The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-01
NEW, POEMS BY KIPLING


The Boer War as the Soldier Saw
Rudyard Kipling has made another and
an important contribution to the litera-
ture Of the recent South African war.
1t is important to the public and to pos
terity because it, no doubt, reflects In a.
large measure the sentiments Of Tommy
Atkins and those who were with him
on kopje and veldt as they look back
upon the struggle of "the arms that near
~ lost," and because it means the firmez
establishment Of the name Of Kipling in
English literature.
It Is ever impossible to get a composite
Of the feelings Of a large. body Of men
who have participated in any important
event. But from some few who have
been in the thick of things, in close touch,
With the men who have fought 1t out,
and who have caught the spirit Of the
| moment and the movement, and who fur
ther are able to put their feelings into
plain words that will appeal to the
| masses-from these one may get the SEN
timents, the philosophy and the lessons
that those most interested drew from the
| events. For this reason Kipling's poems
Of the Boer war are a valuable contribu-
ton to the literature Of English history.
How the British will receive them is,
of course, somewhat uncertain. Doubt
less there will he critics enough who will
find fault; still it is hardly to be doubted
that Mr. Kipling's latest book will receive
a warm welcome from the public.
That this same book will have a. ten
dency to give Kipling a larger place In
EEngl1sh literature is true not so much
because Of the merit of the poems as
literature possibly, as because of their
patriotic appeal and important historical
setting. They will furnish, just because
Of fIol LII
and attractive fund of material for use
as readings in school classroom and liter
ary society. That means a wide popu-
larlty for them, and, Judging from the
history, of many a poem Of past years,
an abiding place in the public mind of
the future. ...rs 49,
The following are some samples of the
new Kipling verses One of the best OF
the poems is tribute to the Boer under
:. the title of '':Piet," written in the same
spirit that produced Fuzzy Wuzzy.'
Here are two stanzas from it,:
| T do not love my Empires foes, >-
Nor call 'em angels; STILL T. ..~-
What is the sense of atm those
Dom you are paid to kill? 49, r.
So, barrin' all that foreign lot ,..,
Which only Joined for spite, : - -
Myself, I'd just as not
Respect the man I fight. ~
An, there, piet;- 'is trousies to is knees,
t Is :, coattails lynn level in the bullet.
sprinkled breeze;
e does not lose is rifle an e does not lose is
seat; ..
: I've known lot o. people ride dam sight
worse than Piet!
! No I'll 'ear is rifle crack
J, Along the blockhouse fence ..
: The beggar's on the peaceful tack, e..
Regardless Of expense.
For countin' what e eats an draws
An gifts an loans as we'll, -.
Els gettin' 'alf the Earth, because - i-
I 'E didn't give US ell!
All there. Pet! with your brand new Enris]
pow,
= = Your gratis tent an CATTLE an your most I'm
: You've made the British taxpayer rebuild you
n =, county seat - - y :
: I've known some pet battalions charge a dam
= slgnt less than Ptet. - %. .
: copyrighted, 1908, by Rudyard Kipling.)
o The colonials who served in sout
= Africa are praised in ''The Parting of th
y Columns" Three verses from it follow:
= There isn't much we 'aven't shared, since Kruge
q The same old work, the same old skoff tb
- same old dust and sun;
: The same old chance that laid us out, or winke
y The same old Life, the same old Death, Good b
t, good luck to you! .." -
% Our blood 'as truly mixed with yours-all dow
= q the Red Cross train, - ..,''@[". -.
Is we've but the same thermometer in Bloemint
q styphoidetein,, -. 49,. . 80 = :. <
: We've 'ad the same old temp rature-tbe sam
m relapses too - - '->
# The same old saw backed fever-chart Good-t
10 r~ good luck to you'll .'..a--s
Us But 'twasnt merely this an that (which all n
To world may know),, 1855.
IN Twas how you talked an looked at thnl
l. which made us like you SO.
J. All independent, queer an old, but most amazi
- new, b. -. . H. q. -
=. My word; you shook up to rights Good-by.
, | . good luck to you! ...,-
ty copyrighted, 1903, by Rudyard Kipling.)
Chant-Pagan is the lament of the EN-
r, llsh irregular who finds England tan
y, and unbearable after South Africa al
iii war. Part of the poem follows:
Me that Fave been what I've been,
90 Me that ave gone where I've gone, So.
H. Me that ave seen what I've seen---'
nd :Ow can ever take on =
til With awful old England again - -.
NJ An 'ouses both sides of the street "a. a
q And edges two sides Of the lane 49,: ::
i.1 AND the parson an gentry between
rs An, touchin my at when we meet. H..
TO Me that ave been what I've been?
lis Me that ave watched 'arf a world
to Fave UP all shiny with dew
- kopje on kop to the sun, -
An as soon the mist let 'em thru
Our 'elios winkin' like fun ..,. :
r. d dnree sides OF ninety-mile square, ~.
- over valleys as big as shire
Are We there? Are We there? Are We th.ro,
An then the blind drum of our fire
An I'm rollin' is lawns for the Squire
fI j.. Me. w.. -. p, =. -. - =.
:" will arise an get 'ence: X, FL. -
80 | will trek south and make sure --.-
ar IT It's only my fancy or not o..
or mat the sunshine of England is pale
lr- An, the breezes Of England are stale.
IL AM there's somethn gone small with tho LIT
Ia FOR 1 know Of a sun an. wind. ~
io An some plains and a mountain behind.
ne An some graves by barb-wire fence
in An Dutchman I've fought 90 might give
ng Me a.: Job were ever inclined ..
as 10 look In an offsaddle an live .-
-, Where there's neither road nor tr.s :
LAG But only my Maker an me- = : ~
as An think it will kill me or cure -
er, 80 mink will go there an see.
ed copyrighted, 1908, by Rudyard Kiplinp
ne There is some grim humor in "The r
, ,.o hopJes' which deals with the experie,
)C- OF the Rrffisla Rol,t "