SPEECH BY KIPLING.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1923, Page 2

SPEECH BY KIPLING.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION LONDON, October 10.

Amid the familiar scenes of undergrads stripping off boots and socks from each other dining the installation and throwing them into the air, and amid other escapades Mr Budyard Kipling was installed as Lord Rector of St. Andrew's University in succession to Sir James M. Barrie (author of ■‘Peter Pan”).

Tile recipients of the honoraiy degrees included Mr Baldwin (the Premier) who is Mr Kipling’s cousin.

Mr Kipling gave a witty address, bused on Robert Burns’s linos on tbe glorious privilege of being independent. He said tint independence meant: “Let every honing hang by its own head I” It also signified the blessed state of hanging on to as few persons and things as possible. The desire for independence was one of the earliest human instincts. Not until man had abandoned his family tree, and had associated himself with others on the flat, for predatory or homicidal purposes, did he sacrifice bis personal independence of action. Science told us that man began life as a monkey, like a creature among the tree tops. It was interesting to recall, that, when speech whs horn, the first use niuu made of his new power of expression was to tell a frigid, calculating lie. “Conceive his pride,” he said, “when the first- liar found that, by mere word of mouth, tie could send bis simpler com] anions shinning up trees in search of fruit that lie knew was not there! The success of his early lies showed man that he was a miracle worker. Cm you blame him for thanking God that be was only kept within hounds by the discovery that this art of Ring was not confined to himself ? Apparently the two first liars were of the opposite sex, and they married and had numerous progeny.” Mr Kipling concluded by urging the undergraduates at all costs, to remember that one tiling that stands outside belittlement, through all changes, was the guidance that drove a man to own to himself that no profit a man makes by concessions to public opinion could justify hi- disregard of that principle. “Yourself i- th c on \ person you cannot possibly get away from in this life.” he said, “and may be in another. It is worth a little pains and money to be. good to oneself!”