Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-14

There was a sting to II. ANYHOW II aid
not seem to he time when fno ,,nnors
were above par on either qido
The writer Jumped from tbe corr,nce
in which both of me newspaper men
were sitting, and sprinted after Mr.
K,pllnR. He was able to overt,i.o tbo
noted author n few rods dawn Tho
road. Both men were fairlv ,vinded
The pace had been too hot. There ,vas
gasp or two and then the ne,vsnaner
man said something, no matter what.
that attracted Mr.. INNINGS attention
Then he said. 81 rofuso IN bo inter.
viewed. II Is crime 7 never was. I
never will be- You have no right to
hold me up like n hehvovn,ar II IL
m outrage to assault a man on the pub-
lie way. In fact. this is worse II Won
have anything to ask. submit II in writ
Ing to me 1T my house" With this he
started down the road. PLAINLY. enough
this was permission to call Mt his house
and submit our questions in writing.
Perhaps 1t is worth saying that If Mr..
Kipling had said To- us when we first
saw him that he disliked to be interview
ed and that he had nothing to say we
should have respected his wishes. As it
was the sting of his words remained
md tho following was drawn IN and a
little later given to the servant Mt his
house:
"Mr. Tiplug: You have declined to
submit to an interview. viii you kind
" state your objections for the benefit Of
newspaper men. We rcspe rtfully submit
that your treatment Of us was rude aud
hoorsh when You were approached "a
ono gentleman would approach another.
Will Won kindly talk with us FIVE min
utes what Won sav In that time wo will
not use unless We have yorr permits
sion"
After a walt OF perhaps ton minutes
Mr.. Kipling came ont &C the dining room
where the maid said he wac. Ne inquir-
ed for his "cIuh." He failed to bring 1t
ont to the door where we were waiting
He was not exactly pleasant when he
made his appearance. This is what he
said:
well, what do you want Why do
YOU invade the privacy of my house?
DIDN'T say that wouldn't be inter-
viewcd?'
There was snap and emphasis TO his
icrliy sentences ana then the writer
sai' "Nr lIiplYc | did as Won asked
ard eu' nittod question in writing at
your house and ! desire an answer"
got IT, too.
WHY do I refuse to he Interviewed?
Because # n immoral It is a crime
just rs much crime as an offence
AGAINST my pei4on, as an assault and
Just ns much merits punishment II is
covardly and vile. No respectable man
would ask il, 77uch less give it,"
well Mr. Nirling. lust as respect
able men as You disagree with what
Won have lust said. You are the first
man ever heard Of who took this
view of It. never heard the words
immoral and criminal applied to II be-
fore"
Then they We're fools" was his re-
plv. ct am right. All say is true
No won't rive YOU any reason, for
YOU fellows. with your American lack
of reason. aprrcciation and understand
ing Of journalism couldn't conlpreherd
what mean. We E,nglishmon ahhor it,
What good are reporters anyway? What
do Won expect TO become or get out of
#? know al, about it. went once
with party Of Phladelphia newspaper
BOYS out to n little town where a MUIR
der had been committed and they made
that town out perfect little he'll. I
tell You all they want is sensatonalism.
and you won't get II from me. There
isn't single respectable paper In this
country. The New York Tribune is
hearable. hut that has soma heastly
thing In it. every now and then that
danns IT. too. surnose that Won want
70 write me Nm ma mt me in some oh