The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-13
OLD MANUSCRIPT
 OF KIPLNG NOW
 FINDS HOME HERE
Written When Author Was 19, He Attempted
 To Buy It Back

yard Kipling, the youthful Kipling, who was described by Henry James as look ing out of a window upon the world in very self-assured fashion, recently was brought to America by Gabriel Wells, New York dealer in rare books, says the New York Herald Tribune.
 This manuscript, which is among the rarities of literature for the reason that Kipling is chary about letting so much as his signature get out, has history that throws an interesting light on the beginnings of Kiplings literary work. Also. it shows that Kipling was nothing if not original. even in youth, for he was only 19 years old when he wrote this fantasy, which is entitled At the Pits Mouth"
 \ Later Version
 This story is not the same as the tale which appeared under the same title in Under the Deodars." There is a story entitled At the Pits Mouth" fin that early collection of Kiplings stories. but the names of the characters are different and the scenes differ from those in the story in manuscript. Only the title and the same general idea are the same.
 The two stories afford an interesting study, as they show that nothing was ever lost in Kipling's mind. He wrote the manuscript sketch when he was a mere youth, and then forgot having written it. according to letter in later years, when the matter was brought to his attention. But the title and the germ of the idea evidently remained in his memory, and the later story result ed. In this later story, as in the first, the workings of fate in the case of the chief actors in 'the eternal triangle" were sketched by the author. Only the method of handling was entirely differ ent, the latter story showing the prac- tieed hand of writer whose short ex- cursion in Indian journalism had soon given him delft and certain touch.
 A Translation
 The first sketch. At the Pits Mouth" is boyish fantasy. just such fantasy as a wonderfully gifted youth like Kipling might have written. One can imagine no one else but Poe in youth writing story along similar lines. The story is told on the right hand side of each page. The tale deals with the recollections of one Duncan Parrenness, translated from his diary by k. K." There are seven pages of this curious manuscript, all in Kipling's handwriting. On the left-handed side the story and comments being neatly | divided by line down the center of each page, are written "digressions." The writing on the right-hand side con cerns the personal narrative In the "digressions" at the left the characters of the two people in the story are ex- plained. It is all intended to be as if it were human document, instead of conventional short story. The "di- gressions." supposed to have been writ ten by the translator" are in a dis guished hand.
 One paragraph in the "digressions' is headed Note by the Editor" Another "digression" consists of a Mote by Agnes Festin," the woman in the story. This is written in what is intended to be a feminine hand. Another note reads: Work this up to any extent in the style of Mrs. OTfphant's 'Beleagu cred City," Another note reads "Embroider this as you will, also the scene later on where they dance at the Kenmore ball and flirt in the balconies. R. K" The end note is headed Sum mary by the Translator"
 Not Meant For Another
 These explicit directions and curious notes, in so personal a vein, led some 
 story over to some one else to rewrite or "embellish." As a matter of fact, he did nothing of the sort. It was all merely part of his plan in producing q literary fantasy-something purport- ing to be real document and yet all fiction.
 Seven pages of the manuscript have a small round hole, burnt purposely, it is said, with a cigarette, and also two small pieces cut out, rendering few words defective. Four of the pages are slightly defective at the corners. The tenor of the story, which is written in the first person, is that man falls in love with married woman. The day before the proposed elopement the man dreams that they both meet with a fatal accident. In his dream they are able to watch their own dead bodies, which are very fully described, as the bodies are being carried away, and listen to their friends discussion of the accident.
 The only resemblance in the two stories of the same title is in the locality and the fact that the man in the story is in love with his friends wife. The lovers in the published story use Simla cemetery as a rendezvous until they see a coolie digging a grave for some unknown ''sahib.' This grave, which has a foot of water in it, has de- pressing effect on the man. The next day the lovers determine to find a new rendezvous. They move to the high road below Mashobra to Fagoo, official ly styled the Himalayan Tibet road. Here the mans horse slips at the side of the road, and, after paving vainly for a foothold, carries him down 900 feet spelling a patch of Indian corn. The lady is half demented for several days and during this time her lover is buried in IS inches of water instead of Ghe 12 to which he had at first ob- jected.'
 Of High Value
 With the manuscript. which was brought very recently from England by Mfr Wells, and which is quoted at a high figure on account of the scarcity of Kipling manuscripts in general, are three typewriter letters, signed bc Mir Kipling. dating from November 2S, 1911, to December IS, 1914. addressed to the woman who had possession of the manuscript. This woman desired to have the manuscript published but could not do so without consent of the author.
 In one of the letters Mir. Kipling says: Il cannot recall the MS. but do not see my way to give permission for the publication of work written by me more than a generation ago. If it would be convenient to you to dispose of the MS. at this moment I will send you small cheque in exchange"
 ONE OF THE MEANEST
 The mean man ate good meal at restaurant and then, when he had fin