The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-04
That's a good poem. "

- nat Il EOOQ poem.
My heart gave leap.
Then you will accept il for Harpers2n
"Well no, said MIR. Alden, pleasantly.
when l say it is good | mean that it is
as good as the verses of any five hundred
people who write poetry would be- For
you would be surprised at the large num-
Der of people who, like yourself, can write
good poetry That circumstance, in fact,
is one of the most wonderful things Ihaye
come across in all my editorial experience.
Poetry is submitted here to an ex-
tent that hardly dare estimate Off
hand. And, as | said. it is poetry
that IS largely as meritorious as the
verses you bring me. And while great
many people can write good poetry, it is
impossible for me to accept more than
some twenty poems year And" con
cluded Mr.. Alden, with a smile that was
pleasanter than ever, your poem does
not possess, to my mind, the sort of
merit that would warrant me in accept
ing it for the magazine"
May l ask / faltered, what is the
defect in my poem! l need hardly say
that am highly gratitied that you con
slider 1t good.
Mr.. Alden took up the poem from his
desk and bent his brows over it again
Then he looked at me and smiled once
more.
1T is trite," he said Spring is not a
subject that Commends itself to me as
strikingly original. a poem should have
new note, if written to-day. Otherwise
ii is apt 10 be a repetition of what other
poets have said. Hence l, and if am not
in error, other editors are on the lookout
for new note. That note, I freely ad-
nit, does not make itself evident to me in
your verses"
Whereupon MIR Alden folded the paper
on winch my poem was written and
handed it to me with the most engaging
smile have ever seen on a mans face.
"A last question, SIR | hazarded.
Would you Judge, from this poetry that
have in me the makiugs of good poetl"
The editor leaned back in his chair.
crossed one leg over the other and stroked
his beard.
Yes / do" he replied. "I do not
undertake TO predict what sort of name
you may or may not make for yourself.
That would, obviously, be impossible in
view of the great number of persons OF
whom II might be said that they have in
them the markings Of good poet. We
are all poets more or less, but some of us
are denied the gift of expression
l thereupon told MIR. Alden that would
detain him no longer and he smilingly
babe me most cordial farewell
My next attempt was made with
Scribner's Magazine. / sent my name in
" tAN NAllOL. WI. buIlAukdUG, ana ne
stepped out of his office to come TO me
II have here" said 1, something |
should like you to look at with a view to
using IL. 1t is poem entitled The Voice
Of Spring, 49,"
Pardon me, " replied Mr. Burlnqame,
who is handsome, soldiorly looking man,
with q trace of care in his dark, bearded
face, and who spoke TO me courleousiy
but firmly, "yOu ask me something which
lcannoU do without being unfair TO count
less others. If you will leave your verses
they viii be considered in their turn We
receive thousands of poems here but we
do not accept more than thirty-siX in the
course Of year 1t would be un ust to
other aspirauts if | read your poem aud
gave you an answer now"
TOLD Mr., Buringame that if he would
kindly read IL and merely give me his
personal opinion, without reference to pub
licati9n. | should consider it a favor
My opinion, - hereplied, as courteously
but as firmly as ever, would be of no
use to you. II would be merely private
individual opinion. You see do not pre-