The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-17
REJECTED MANUSCRIPTS.

The records OF rejected genius are
anything but tiattering to the Judgment
of critics: publishers and managers.
Both the PLAYS of Goldsmith-"She
Stoops to Conquer" and 'The Good
. Natured Man"-were rejected by the
managers-the former by Garrick and
the latter by Colman. Garrick declin-
ed the tragedy of douglas" and at
the same time, pronounced it "rnfit for
the stage" Sheridan took dislike to
the neatly written manuscript of ''The
Honeymoon saying ''genius is never
neat" The play was thrust into a ne
elected corner and never acted during
the life of the author. "The Soldiers
Daughter" which, after the lapse of
half a century, still keeps possession Of
the stage, was only accepted by the
managers through the influence of Mrs.
Jordan, all the plays ofthe same author,
previously offered, having been declin-
| ed. Wrstland Marston, a dramatist
whose "Anne Blake" ''Strathmore"
and "Marie de Merame" have placed
his name on the roll with Bulwer,
Knowles, Lovel, and Jerrold, owed the
production of the ''Patrician's Daugh-
ter" almost to an accident. Knowles,
with difficulty, and only after long
time had elapsed, induced the managers
to put "Virginius" upon the stage
''The Iron Chest" damned at Drury
Lane, was applauded at Covent Gar
den, and has survived the sharp criti-
cism of jokes versifed that were show
vered upon it. Bum, in ''The Stage
Before and Behind the Curtain" speaks
of the farce of "Good Looking Fellow -
Liston had been requested to play the
leading character, and thus replies to
the application IL have read the farce
very attentively, and regret that can
not concur with Messrs. Reynolds, Ken
ny and yourself as to its merits. My
opinion is it would be inevitably damn
ed in less than quarter Of an hour,
and as I really lack the courage to risk
being pelted off the stage, must beg
leave to decline the favor of Mr.. Mar
cissus Briggs Yet this farce was re-
ceived with roars of laughter, and al
though put upon the stage late in the
season, was played for ninety six nights.
Bulwer's first play, ''The Duches de
la VALERIE" was a failure, and the cri
tics declared that it was not in his pow
er to attain the art of dramatic con-
struciion and theatrical effect. "The
Lady of Lyons" followed. Its author
ship was not suspected, nor did Bul
wer acknowledge his offspring until it
had become an acknowledged favorite
with the public. Thompson's "Win,
ter" first published of his Seasons"
for long time lay like waste paper.
The "Spy," which was the earliest, as
well as one of the most vigorous of
Cooper's novels, and which laid the
foundation Of his name as writer of
fiction, was offered to and declined by
Murray. The same publisher, in civil
letter to Washington Irving. declined
the "Sketch-Book," but reluctantly
changed his. opinion upon the urgent
representation of Sir Walter Scott, and
purchased the manuscript for two hun
|dred pounds. Such was the success of
|the publication, even before the issue
'pt the second volume, that the delight
ed publisher requested the author to
Elraw upon him for one hundred guineas
beyond the amount agreed upon. 'Pas-
Fages from the Diary of Late Physi
E,aSn," which originally appeared in
blackwood's Magazine-the first num-
per In 1880 and the last in lS37-main-
taihed a place during that whole period
among the most attractive articles, and
aIterWard in a collected form, passed
tihriough a number of editions, both in
IN tnls country and Great Britain. They
liau n been previously rejected by the
conductors of three of the leading ma.
game OF London Gas unsuitable for
the thelr pages, and not likely to interest
nm Melville's "Type" was offered to
harper, who declined it. The book
hnSo hSs published by another publishing
buuse' +bat' and with such market success,
SIa1Mh MAJ When "Omoo," the next work of !
bu @tIille; +t E, was written, it was accepted
Ey 'ne H5arpers without line of it be-
t@Ei E aeau, VI, and at the authors own price.
LII Inc e. Wide, Wide World' was sub
|a,f1?d nnb1ieheo, to Harper, Appleton and other
p"'''S"efs' and declined, and was final