Rudyard Kipling’s Latest.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 15 December 1906, Page 23

Rudyard Kipling’s Latest.

Mr. Rudyard Kipling’s new book. “Puck-of Pook's 11*11.’* is ;i collection of. ton characteristic stories Poked together will*, equally characteristic poetry, it is hdl of Mr. Kipling's well known masterly touches; 1 and for its -real literary worth - will afford- s’-much plcaslu'e to the adult reader as to the children whom il« author presumably had lir-t i.i mind wlien he conceived it. The* tales are? fairy stories pure’ and simphL and Puck. 1 he* teller, is a captivating study. This Puck of Pook’s Hill appears to two Sussex children, a boy and a girl, in their playtime' wanderings on the* count»y -»:d« . lie stands before’ then; . A small, brow n. broad-shoiihleie»d. point \ -va red person with a snub nd.sv. slanting id up eyes, and a grin that i.m right -icfosh’ hi.i freckled fnc-e *’ and. one* might add. a pretty conceit of himself, for. talking of his edl-liinv elfin company, he* assert-c' “Some of us . . . couldn’t abide* salt or horse-shoe's-over a door, or monntain-a-sh berries, or miming water. <>r cold iron, or the? sound of e-hnrch brlb. But I’m Puck! 1 his “pointy-eared person” magics tlie children into the' England of past agess and ledls the'm of Saxon. Dane. Roman, and Norman, and of many stirring d<’<*ds done*, which Ihe fairies saw. || e ;l j >o discloses (hv reason why the fairies left England. As a poet Mr. Kipling i* often at his best. Here* an* a few haunting lines from the* “Harp Nong of the* Dane Women What is woman that yon for-akv her And the* h«*arth lire and tfie liome-ac re. Io go with tdie <4d grey widow-maki-r. She has no iiouso to lav :i guest in But one chill tied for all Io rest in. Thai the* pa><? suns and the stray bergs nest in. • • • • • ¥••1 when the signs of siiniiiu r tliicki'ii. And the* iee breaks, and the birch l»u«ls quirkcii. Yearly yon turn from our side*, ami sh-kpn Si-ken again for the shouts and liu? slauuhlerK You slval away Io the hipping waters: Ami !«>k at your ship in )n'r winter <;uarThen .vou drive out where Hie storm <-loul|s swallow, ■ Ami the sound of youv oni b’ades fadinir hollow, Is all we* bnvc left through the* months to follow.