks to transport. This fortune wal
left to his daughter, Mrs. Balestier
who holds ii in trust for her six chill
dren.-Chicago Record.
HOW IT HURTS!
II.