An editor of (or in) a leading monthly magazine ("Harper's Monthly,"
July, 1890,) asks: "A hundred years from now will W.W. be popularly
rated a great poet--or will he be forgotten?" ... A mighty ticklish
question--which can only be left for a hundred years hence--perhaps more
than that. But whether W.W. has been mainly rejected by his own times is
an easier question to answer.
All along from 1860 to '91, many of the pieces in L. of G., and its
annexes, were first sent to publishers or magazine editors before being
printed in the L., and were peremptorily rejected by them, and sent back
to their author. The "Eidólons" was sent back by Dr. H., of "Scribner's
Monthly" with a lengthy, very insulting and contemptuous letter. "To
the Sun-Set Breeze," was rejected by the editor of "Harper's Monthly" as
being "an improvisation" only. "On, on ye jocund twain" was rejected
by the "Century" editor as being personal merely. Several of the pieces
went the rounds of all the monthlies, to be thus summarily rejected.
_June, '90_.--The----rejects and sends back my little poem, so I am now
set out in the cold by every big magazine and publisher, and may as well
understand and admit it--which is just as well, for I find I am palpably
losing my sight and ratiocination.