The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-08-22
kipling.

~ seems sometimes that many Afnerl-
cans have "A singular gift for setting
up and casting down idols. For a few
weeks somebody IL praised and petted
extravagantly, made a hero and a demi-
god. Millions read raptly Of the color
of his hair and Of his favorite breakfast
dishes. Before long. safety and re-
action come. In the statue before
which the worshippers loved 10 kneel
they can see only the feet Of clay, and
they throw bricks az the head which
they used "a wreathe with roses. Recent
American instances Of this fickleness
of popular favor are not wanting. but
IL is more polite 10 take an English eI-
ample. when RUDYARD KiPLINd Law
at the point 81 death. a. wHs SUPPOSED.
in this town, there was a surprising
demonstration Of general public regret.
In fact. IL was "A little too general and
e1travagant 10 be absolutely simple
and sincere. Some Of II. We SUSPECT.
was merely an indication Of the extent
20 which Mr. kIPIING was known. 4
great many persons had read his books,
but a great many more had read about
them and him In the newspapers. We
don't imagine that the car conductors
and elevator boys and policemen who
showed such a solicitud" for his health
were or are in the habit Of studying
his works. For the he was
a great public character. just M C~resceus
h to-day or FIrzsIMMoNs was a few
months ago.
At any rate, a vast amount Of sensi-
bility was shown. Mr.. kIPLING was
made much Of. taken Ia the bosom 81
the American people. all but drowned
In the ocean Of molassee. 40 be- went
his way and his American worshippers
went, theirs and forgot about him mostly.
Life IL short and just at present IL il
full 81 " bc~t-sclling novels which
YOU must read or read about. Literary
taste changed. All the Miss Nancys
Of criticism. all the droolers Of sapleSs
commonplace, all the tame cats Of liter
sture spat and sputtered az this wr-tched
KIPLING. He wa low. he wa brutal.
he was profane. he was vulgar. he was
in short he was a wildcat and no
pretty little drawing o puss. tn"
south African war broke out. SO did
Mr.. KIPLINo Being a thorough-going
British imperialist patriot. naturally he
took the British %imperialist side. That
gave the American i-kiplingite- a
hold Probably the majority Of Ameri-
cans syrnpathized with the Beers. Herr
was an excellent opportunity TO jump
upon the brutal impenalist kIPrING
Some Of his war verses have not hssn
admirable from a literary point 81 view.
bu, his purpose IN writing ,h-m was no,
literary He NEW he wHs SURE Of a
great audience No other living Eng
llshman l. 80 heard hv the far-hunc
British line. as hc would saw. tho GREATER
England, Hts latest p~rniuction h. had
poetry II ~ not poetry At all. bat u -
a pirrr of military and administrative
criticism which be- wants To hammer
into ~. heads ~ M c1uutrymcn
Prom W don't know how many ncws-
paper, poll-parrutiug On" another
comc- q -qua~k over kurING's dcc~n~r-
a., tho waning ~ ht- genius no IN
humanity and sp un ~ Hrticls m the
Mrusapulis Tribune ou Tho IA~luo
aud Pail = EuIINe b. a Specimen -
the Tros'hmonts huri"d 81 late ir,m
msn, ma, %Iuirsts ur'rr vou rad about
kiuINos aok ~ the hu-f i,-inrr ~
human NATURE DO giouhoaiiou u' hrlto
for- hs crs~s and material ,lrvs of
he bee lu-i &C. pHv,T and tIuudrt
ls adyrHu.N 81 Uirif aud DO. .,ul.ai
m' Trrls iH rgt1 snd Iusii,r Tf
~trralI'g ouf 81 us ~sutt AiruaI xsr
uH,valUl Hr aHr uI a. ths-f
trsIts boz ar oaa.srraiai d0gr- and
Trr iauts fhlI nf.i hrsul.ss Isssm rtr
Ai~-ni dtnisi hssrar rrnved a.
d. shau 90. ra-ss b. go be "suutiY
usib u ~ruHs ~ auHt iaaHps 90
Amrftsan ioI t-ius uiai stnd ~ = Istna1