“HE LIKES KIPLING”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19846, 21 May 1927, Page 15 (Supplement)

“HE LIKES KIPLING”

ALEXANDER WATSON’S REFERENCE. DICKENS’ CHARACTERISATION Mr. Alexander Watson, the brilliant English entertainer, who recently arrived in Australia to commence his fifth and final tour, under the direction of E. J. Gravestock, told an interviewer that Kipling was his favourite poet. “Although of course, some people do not admit that Kipling is a poet,” added Mr. Watson with a broad smile. Kipling’s dazzling flash-like pictures, his depth of feeling, and his brilliant choice of words, said Mr. Watson, pronounced him as the greatest poet. Alfred Noyes, on the other hand, did not appeal to him to such an extent. Noyes was too verbally fluent. As to prose writers, there were Barrie and Dickens, whose charms were irresistible. “They say Australians don’t like Dickens,” remarked he, “but I have never found that to be the case.” Dickens’ characterisation was so fine, and he was so intensely human. Mr. Watson intends giving a condensation of certain thrilling incidents from “Oliver Twist,” entitled Sikes and Nancy. This was Dickens’ last condensation, and it was the last of his readings. It was a masterly piece of work, and whilst the great author was engaged upon it he seemed obsessed by its striking reality. Frequently was Dickens observed wandering about his garden rehearsing the famous murder scene. Only five years ago was this condensation printed for the first time, and then only 225 copies constituted the edition. The edition was printed from a manuscript which belonged to Sir Henry Irving-