The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-06
HOW KIPLING LANDED.
New York Special to the Chicago
Tribune

New York Special to the Chicago
Tribune.1
Rudyard Kipling, who went out to
India on a z. q o. steamer years ago,
and took to writing books and things,
set out one week ago to return to the
states. So he and the Mem Sahib and
the little Kiplings and their ayahs
bought passage on the liner Majestic
twin screws, two-stacked, wall-sided
and heavy-powered. 1t can knock out
tWenty-One points five on Welsh coal
any day on the summer course. More
over, it is English from the outward end
of the tailshaft forward to the last riVet
on its forefoot, which is the front part
of liner, as almost everyone knows.
Being English, Kipling naturally bought
passage on the Majestic, and sat at table
with the liners janitor, who knows
everything about steam and coal and
all that sort of thing on an ocean liner.
But before Kipling got away one of
the half-tamed emisSarieS of that I'M
couth people laid aboard of Kipling.
This emissary had pencil and a note
book and was prepared to take down in
the argot these people call English
everything that Kipling would say, in
tending to cable which.
But two Words pleaded the ennis
sary, Just two words-a couple Of shil-
lings' WORTH
WORTH this being the strangeness of
their tongue.
BILE"
Then he fed aboard the Majestic, and
the liner said foot. toot,' and went
away, leaving the emissary on the
string piece calling down the wrath of
his strange gods upon the head of Kip
ling
QUOTES KIPLING HIS WORKS.
One week later, which was today,
Kipling came with the Majestic into
port. Outside a half-tamed pilot in a
steam sampan came aboard, and, seeing
Kipnngs face staring down from the
rail like a sun-baked gourd of Cobb,
sought to do honor by quoting Kipling
his works:
by sport of winter weather
We're watty strained and SCARED
From the kentIedge on the kelson
To the sings upon the yard,
The oceans had her will of US,
To carry all away
Then he added: Murray for Null
vaney and Oretheris and the boys of
Lungtungpen."
Mad" said Kipnng, certainly mad
Which he was.
At quarantine a revenue dhow ran
alongside the Majestic, the barbaric
practice of these people being to make
you pay again for anything you have
paid for in civilized communities. Also
came aboard a half dozen of the I'M
tanned emissaries, each with a note
book.
Five foot seven" said one of these
emissaries, noting Kipling's' height.
blue sack coat and trousers" said
another.
''BIue eyes," said a third "They
match his clothes, don't they
fourteen trunks, I hear" murnured
a fourth. Hes got X in red on each.
I s'pose that k stands for Kipling. I'll
make a note of it, anyhow
''Those are his Children commented
another. Miss Josephine, Miss Elsie
and Master John. Those two women
with them are the Ayahs, maybe
II Dunno said the sixth; I'll ask
How is it with you, o, beauteous maid
en?"
Go along wit yez." said the Ayahs
in a breath.
Then did the six send an emissary to
overhaul Kipling.
mot word, not word" cried Kip
ling, and the emtsSary went away.
And it came to pass that another of
the six went up against him and would
have had speech with him!
'Hoot!" said Kipling, still smiling;
Also went away the second, and came
a third.
Il haven't a word to say" said Kip
ling, going elsewhere. But also came a
fourth and a fifth and a sixth, these
emissaries being of a hopeful nature
and leaning toward knowledge, which
they have not. But to each one Kipling
said him nay, and the six retreated,
singing softly:
We've met with many men from over
seas,
An some OF 'en was shy, an some
was not.
The Frenchman. and the German, and
Chinese,
But Kipling was the hardest of the
Some of 'em talked In English, an the
rest
Would talk from early winter to the
fall,
But the Mowgli-man we found the
greatest pest,
For the bloomin' sod e wouldn't talk
at all