Rudyard Kipling

Departmental Ditties and Barrack Room Ballads Rudyard Kipling

Black as the raven his garb, and his heresies jettier still Hinting that Railways required lifetimes of study and knowledge Never clanked sword by his side-Vauban he knew not nor dril Nor was his name on the list of the men who had passed through the "College." Wherefore the Little Tin Gods harried their little tin souls, Seeing he came not from Chatham, jingled no spurs at his heels, Knowing that, nevertheless, was he first on the Government rolls For the billet of "Railway Instructor to Little Tin Gods on Wheels. Letters not seldom they wrote him, "having the honour to state," It would be better for all men if he were laid on the shelf.