Kipling

Born 30 December 1865 in Bombay, India, Mr. Kipling grew up speaking languagues other than English. His native caretakers would speak the native language and then send him to spend time with his parents, reminding him to speak English with them. Although much of his life was spent away from Bombay, Mr. Kipling would always consider Bombay "home". He would later write: Mother of Cities to me, For I was born in her gate, Between the palms and the sea, Where the world-end steamers wait. Mr. Kipling wrote both short stories and poetry. Much of his writing deals with the conflicts he experienced during his own life-time. As was the custom, Mr. Kipling was sent to Londonto be cared for by a couple that took in children of British nationals living in India. Mr. Kipling and his 3 year old sister would live with the couple, Captain and Mrs. Holloway, at their house, Lorne Lodge, for the next six years. Of those 6 years he would later write: "If you cross-examine a child of seven or eight on his day’s doings (specially when he wants to go to sleep) he will contradict himself very satisfactorily. If each contradiction be set down as a lie and retailed at breakfast, life is not easy. I have known a certain amount of bullying, but this was calculated torture—religious as well as scientific. Yet it made me give attention to the lies I soon found it necessary to tell: and this, I presume, is the foundation of literary effort". Writing of his rescue from his unhappiness, Mr. Kipling wrote about his aunt: "Often and often afterwards, the beloved Aunt would ask me why I had never told any one how I was being treated. Children tell little more than animals, for what comes to them they accept as eternally established. Also, badly-treated children have a clear notion of what they are likely to get if they betray the secrets of a prison-house before they are clear of it". Mr. Kipling died January 18,1936. We have several older copies of some of Mr. Kipling's works. These are enchanting stories that appeal to all ages. It would be awesome to have newer copies for our students to enjoy! CCB