The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-16

/ the soldiers monument without which n
| New England borough is completely what
what 1t ought TO be. 1t continues for
/ half mile or so to skirt the Connection
at one Of its Ioveliest sweeps. On the
| further (the New Hampshire) side an i'm
! mense rocky precipice rises many hun
dred feet, and the traveller can think
/ ne is again wandering through a bit Of
Selfish Highlands.
A mile OF stretch to the left along
a fine country road. bordered ever and
anon with great elms and hemlocks and
with the graceful white birch in marked
| relief, brings one to the watering trough
a landmark always mentioned by the
Brattleboro resident directing the strang-
er to Naulahka) where one leaves the
Puney road, turning again sharply tn
the left and beginning to climb the hill
Passing one of the smallest OF New Eng
land school houses, white one this
time. one is in the woods, with the
squirrels climbing the tree trunks and
babbling brooks singing their morning
song. Lean over the roadside paling-not
too heavily, it's shaky with age and rot
and one may see the trout darling back
and forth in the cool, clear pools. Then
turn TO the left. as does the road. and
turn again, and again to the left and the
right bend to the task Of yet another
climb, pass on a few hundred yards on the
level, and you come to the famous Eng
Hshman's American home.
Here Is Kipling's own description Of thu
place: "This house stands IN thirteen
acres Of ground, ten Of which are meadow
land, two hundred yards from the high
road and sixty feet above it, and is ar
preached by a winding drive bordered
by evergreen trees. There is a
walled flower garden perfectly 1eveI
lawn tennis court. and abundance Of
shade trees and welI-established shrubs"
1t was here where Kipling planned to
spend many years, and doubtless he
planned that they should be happy ones.
Who knows that he would now be an
American citizen but for his unfortunata
quarrel, or series Of quarrels with his
brother-in-law. Beatty BalIester. Down
here on the highway they met one day.
and the gentleman author and the gen
tleman br11iseF almost came to blows and
horsewhips. The discord of that unseemIv
scene and the court case which followed
it poisoned the sacred atmosphere killed
the peace Of mind of genius and drova
him over the seas. But for this episode
the terrible illness which almost deprived
him Of life, and the Simultaneous attack
on his dear little girl, which took her
away from his side forever. might never
been encountered. Yet unwritten volumes
from his pen might have seen the day
light here, and, perchance, the stirring
lines which opened the pursestrings Of
the Anglo-Saxon world for the benefit Of
Tommy Atkins might never have been
written-wTftten as they were in an al
mosphere entirely English.
The Kfpling front door is at the back
Of the house. If you drive up there in
your carriage you stop underneath a
broad, queer-looking porch, at the end o.
which there is a unique large flower box
(alraost a garden in itselD. which, simpl
though it is, conveys an actual suggestion
Of the individuality of its owner.
Entering the house you are as much
interested in It's peculiar yet altogether
charming arrangement as you are STRUCK
by the unusual exterior appearance. The
house might we'll be called an improved
bungalow with all modern conveniences.
Tt is as Kiplingespue as are the writings
of the poet-author, whose originality is
evidenced in evry nook and Granny Of
the now deserted mountain home and
one can easily imagine the delightfulness
of the place when tenanted as it once
was.
While substantially furnished as when
occupied by the Kiprngs, many Of the
things. the little things that give homes
their character. have been shipped to
England. as the desire of Mr.. and Mrs
BIpling dictated. Trunk upon trunk
filled with the choicest Of books and
bric-a-brac has been sent across the
water, yet enough remains to give the
house a suggestive atmosphere.
The rooms are not large The visitor
Is not impressed with anything Of gran
deur, but rather the coziness Of the place.
the house is hoored with
hardwood and partially wainscotted with
the same material Ali Of the furniture
Of the first floor rooms. except the morn
ing room, is Of mahogany fashioned af-
ter an old English pattern The rich
color Of the furniture IS in fine contrast
to the white Of the walls. and its sub
5tantial yet delicate construction gives
evidence Of the artistic temperament OF
the designer
The entrance hall leads Immediately IN Z
10 the reception hall, devoid Of furnishing
except here and there a chair. a few SOM
ore etchings and a. group Of ancient wea-
oons. Leading directly from the reoaD-
ion han is the losgia, or morning room.
which suggests the Hindoo mode OF Nv !
ng Arranged with delightful diSre-
gard for conventionality are bamboo 7
OUNCES wicker chairs and inviting d.
vans. The loggia may be thrown entire {
Y open in summer. and the mountain
-iew form this vantage spot IS one Of .
beauty.
To the left Of the reception haH is the {
timing room. in the china closet % s
witch one catches glirnpses OF the old Z
but none the less popular blue Z
fish ware Of merry England. while 20
he right Of the reception room IS sIrs. 7
liDlng's drawing room.
To get to the room around witch cen
ers perhaps the keeuest interest. Kip
ing's study, the visitor asoends a fight
4 three steps at the right OF the recep- 2
son he'll. to a small landing. az the foot 3
Z which IS a rack gliding q number ~ T
,olf clubs, for the author s. q devo-ee
Z the ROYAL and ancient game. ana On
vheh is an old han cock then descend
hree steps along = narrow passage 20
he south
on a book Shelf as one enters the
-uE~ there IS an interesting photograph
Z KirIine when a school boy. IL shows
manly face and q quie- but digui5ed
-7 z.~r-- r7e-s---rr--t There s. some 2