The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-28

scribes KiplIng's house at Brattleboro-the
thing of the authors daily life. He says:
his s~tudy-whence some Of his books
nave been removed TO England-is a pleasant
apartment at the south end OF the mansion.
with that animating landscape in view from
us windows, and here. denying himself TO
all Corners. he worked carefully and method
scally Tor some hours Of each morning re-
cording his Inventions and fancies in a
enthusiastically clear and diminutive CHI
rosraphy, revising extensively and de-
stroying so much that a friend says 'his
waste-basket sometimes contains more man.
T5caIPs nan MS desk after a mornings
labor" Here he produced much Of the
yirile and impassioned master-verse of The
seven Seas, that marked him as q major
poet, many OF the Incompatible stories of
the Jungle Books and the whole of that
~GeHghttully vivid and vigorous tale Of the
gloucester fisher folk. Captains Courage
doIlar-a-Word period of his authorship, his
nelgh0ors considered that his was the most
pt0rlapIe INDUSTRY IN the town
"Ihe later hours of the Gay were devoted
70 eAerclse-lncluding a daily excursion to
the postof1ce-and to recreations which
snow MIN to be thoroughly in love with life,
notwithstanding the memorable fatalism Of
some Of his tales. His aversion TO horses dis
lncllnlng him for driving, he at first walked
much over the surrounding hills and through
al the near countryside; later he preferred
bicycling, anu was often met in the rural
roads and lanes mounted upon his wheel,
ana not lnfrequently accompanied by his
liz III lutSC AFTERNOON excursions MIS-
snort, sturdy, broad-shouldered figure was
usually clad in q plain suit Of gray, his
round, sWarthy face was shaded by a broad
brlmmed soft hat, his gray-blue eyes al
ways looked through glasses worn to correct
astlgmat1sm; he rode rapidly and well, and
mad a ready SALVATION for every passing ac-
qualntance. Occasionally he found recrea-
tlon IN cuitiVating his garden. or. in winter.
shoVelIfnG asiGe the newly fallen snow, in
going abroad upon snowshoes, or gleefully
coaStlng over the glittering crust upon his
own hillside. Some time-not too much-he
gave to social functions, in which he showed
hlmself to be an unassuming and courteous
guest and the most devoted and hospitable
or noSts. Among other visitors he enter
tanned the gifted creator of Sherlock
holmes anG A Desert Drama Conan
perlence of a New England Thanksgiving,
although 1t was snowless and the antici-
pated sleighride had to be foregone.
"Klpling's local repute is much less 'satur-
nlne' than has been represented. The publ
cation of his early impressions of the coun-
try and his criticisms of the quality and
motives of its people-couched in language
more candid than complaisant-naturally
aroused a prejudice which made it difficult
at first for Brattleboro society to judge him
fairly. His declining to be patrOniZed by
prosperous tradespeople, his persistence in
permitting no invasion Of his working hours
and his decidedly discouraging pertinent
bOres, who would intrude upon his privacy,
procured for him a reputation for i~nsOlent
tnctvility which was always undeServed, and
which personal acquaintance with him
speedily olSpelled. InOSe VINO know MIN
here, who have seen him in his own home
or in theirs, testify that he is uniformly kind
and ge~ntlenlanly, a genial companion. a
pleasing talker, and a sedulous observer of
all the social cOnventionalities. His humber
rural neighbors and those who have been in
his employ accord him a hearty liking for
his considerable regard Of their rights, which
is alike creditable to themselves and to him.
The sobriquet by which they sometimes
mention him is merely a sportiveN play upon
his NAME. and, we were assured, is not
Intentionally Gisrespectful. To crafty him
they aided in the establishment of a nearby
postoffice which they neither needed nor de-
sired, anG which was quickly discontinued
when he went abroad.
"Kipling'S affectiOnate regard for his home
upon this sunny mountain side is expressed
in the name he bestowed upon it. The
Naulahka,' meaning the very dear or pre-
considerably costing nine lahks. 1t is the
first ana only habitation which he ever
erected for himself: here. he dwelt for some
years and wrought much of his mar
velous work, here one of his children was
born, and, whether he is to return to abide
beneath this rooftree, as has been hoped,
or whether his presence here is to remain
but a memory. the spot must ever be re-
garded with tender interest by reason Of its
association with a transcendent genius anC
a wondrous literary artist"