Kipling Query - Did Paget M.P. [Circa 1890] Really exist.

>From my own experience in the Colonial service in Africa and Hong Kong,
there have been many visiting know-it-all persons from the home country 
whom one would dearly have loved to have treated and written about in the
way that Kipling describes. I have no idea if there ws ever a man named
Paget - I doubt it - if one was working for the Colonial Government one 
would have to avoid naming ones target, but then Kipling was in newspapers
and newspapers do not hold their punches.
Someone who has done more research on the period may have
discovered the identity of the "Paget" described by Kipling,
so I open it to the Mailbase again for further enlightenment.

I also enclose a piece from Central Africa in the early 1960's 
that illustrates that the problem of visiting know-it-alls that
has been in existence since Roman times was alive and well in
Africa when the "Winds of Change" were blowing there.
Hong Kong is too fresh in the mind and too many people are still
alive to mention now.

Notes in Explanation:
I enclose the Pagett M.P. Piece at the 
bottom to save people looking elsewhere.

I am also copying this blind to a number of friends
who may have enough interest to give us their views.
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I have titled this Balubas as they were reported 
to be eating UN soldiers in the Congo at the time:

There's a lilt of Irish laughter in the jungle,
There's a flush of Yankee dollars down the drain,
U.N.O. has made another bungle -
Please, oh Mr. Kennedy, can you explain ?

It is easier to have a seizure living in Rhodesia
Realizing U.N.O. who is at it again
Trying to make a zombie out of poor old Mr. Tshombe.
Mr. Kennedy can you explain ?

One bubbles with anger at the troubles in Katanga
Wondering what U.N.O. can possibly gain.
It seems quite daft having hospitals staffed,
Mr. Kennedy can you explain ?

The Balubas tummies are growing still thinner
They say if you drop by, do stop in for dinner
I do hope they will give you time to explain !

There are rumours in heaps about columns of jeeps
And they now want observers to see who's to blame.
They claim they have caught us exporting mortars,
Shame Mr. Kennedy --- Shame.

Author unknown.
[Note: this was before the suspicious death of the
UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold at Ndola 
[Northern Rhodesia]
Read the article released by the Archbishop Tutu's Truth 
Commission about a CIA plot to kill Dag Hammarskjold.
Reuters August 19, 1998
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From: "Ozawa, Shizen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "'Ron Clibborn-Dyer'" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: RE: The Enlightenments of Pagett MP
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 17:57:48 +0100

Dear Mr. Ron Clibborn-Dyer,
Thank you very much for your suggestion.  
I am wondering whether you mean that Kipling was writing 
the piece in question, having in mind a real figure who 
might or might not bear the name "Pagett"?  
Do you know any reference to this wonderful possibility?  
Sincerely,    
Shizen Ozawa

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Clibborn-Dyer [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 19 October 2000 14:41
To: Ozawa, Shizen
Subject: The Enlightenments of Pagett MP
        originally published in 1890

Perhaps the subject/s of his piece was still alive!
Ron in Hong Kong 
*****************************************************
Dear All Mail-list members, 
Good evening. I hope all is going well with you. 

I am wondering whether you could give me any help. Currently, i am writing 
a chapter which includes a discussion of "The Enlightenments of Pagett MP." 
As you might already know, this polemical piece was originally published in 
1890, but was not collected in the major collected editions of Kipling's. 
It was included for the first time in one of the hitherto uncollected 
writings of Sussex edition. 

My question is this: why did Kipling suppress this work? I personally do 
not think it was a great story at all. But i am wondering whether Kipling 
ever admitted his own failure explicitly. Did Kipling himself somewhere say 
something about this decision NOT to treat this piece in a serious manner? 

If you know something about this, please let me share your expertise. 
I am counting on your help. 

Sincerely, Shizen Ozawa 
Ozawa, Shizen (18 Oct 2000 - 19:08 BST) 
The Enlightenments of Pagett MP
*****************************************

Pagett, M.P.
The toad beneath the harrow knows
Exactly where eath tooth-point goes.
The butterfly upon the road
Preaches contentment to that toad.


Pagett, M.P., was a liar, and a fluent liar therewith --
He spoke of the heat of India as the "Asian Solar Myth";
Came on a four months' visit, to "study the East," in November,
And I got him to sign an agreement vowing to stay till September.

March came in with the koil. Pagett was cool and gay,
Called me a "bloated Brahmin," talked of my "princely pay."
March went out with the roses. "Where is your heat?" said he.
"Coming," said I to Pagett, "Skittles!" said Pagett, M.P.

April began with the punkah, coolies, and prickly-heat, --
Pagett was dear to mosquitoes, sandflies found him a treat.
He grew speckled and mumpy-hammered, I grieve to say,
Aryan brothers who fanned him, in an illiberal way.

May set in with a dust-storm, -- Pagett went down with the sun.
All the delights of the season tickled him one by one.
Imprimis -- ten day's "liver" -- due to his drinking beer;
Later, a dose of fever --slight, but he called it severe.

Dysent'ry touched him in June, after the Chota Bursat --
Lowered his portly person -- made him yearn to depart.
He didn't call me a "Brahmin," or "bloated," or "overpaid,"
But seemed to think it a wonder that any one stayed.

July was a trifle unhealthy, -- Pagett was ill with fear.
'Called it the "Cholera Morbus," hinted that life was dear.
He babbled of "Eastern Exile," and mentioned his home with tears;
But I haven't seen my children for close upon seven years.

We reached a hundred and twenty once in the Court at noon,
(I've mentioned Pagett was portly) Pagett, went off in a swoon.
That was an end to the business; Pagett, the perjured, fled
With a practical, working knowledge of "Solar Myths" in his head.

And I laughed as I drove from the station, but the mirth died out on my lips
As I thought of the fools like Pagett who write of their "Eastern trips,"
And the sneers of the traveled idiots who duly misgovern the land,
And I prayed to the Lord to deliver another one into my hand.

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