The Humanist Association of Canada Spring 1992 Newsletter contains
the following item:

  For writers only -- Every writer has received rejection
  slips; too many of them for most.  The "Financial Times"
  has quoted the "mother of all rejection slips", translated
  from a Chinese economic journal.  It goes like this:

     We have read your manuscript with boundless delight.
     If we were to publish your paper, it would be impos-
     sible for us to publish any work of lower standard.
     And as it is unthinkable that in the next thousand
     years we shall see its equal, we are, to our regret,
     compelled to return your divine composition, and to
     beg you a thousand times to overlook our short sight
     and timidity.