Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-19

When Rudyard Kipling told the
British Royal Society Of Literature
that the last $500 years had produced
but dozen inmortals among writer's,
he set in motion wave Of speculation
which has extended to his admirers
everywhere. In this country ntimer-
GUS attempts have been made to de-
termine the list that Kipling had In
mind. His statement was made at
the time Of presentation to him of. q
medal for his distinguished services
In literature. Earnest tributes to his
genius have followed from his id.
mirers among the editorial writers
Of America.
Referring to Mr.. Kipling = casual
remark" on the dozen immortals. the
New York Herald Tribune suggests
that doubtless he Intentionally
cradle amusement out OF the specu.
lAtion that is bound to follow. Few
opportunities the like of this have
come to writing men who know the
true value OF publicity continues
the Herald Tribune, but on none of
the rolls supplied by these gentlemen
win be written the magic letters
%. K.-R. k So the world at large
will have to write its own ticket. .
The Herald Tribune would start the
list with Homer, Shakespeare and
Milton. Then there are Virgil and
Horace and Dante. 1t says. !. France
and Germany will come forward with
q few cOntenders. and Spain may have
|A word to say for Cervantes. Any
one Of these countries could name
full tWoscore men whose work has
not been forgotten In the course Of
500 years. and which may never be
forgotten. And certainly IS. Paul,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are
OF the stun of which immortality is
made. Il there is anything in the test
Of time. z
Perhaps Mr.. Kipling was not pre-.
pared olfhand," suspects the Chicago
Daily News. ito name the dozen he
would choose, but at least part of the
task y not diIiicult. Certainly Homer;
9ophocles, Euripides. Aristophanes,
Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Cervantes.
Moliere and BalzAc would be given
places on the list by most readers of
literary masterpieces That would
leave only two places to be filled, but
there the competition would be likely
to become keen. No Judge or jury
can decide literary issEee. but time
has 4 way Of destroy ag unworthy
regulations and rescni1G otners from
EMHtuCE41@0s90 U1lVl0Il.9 IWe WAEceSteF
Gazette, after making similar selec-
tiOns. expresses the opinion that such
b listing and distinguishing of the
literary great issprobably far from the
thought 81 Kipling; he Is thinking,
rather, 81 the few of genius whose
writings have come down or win 20
down through the centuries, infiuenc-
Ing the speech, thought and actions Of
generation after generation OF man
until the end OF time But looking
forward t0 the days Of 1895 AID, the
GazetfD feels that s.KiplinE himself
might wen BE- on the list as not the
least worthy OF those to bear an in1-
mortal name.
The possibility that Kipliilg may
some time he found among the imIn0r-
tails Ii upheld BY the Pittsburgh Sun,
which adds: But how dificuit that
attainment fof, him may be y II Tx.
|pFnn1ed best III his own N0rdA III his
reply III Lord Balfbur, who presented
HIN with the medal Quite ii dozen
writer's have achieved immortality III
the lhst 1900 years. From the book.
maker A---A real bod akTnal kers point Of
view the odds are not attractive 8 &
The Columbus Chic State Journal
|teAkitleE - u his Neniile Yhresigl All