Lot 337
Kipling, Rudyard. A group of three important ALS to Edmund Garrett, the South African journalist and author, discussing writing, politics, mutual friends, life in the Cape and the effects of the Boer War, 10pp., folded, 1899-1904
i) Dated Oct 19 '99, opening with his support of a recent published exchange, 'Dear Garrett, Being neither blind nor deaf, we've kept a pretty close eye on your performances down South, and a paper called the Cape Times somewhat helped us. We saw the game from afar: we cheered and shouted (tho' you never heard us) and were in it up to the hilt', and noting the changing political circumstances, '...you'll be wanted in the period of Reconstruction (it's the making of a new nation. Hallelujah
) as very few other men will be. Before we all die, we'll see the Federated States of South Africa a living reality - same as Canada and Australia...' 'It's after the war that we shall need men to shout + clamour and [indistinct] for restraint - moderation and a lot of unpopular things', and expressing his creative support, 'I also want to write poems (real poems) about the new state when it is born.', on headed paper, The Elms, Rottingdean, Nr Brighton, 3pp.
ii) Dated Oct. 16. 1900, noting Garrett's impact in the Cape, 'They wailed about you considerable [?] in Cape Town when I was down there, and with justice for the Cape Times was missing obvious points and generally disporting itself in a butt ended and... band-bellied fashion.' 'Oh Lord
There were times when I yearned to jump into your empty chair and take hold for old sake's sake', and noting his own work, 'But you can bet I will greatly sweat over these yarns and do my level best to make 'em good for my own purposes which (whisper low) are not purely literary and are not bounded by the desire (which I think simply beastly) of making my reputation
I too want to help the Idea. Isn't it a blessing that Ideas are so much bigger and better and higher and nobler than the man we must knock the notions into or the vessel that holds 'em.' And commenting on Army reform, 'I don't mind the average officer being a common ass. What I fear is his being a [indistinct] fool' and remarking on their mutual friend, the architect Herbert Baker, 'Baker was here for a day and a night a morrow on his way to the Cape. His pranceings [sic] round Hysla (?) (I answer impertinently your letter to Mrs Trotter) have resulted in a rather fine memorial for the Kimberley dead. If you haven't seen it I give you this label...' followed by a sketch by Kipling of a cannon between two columns he describes as 'phallic' before noting the political temperature in South Africa, 'Letters from the Cape reveal a satisfactory state of things in the colony. Both sides are utterly talked out. They are dead sick and weary of the war-exhausted volcanoes' and offering his support, '... I pray you remember what a pleasure it would be to me if I could get or do for you anything that you want got or done.', on headed paper, The Elms, Rottingdean, Sussex, 5pp.
iii) Dated Aug 10 '04, opening with his delight in a parody in the Spectator, inviting a more intimate correspondence and noting the visit of Herbert Baker, 'Baker was here with his fiancee before he made her his wife and she is a very sweet and graceful person-one likely to be good for J'berg which sorely needs women. It was pleasing to see Baker in love-messing about in worlds not realized.', on headed paper, Bateman's Burwash, Sussex, 2pp.
Fydell Edmund Garrett (20 July 1865-10 May 1907) was a British publicist, journalist and poet. He was editor of the influential Cape Times from April 1895 until August 1899, in which position he gained the trust of many notable figures in the political landscape of the day, including Cecil Rhodes, Sir Hercules Robinson, Paul Kruger and Jan Hofmeyr. He returned as a Member of the Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope in 1898 for Victoria East constituency. Garrett shared quarters in Muizenburg (named 'The Eagle'
