The Kipling Birthday Book. Compiled by Joseph Finn. (Mac- millan
and Co.)—If popularity is the condition of being exhibited in a birthday book, there can be no doubt of Mr. Rudyard Kipling's claim. Otherwise we do not think that this particular writer lends himself very readily to the manufacture of this kind of anthology. He suffers, for instance, more than some from the loss of a context. Here is an example. It is for June 20th :—
" And the ploughman listened and bowed his head
'fe-day and tn.merrow God's will.' he said As he trimmed the lamps on the wall.
' lie sendeth us years that are gocd, As he sendeth the dearth.'"
It is the Indian ploughman speaking, and the essence of it is the Indian fatalism. Some of these divided utterances have a very oynical look. Did Mr. Kipling write " Ithurial ?" (May 26th).
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