New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-27
A POETS APOLOGY.

A WESTERN AUTHOR WHO WOULD BE CONTENT WITH
sHAKE.PEARE's FAME.
To me Editor Of The Tribune.
DEAR SIR | have been informed that there
is always a brisk demand for good poetry nave long
been inclined that way having studied IN the oesS
schools-You may have seen my ode TO the Gomez
which was published last summer III two Of our Local
papers-I send you piece which Is in my bes, yano
and which Is entirely at yOur service. should IKE I'D
see IL In your paper for think would be honorable 10
both parties
Idon't know what yoar custom Is regards compen'
sation-nether do care aim Is what write fjr ann
If could by my own unalIed efforts reach the pinica
on which Shakespeare stands would die content DO
you not think that unrestricted air OF the vastly
prairie eonIuces 10 poetry Your answer n the coI-
uuns Of the Tribune Will much Oblge several
fyou publish the enclosed poem please do not hest
tate TO critcse lt. Col made al honest mAn and
like the honest truth
When you move into your new building wouII AAo
TO write IN ode for the occasion
Yours very oOedicutly and frlteruaily
JOHN SPIKES 5PIKEsOE
Ps or course TIiOnyx IL not M zeal name which
is splkeson. /. my poe.ical cog1omen-lad Is we'll
known in our region. IL moans-" three c!awed" from
the greek tri, three and onu2 claw. Tue idea was
original. Us o
P. g . The poem enclosed IS supposed 10 be ac-
dressed by yolng man who had volunteered for tho
war or perhaps only three months u tue young lady
to whom he had promised marriage He was not nOs
trying TO get Gus OF IL; He was bona Jtde HONEST
straight and real ouJ and oater-Is Is evident.
Pisa You may print thi. letter too II you Ike al
though It is not sample OF what cta DO would
like 10 be your permanent correspondent from here II
you are asreeabie-I gOIug to the smoky Hill ana
the Lodge Pole Creek soon aud Will write 10 you II you
like Don't the expense as write only for f"im-
and my taim VIII only rebound 10 your glory s. 9.
p s. Knowing how uncertain tue mails are eehi
this by private hand
Omaha. Nebraska March l, 1875
rOnr only reason for not printing the singularly
original and beautiful poem which accompanied this
note is that We consider it quite too good for our
columns. Anxious however, that it should not DO
lost to the world a. fear tho same writer's "Ode
to the Comet already Is We have introduced 1t to
the attention of those dispensers Of taim,' tho
editors of the monthly magazines, and we regret To
say that il has not been received by them WITH en-
thIsiastic alacrty. One of them tells US that no
has already three -four barrels full of the same sort;
another offers to publish the piece at the usual adj
yertsing rates; while the third contemptuOusy,
and we must say unfeelingly. advises Mr. spikes"n
to stick to the local newspapers If our correspond
ent, with Just ind ghaton at this want Of apprecil-
tiou should determine never TO write another llle,
we believe that his resolution would meet with
general appfODallOn
Of course, "our custom rs regards compensation
is of no consequence to Mr.. SpikesOn now but if
if would at all crafty his feelings 10 know il, be
may rest assured that if we printed his poem at al
we should not think of Offering him less than 500
a line. The general impression which prevails
among the young vere-mJkers of this country, that
we are so short of stanZls TO be willing to pay
even more than this for good merchandise verses,
is quite unfounded The fact is. If we printed
original poetry" according to the dictates Of our
heart and paid for it according to the suggestions
of our conscience, we should dsburse, upon mod
crate computation, not less than Sl.JOO,OJO annually
for metrcal merchandise alone which would leave
us rather hard up To expenses for other matters
such as fires, shpwrecks, murders, Congress pro-
ceedings, and judicial trials. Ii cuts us to the
heart to cOnsgn 50 much metrical merit to tho
waste basket but consoled by the refec ton
that our habit in this respect doesn't 10 make
any difference III the melodious c0nsignments In
fact bards appear to consider it more honorable
to be rejected by The TRIBUNE than to be accepted
by any other newspaper; and We hope that our dear
Spikeson will take that view Of it. IL is his only
chance of being like Shakespeare to maintain per-
sistent modesty and meanwhile we cannot tell
him how soothing to feelings is the fact that,
should we be dying for want of little real orig
inal verse. we know where to apply for it without
fear of disappointment.-Ed.l