Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-19
KIPLING AND RILEY.


KIPLING AND RILEY.
The almost simultaneous appearance of
the new complete edition of the works
OF Rudyard Kiplng, and the first COM
plete edition of the works of James Whit
comb Riley, has brought to light the in
formation that Kipling and Riley have
for years enjoyed an acquaintance that
has been the incentive to poems dedicated
by each to the other
In 1890 George C. Hit, then editor Of
the indianapolis Journal, visited Mr.. Kip
ling in England. and carried with him,
as a gift from Mr.. Riley, copy of the
latter's well known collection Of poems
called Rhymes of childhood" AS an
acknowledgment. Mr.. Kipllng sent Mr..
| Riley a poem dedicated to him, which Is
published for the first time in the Bio
graphical Edition of tho Complete Works
Of James Whitcomb Riley, which has
Just been published. The poem follows:
TO ]. w. R.
Your trail runs to the westward,
And mine to my own place:
There l. water between our lodges,
| And | have not seen your face.
But since I have read your verses
| 'Tis easy to guess the rest
Because In the hearts OF the children
| There is neither east nor west
Born to a thousand fortunes
or good or evil hap
Once they were kings together,
Throned in a mothers lap.
Surely they know the secret
Yellow and black and white
While they meet as kings together
, In innocent dreams at night.
BY a moon they all can play with
| Grubby and grimed and unshod-
Very happy together,
And very near to God.
Your trail runs to the westward
And mine to my own place;
| There Is water between our lodges
| And you cannot see my face.
| And that Is well-for crying
Should neither be written nor seen,
But If I call you Smoke-in-the-Eye
| I know you will know what I mean
-Rudyard Kipling.
The student and admirer of Riley. up
on reading these affectionate lines, viii
at once recognize the similarity they beal
to the melody of Riley In his famou.
poem "Longfelow's Love for the Child
rem" In this poem, Mr. Riley strove t.
reflect the true Longfellow melody. and
so, Mr.. Kipling, as an added honor. ha.
adopted the meter Of the most famou.
of all Riley's poems of tribute in writns
( his dedicatory verses.
| In answer to Mr.. Kiplng's tribute, Mr.
Riley composed his poem, ITO Rudyart
! Klpling," while on n lecture tour in Col
orado. The poem was written Februar,
16, 1891, and Is printed for the first tim
in the complete works of Riley. It fol
lows:
TO RUDYARD KIPLING.
To do some worthy deed of charity
In secret and then have 1t found out b!
Sheer accident, held gentle Ella
That-that was the best thing beneath
the sky!
Confirmed in part. yet somewhat differ
| ing
Grant that his gracious wrath will
pardon me
If impious D-I think a better thing
Is: Being found out when one strive
to be.
So. Poet and Romancer-old as young,
And wise as artless-mastertul a.
! mild
If there be sweet in any song I've sung
Twas savored for thy palate, o m,
Child.
For thee the lisping of the children all
For thee the youthful voices OF oil
years.
For thee all chords untamed or musical
For thee the laughter. and for thee tn
| tears.
And thus, borne to me DER the sea
between
Thy land and mine. thy song Of Ger
tain wing
Circles. above me in the pure serene
OF our high heavens vast DER wei
coming:
While, packeted with joy and thankful
ness.
And fair hopes many as the stars tina
shine,
And bearing all loves loyal messages.
Mine own goes homing back to the
and thine