The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-20
ExPURGATING KrPLING.
How q Chicago Vaudeville Manages
Edited Certain Passages.

E0lte0 Cert01m Faoo0B obs
Wallace Bruce Amsbary, the monolog-
list, who appeared recently at the Chica-
go opera house in recitations from the
works of Kipling, Riley and 'Dooley."
was, after his first appearance. informed
by Manager Kohl that he would have to
edit Kiplings poems or give up his en-
gagement.
Edit Kipling! What do you mean?"
cried Amsbary.
"come here and I'll show you." replied
the manager.
the stage and pointed to placard on the
wall On this was painted in big, black
letters:
'All performers are enjoined from u.s.
ing the words Cod liar damn, hell
etc."
Amsbary made vigorous protest, say
ing that Kipling expurgated would be "as
moonlight unto sunlight and as water
unto wine"
Cant help It," replied Mr. Kohl. kip
ling can't override the rules of this play
house. If you're going to recite his poet
ry here you'll have to select the gems
with no cuss words in them or cut them
where they do appear. s'D---n ~ me- II
I'll have any swearing on this stage" ~
"But," protested Amsbary. "Kipling
has made his fame by portraying soldier
L
In churches, Chautauqua circles and pri-
vate parlors all over the country and no.
body ever thought of having them chang
ed. The critics won't stand IT,
s.The critics be did" roared the man
ager. whats the use of cuss words in
the poems, anyway? Won't they be just
as good without 'em?. Let's have an ex-
ample,p ~ ..u :, .c,,,nao min i.
said the reader 1.-THE strongest verses
are those which the trooper declares his
religion, which gives even to condemned
souls the attribute OF mercy. What are
you going to do with this
He'll be sittin' on the Goals.
Givin drink to poor damned souls,
And HI III get swis in hell from aunsa
Don't you see how utterly impossible
II Is to leave out the words your sign
prohibits without running the poem?"
mo. il don't :" said the manager, stout
ly. I'm edit the lines for YOU" and,
placing a sheet of blank paper against
a wing, he wrote; rs ar
Hell be sittin on the Goals.
Givin drink to poor lost souls,
And I'll get swig below from Gunga
sThere, that Is much more genteel, and
won't offend my patrons. Are there any
more lines like that?'
well there's Fuzzy WHEY, Stam-
mered Amsbary. That's pretty strong,
too. The lines are like this:
""E's a daisy, e's ducky, e's n lamb;
'Fvs an injun-rubber idiot on a spree;
'E's the only thing that doesn't give a
damn
For d regiment o. British infantree.'"
That's easy smiled Manager Kohl
Just change the last word in that third
line to rap and you've got it. See?
Talking about not touching Kipiing with
out hurting his stuff! Why. I'll bet I
could go through all of his books and
make all OF them good reading for a
Sunday school class-as clean as work
of Iongfellow."
''Or of the Sweet Singer of Michigan"
suggested the monologist But, say
this won't do Rap don't rhyme with
lamb worth cent Kipling Is pretty
free lance when II comes to rhyming. but
he will never sanction that attempt"
MAY not be rhyme" said the manager,
sententiously, "but it's pure, and that's
what goes in my house. Go on, now, and
do your turn, but take care that there is
no swearing in your poetry. Kipling may
be allowed privileges In ChautauQua cir