the americanization of edward bok-第58章
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ss； 〃printed〃 Kipling's peans of rapture over Bok's subscriber。 The preparation of the paper was a daily joy： it kept the different members busy； and each evening the copy was handed to 〃the large circle of readers〃the two women of the partyto read aloud。 At the end of the sixth day； it was voted to 〃suspend publication；〃 and the daily of six issues was unanimously bequeathed to the little daughter of Mr。 Lockwood de Forest； a close friend of the Kipling familya choice bit of Kiplingania。
One day it was decided by the party that Bok should be taught the game of poker； and Kipling at once offered to be the instructor！ He wrote out a list of the 〃hands〃 for Bok's guidance； which was placed in the centre of the table； and the party； augmented by the women； gathered to see the game。
A baby had been born that evening in the steerage； and it was decided to inaugurate a small 〃jack…pot〃 for the benefit of the mother。 All went well until about the fourth hand； when Bok began to bid higher than had been originally planned。 Kipling questioned the beginner's knowledge of the game and his tactics； but Bok retorted it was his money that he was putting into the pot and that no one was compelled to follow his bets if he did not choose to do so。 Finally； the jack…pot assumed altogether too large dimensions for the party； Kipling 〃called〃 and Bok； true to the old idea of 〃beginner's luck〃 in cards； laid down a royal flush！ This was too much； and poker； with Bok in it； was taboo from that moment。 Kipling's version of this card…playing does not agree in all particulars with the version here written。 〃Bok learned the game of poker；〃 Kipling says； 〃had the deck stacked on him； and on hearing that there was a woman aboard who read The Ladies' Home Journal insisted on playing after that with the cabin…door carefully shut。〃 But Kipling's art as a reporter for The Tonic was not as reliable as the art of his more careful book work。
Bok derived special pleasure on this trip from his acquaintance with Father Kipling； as the party called him。 Rudyard Kipling's respect for his father was the tribute of a loyal son to a wonderful father。
〃What annoys me；〃 said Kipling； speaking of his father one day； 〃is when the pater comes to America to have him referred to in the newspapers as 'the father of Rudyard Kipling。' It is in India where they get the relation correct： there I am always 'the son of Lockwood Kipling。'〃
Father Kipling was； in every sense； a choice spirit： gentle； kindly； and of a most remarkably even temperament。 His knowledge of art； his wide reading； his extensive travel； and an interest in every phase of the world's doings； made him a rare conversationalist； when inclined to talk； and an encyclopedia of knowledge as extensive as it was accurate。 It was very easy to grow fond of Father Kipling； and he won Bok's affection as few men ever did。
Father Kipling's conversation was remarkable in that he was exceedingly careful of language and wasted few words。
One day Kipling and Bok were engaged in a discussion of the Boer problem； which was then pressing。 Father Kipling sat by listening； but made no comment on the divergent views； since； Kipling holding the English side of the question and Bok the Dutch side； it followed that they could not agree。 Finally Father Kipling arose and said： 〃Well； I will take a stroll and see if I can't listen to the water and get all this din out of my ears。〃
Both men felt gently but firmly rebuked and the discussion was never again taken up。
Bok tried on one occasion to ascertain how the father regarded the son's work。
〃You should feel pretty proud of your son；〃 remarked Bok。
〃A good sort；〃 was the simple reply。
〃I mean； rather； of his work。 How does that strike you？〃 asked Bok。
〃Which work？〃
〃His work as a whole；〃 explained Bok。
〃Creditable；〃 was the succinct answer。
〃No more than that？〃 asked Bok。
〃Can there be more？〃 came from the father。
〃Well；〃 said Bok； 〃the judgment seems a little tame as applied to one who is generally regarded as a genius。〃
〃By whom？〃
〃The critics； for instance；〃 replied Bok。
〃There are no such；〃 came the answer。
〃No such what； Mr。 Kipling？〃 asked Bok。
〃Critics。〃
〃No critics？〃
〃No；〃 and for the first time the pipe was removed for a moment。 〃A critic is one who only exists as such in his own imagination。〃
〃But surely you must consider that Rud has done some great work？〃 persisted Bok。
〃Creditable；〃 came once more。
〃You think him capable of great work； do you not？〃 asked Bok。 For a moment there was silence。 Then：
〃He has a certain grasp of the human instinct。 That； some day； I think； will lead him to write a great work。〃
There was the secret： the constant holding up to the son； apparently； of something still to be accomplished； of a goal to be reached； of a higher standard to be attained。 Rudyard Kipling was never in danger of unintelligent laudation from his safest and most intelligent reader。
During the years which intervened until his passing away； Bok sought to keep in touch with Father Kipling； and received the most wonderful letters from him。 One day he enclosed in a letter a drawing which he had made showing Sakia Muni sitting under the bo…tree with two of his disciples； a young man and a young woman； gathered at his feet。 It was a piece of exquisite drawing。 〃I like to think of you and your work in this way；〃 wrote Mr。 Kipling； 〃and so I sketched it for you。〃 Bok had the sketch enlarged； engaged John La Farge to translate it into glass； and inserted it in a window in the living…room of his home at Merion。
After Father Kipling had passed away； the express brought to Bok one day a beautiful plaque of red clay； showing the elephant's head； the lotus； and the swastika； which the father had made for the son。 It was the original model of the insignia which； as a watermark； is used in the pages of Kipling's books and on the cover of the subscription edition。
〃I am sending with this for your acceptance；〃 wrote Kipling to Bok； 〃as some little memory of my father to whom you were so kind； the original of one of the plaques that he used to make for me。 I thought it being the swastika would be appropriate for your swastika。 May it bring you even more good fortune。〃
To those who knew Lockwood Kipling； it is easier to understand the genius and the kindliness of the son。 For the sake of the public's knowledge； it is a distinct loss that there is not a better understanding of the real sweetness of character of the son。 The public's only idea of the great writer is naturally one derived from writers who do not understand him； or from reporters whom he refused to see； while Kipling's own slogan is expressed in his own words： 〃I have always managed to keep clear of 'personal' things as much as possible。〃
If
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you； If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you； But make allowance for their doubting too； If you can wait and not grow tired by waiting Or； being lied about don't deal in lies； Or； being hated； don't give way to hating； And yet don't look too good or talk too wise；
If you can dream and not make dreams your master； If you can think and not make thoughts your aim； If you can meet with triumph and disaster； And treat those two imposters just the same； If you can stand to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by Knaves to make a trap for fools； Or watch the work you've given your life to broken； And stoop and build it up with worn…out tools；
If you can make one pile of all your winnings And risk it at one game of pitch…and…toss； And lose； and start again from your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss； If you can force you heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone； And so hold on； though there is nothing in you Except the will that says to them； 〃Hold on！〃
If you can talk to crowds and keep your virtue； And walk with Kings nor lose the common touch； If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you； If all men count with you； but none too much； If you can fill the unforgiving minute With
