The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-20
kiplins's MASTERPIECES,

The critics are claiming that Kip
llng's masterpiece has been written.
Just which one Of his wonderfully in
spring poems it is, however, there
seems to be a slight divergence of
opinion. A few claim the British bard
Will never surpass the lines of
the Recessional when his soul
cried out with such passion
Of the. God of Our Fathers,
Lest we Forget" Others think The
White Mans Burden stands out in
bold relief as his supreme effort.
BY another set, which has followed
this mighty intellect through it's
course, L'Envoi, where the poet re-
views the vast panorama of the hui
man family's struggles, where his
second sight" so to speak seems to
nave given him a glimpse Of what the
next evolution promises latter Earth's
last picture printed, after the young
est critic has died, when we shall rest
for an aeon or two till the Master of
All Good Workmen shall set us to
work. anew"-that this is the work
which will live when his generation is
forgotten.
Then there r those to whom Kip
llng's baser side appeals. They pro-
claim The Vampire, about the woman
who could not understand and The
Degenerates so oft recited, by Mrs.
Langtry, r. his greatest.
But the majority OF those who have
been fascinated by his style since the
Jungle days, since Mogley and Phan-
tam Rickshaw, can easily forgive Kip
ling for descending to the rag and a
bone and a hank Of hair or anything
else after recalling Gunga Din or On
the Road to Mandalay.
Neither, however, have been the
popular choice for his masterpiece. OF
them all the most widely favored would
seem to be If. Strange to relate, near
ly every one Of the new and old sects
see In Kipling a conversion to their
way Of thinking since the appearance
of If. Some Christian Scientists have
been heard to say it is a typical Chris
tan Science poem. Theosophists in
terpret If to their beliefs and assert
that in the end Kipling has come into
the proper understanding" New
Thought followers have declared that
at last Kipling, through If. has earned
the right to be placed side by side
with Mrs. Wilcox.
If has been read from most every
pulpit and altar in nearly every
| church. Socialists aver it expresses
the creed demanding the common
brotherhood" With everyone believ-
ing it SO aptly voices the sentiment of
humble Christianity, as each sees it.
certainly it must be that the great
! poet has struck the chord that may
harmonize mankind and the world
lished below as something hat may be
in accord with the Christmas spirit:
If you can keep your head when all
about you
Are losing theirs and blaming 1t all on
you;.. ...
If you can trust yourself when all men
doubt you
But make allowance for their doubling
too; -.
If you can wait and not be tired by
waiting,
Or being lied about don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't, give way to hat
ing, r.~. ..s.
And yet don't look too good MOI talk
too wise; .
If you can dream-and not make
dreams your master; -..a
II YOU can think-and not make
thoughts your aim;
If you can meet Triumph n Disas-
ter 55l r-
And treat those two impostors just
the same;
If you can bear to rear the truth
g., you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap. fol-
fools, -.
Or watch the things you gave your
life to-, broken. II
And stoop and build them up with
wornout tools;
If you can make n heap of all your
winnings
And risk it at one turn of pitch and