The San Francisco call., 1906-11-25
KIPLING'S PUCK OF
POOK'S HILL"

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The England that Rudyard Kipline
loves with love more constant and
consistent. for al its candor than Eng
lands love for Rudyard Kipling Is still
the theme Of the master of modern
pencraft. Puck of Pook's Hill" is the
story of Britain. told not in outline but
IN glimpses. satisfyingly complete, yet,
tsntalizingly brief. These ten tales.
from Goth to Magma Charta, are told
with a rare wizardry to two British
children in the Fairy Ring" Of their
own calm. peaceful Pevensey, over
which had rolled the tides OF stormy
centuries while England was in the
making. One need be no worshiper
at the kipiing shrine to draw delight
from these stories and TO marvel at
the manner of their telling. They
blend fact with fancy. weld history
upon sheer romance and commfngle
Was with Might Have Been so subtly
and with such sleght Of touch as to
leave no trace OF the joining. Here is
the new hipling risen to remoter
heights, skimming surely and smooth
" aiong ioftier flights in the higher
airs OF literature. Here is the Kipling
foreshadowed in the elusive mystery
ard witchery of ssThey"-a better Kip
ling with the best OF him left to come.
The Puck" stories are as much fairy
tale as historical romance. with as
many more characteristic forms, each
Introductory to and explain tory OF the
tale that follows. The tales are, as one
might expect, purposefuI, that purpose
being 70 remind Englishmen of the
glorious history Of their country. and
that their isle is not common earth. but
ground hallowed by the blood and the
courage of its stout-hearted fighting
men.
Dan and Una are playing parts OF
Midsummer Nights Dream" the parts
about the fairies and Nick Bottom and
Puck. Dan is Puck and Una is Ii
tania: three times they play If out.
aII on Midsummer Eve. and. sum-
rnoned by their unconscious sorcery.
Puck himself appears Then comes the
prologue by the fairy lord. the tale of
Weland's singing sword. Homeward go
Dan and Una, chewing the magic leaves
of oak, ash and thorn by which their
memories are wiped clean Of the en-
chantment and they arc become fust
tired. hungry children.
Each day takes them back to the
airy Ring" and to new adventure
IN which appear to them bodied forth
OF flesh and blood, men Of the dead and
gone centuries. makers of England
Sir Richard Dolyngridge. Norman
knight who fought at Hastings: Parne-
sius, a centurion who kept the wall
Tor Caesar Maximus, and bluff Hal o.
the Draft.
Each of them has his story of the
very old times and tells it simply. as
BELTS a doer and not describer.
The verses strewn between the tales
are finely suggestive. Read carefully
Puck's song at the beginning of the
book, and you have the key. 1t is PIT
once the story and the explanation OF
all that follows Thus
See Won Tho slitnnlad f,ant, .t,,. -.
All hollow through the wheat:
o. that was where they hauled the guns
mat smote King Philips 6eet.
See you our little mil that clacks.
So busy by the brook
She has ground her corn and paid her tax
Ever since Domesdsy Book.
See you our Silly woods of oak
ard the dread ditch besides
o. that was where the Saxons broke
On the day tkst Harold died
ses ron the windy levels spread
Abouts the gates of Rye2
Q that was where the Northmen fed
When Alfred's ships came by.
See you our pastures wide and lone.
Where tne red broxse2
o there was city thronged and known,
Ere London boasted house.
And see you after rain. the trace
OF mound and ditch and walls
q, tssf was Iegions camping place
When Caesar sailed from Gaul.
And see yoa marks that show and fade
Like shadows the Downs?
O. they the lines tho Flint Men made
To guard their vondrous towns
1racEws- and camp and city lost,
Salt marsh where now is corn:
Old Wars. old Peace. old Arts that cease
And so was England born.
She is not any common earth,
Water wood or sir
But Merlin's Isle of Gramarye
Where you and l viii fare.
One cannot wholly forego .rThe
Smugglcrs Song. Hear the music of
this:
II YOU the stabeEuard setting open wide;
II you z tied horse lying down inside:
II your mother mends coat cut about and tore;
If the lining's wet and warm-don't you ask
no morei
Five and twenty ponies
Trotting through the dark;
Brandy for the Parson,
Baccy for the clark
for led late <.-