Iowa and Illinois may rightly contest the claim of Wisconsin
for a proprietary interest in Mr. William Jonathan Neidig. He
was born in the first-named state, and is at present living
in Chicago, where he is engaged in business, though he still
finds time for an occasional story or poem. He was a member
of the faculty in the English Department of the University of
Wisconsin from 1905 to 1911, and it was during approximately
this period of his life that his literary activity was
greatest. "The First Wardens," which was nominated for the
Nobel prize in idealistic literature, was published in 1905,
and several critical works that attracted wide attention came
from his pen during his Wisconsin residence.
The one poem which we quote here shows an evenness of power
and an assurance of touch that mark real poetry. It also
would be generally recognized, the editors feel, as having
been written by a University man.