Here's one from the archives from the
Atlantic Monthly, just to show that even KV got the heave-ho from time to time. Lots to be Thankful for this year. Will write
my annual list tomorrow. I'm off to my in-laws, so it promises to be better than
last year's disaster. Don't eat too much Tofurky mice; it will only make you sleepy vegans.
August 29, 1949
Dear Mr. Vonnegut:
We have been carrying out our usual summer house-cleaning of the manuscripts on our _____bench and in the file, and among them I find the three papers which you have shown me as samples of your work. I am sincerely sorry that no use of theses seems to us well suited or our purpose. Both the account of the bombings of Dresden and your article, "What's a Fair Price for Golden Eggs?" have drawn ____________ although neither one is quite compelling enough for our final acceptance.
Our staff remains fully manned as I cannot hold out the hope of an editorial assignment, but I shall e glad to know that you have found a promising opening elsewhere. Faithfully yours, Edward Weeks.
Photo of rejection courtesy the
Saturday Evening Post. Fill in the words if you can and let me know what they are; I can't read them off the photo of the framed letter.
The missing words are 1. anxious and 2. commendation.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving :)
1. park
ReplyDelete2. pictures of boobs
is what I can make out.
Dear Mr. Vonnegut:
ReplyDeleteWe have been carrying out our ususal summer house-
cleaning of the manuscripts on our amcious bench* and In the file, and
among them I find the three papers which you have shown me as samples
of your work. I am sincerely sorry that no one of them seems to us
well adapted** for our purpose. Both the account of the bombing of
Dresden and your article, "What's a Fair Price for Gold Eggs?" have
drawn commendation*** although neither one is quite compelling enough for
final acceptance.
Our staff continues**** fully manned as I cannot hold
out the hope of an editorial assignment, but I shall be glad to know
that you have found a promising opening elsewhere.
Faithfully yours,
Edward Weeks
Mr. Kurt Vonnegut
Box 37
* I truly belive that "amcious" is what has been typed, and that this is a typo of "anxious",
as "M" is beside "N" on the keyboard, and "C" is beside "X". It indeed appears as these keys
were shifted.
anxious seat
noun
1. Also called anxious bench .
Chiefly North Atlantic States and Southern and South Midland U.S.
a seat reserved at a revival meeting for those troubled by conscience
and eager for spiritual assistance.
2.
a state of anxiety, especially about the outcome of a vote, negotiation, etc.
This definition could easily be used to desribe a place where articles were placed in the
office when they awaited attention/ a vote on if or when to print the articles.
** I belive you had used the word 'suited', but what was typed here was 'adapted'.
*** while sharpening another part of the image, I could read here the word 'commendation'.
**** I believe you had used the word 'remains', but what was typed here was 'continues'.