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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4959, 23 February 1895, Page 2

It is about forty years since Thackeray ridiculed the idea of an order of honourfor literary men, and depicted the jealousies which would aviso in the profession if invidious distinctions were conferred upon some of its members. It is only the other day that Rudyard Kipling, :an undisputed monarch of the pen, wrote a ballad chronicling the indention with which one "Truthful Thomas" of old received an offer of Knighthood from a King, finishing with the characteristic scornful line " And-ye-wad-mak-a-Knight-o'-nic!" We'fail to see how a _man like Rudyard Kipling could without embarrassment aud without discredit to his reputation accept a position in the new order, which it is said is now to he inaugurated. Itis very possible that literary men_ of the first flight would decline the proposed distinction, and Hint the new honours will fall to the lot of second-class men. There will doubtless be plenty of candidates for them, but we question whether literature will gain by the new departure, Even Tennyson injured his reputation by accepting a peerage, and the shower of smaller distinctions with which we arc threatened, may assist some doubtful reputations, but cannot enhance the positions of the great literary artists of the day.