Kipling, tippling again

Author Rudyard Kipling (Kim, Gunga Din) was born on this day in 1865. He wrote:


"Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre."

Ice cubes tinkled in Cutterback’s glass. “Let’s have another.” He called to the barmaid.

When the food came, Cutterback bit a half-moon out of his burger and said, with his mouth full, “What else can you do?”
“I’m pretty sure I can do ‘Gunga Din’.”
“Kipling?”
“Tippling.” Sully held up his glass and grinned.
“A-ha-ha-ha,” Cutterback barked. “Let’s hear it.” As Sully rendered “Gunga Din” he wolfed his food, nodding enthusiastically. When he’d finished he blew his nose again, crumpled the napkin and dropped it onto his plate.  --  Chapter 17, The Misforgotten.