The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-01-04
Hsw Rhodes Got Even.

new NnO0eS UOI Even.
In clubs of Cape Town and London
they are rcciting the details of Il little
curtain raiser in which the char.
acters no less distinguished than Cecil
Rhodes and Rudyard Kipling are the
dlamatis pcrsonae. Friends of both
declare the plot to be an apocryphal
one. stating mat Kipling is too wary
to be caught mapping, as he is rcputed
to have been in this case, says the
Saturday Evening Post.
1t is a we'll known fact that Ilipling
and Rhodes, though fast friends, de-
light to play practical jokes on each
other, and unless this latest account
of their amiablc contests can be sub
stantiatcd. the wit of the author has
triumphcd throughout over that of tho
statesman. The story in question
was brought to America by some
American mining engineers who rclat-
cd it recently at Il dinner party givcl,
III w lSlllIlStOn.
According to the tale. Kipling and
Rhodes We're NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. on a
Cape railway train bound toward
Kimberly. Up to the moment of de-
parturc from Cape Town Rhodes had
been busy sending political dispatches,
and it fell to the lot of the poet to
book their seats and berths. The
author is man of boyish build: the
empire builder is pondcrous and has
decided aversion to sleeping III n
top berth. knowing this. the poet
determined to have fun at the expense
of the man of destiny. When that
night the eX-Prcmicr found that he
had been assigned to an upper berth
his rage was great. He pleaded will,
the agile Kipling to exchange with
him, but the poet with sar,lonic
smile assured Rhodes that he could
not think of cXalting himself above
so mighty an lmperialist, and so the
bulky statesman had to climb labor
iously to bed.
After midnight the train stopped at
Il small station on the dcsolatc karroo,
and the wife of Il Colonial official got
aboard. When she discovered that
Notwithstanding her telegram no re-
scrvation had been made for her she
lifted up her voice in loud protest
The commotion awakened Rhodes
who thrust his head out between tho
curtains and demanded to know tho
cause of the disturbance.
II am the wife of Colonel -
she exclaimed, land although wired
for a berth none has been saved fol
me-"
CHATS all right" Numbered tho
Colossus; "My little boy is occupying
the berth just under mine; turn ii
there with him."
The lady was appcased to take tho
advantage of the offer. Present.,
there was an instruction in the lowe,
berth.
"Now, don't cry and make fuss
the lady was heard to say; "youl
father told me I might sleep here"
Madam" gaspcd the author of The
Jungle Book, "do you know who ]
amp
You are the little son of the gen
tlcman in the upper berth, are yo,
not?" faltercd the now startled woman
pccring into the dark compartment
Nothing of the Sort" roarcd tho
poet; II am Mr.. Rudyard -"
Before he could confess further tho
frightened woman fled to another car
The upper berth shook with convulsivt
appreciation as the poet with the min
glcd vocabulary of several tongues
berated the South African statesman
ring off on the cuss word and Tho
swear" exclaimed Rhodes from
his altitude of mirth. "and give IL.
something about a rag and bon,
and hank Of hair"
But with picturesque wrath Kipline
stuck to his impromptu program, an(
the remainder of the night was filled
viii impassioncd uttcranccs.
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