riley began writing to the well-known american poet henry wadsworth longfellow during late 1875 seeking his endorsement to help him start a career as a poet. he submitted many poems to longfellow, whom he considered the greatest living poet. not receiving a prompt response, he sent similar letters to john townsend trowbridge and several other prominent writers asking for an endorsement. longfellow finally replied in a brief letter, telling riley, "i have read [the poems] in great pleasure, and think they show a true poetic faculty and insight." riley carried the letter with him everywhere and, hoping to receive a job offer and to create a market for his poetry, he began sending poems to dozens of newspapers touting longfellow's endorsement. among the newspapers to take an interest in his poems was the "indianapolis journal", a major republican party metropolitan newspaper in indiana. among the first poems it purchased from him were "song of the new year", "an empty nest", and a short story entitled "a remarkable man".