Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-07-27
The Troubles of a Poet.

While Col. Bangs. editor OF the Argus,
was sitting in his agice one day, man, whose
brow was clothed in thunder entered. Fierce
" scizing chair be slammed his hat on The
table. hurled his umbrella cp ,be iloor, and
sat down.
"Are you the cditor?' he asked.
"Ncs.'
"Cau you read writing"
"'Of course.
Read that, then" he said, thrussins a.
the Colonel an envelope with an inscription
on it.
"B--" said the Clloucl, trying to spell It.
That's notaB It's ans" said the man
as; oh. YES; / sec Well the words look
a little like Salt for Dinder, or Souls OF
Sinners" said the Colonel
No, sir replied the man, nothing OF tho
kind That's my name. Samuel II Brunn'r.
knew You couldn't read. called TO see you
about that poem Of mine you printed The o'nef
day. on the 'Surceasc OF sorrow.
Il don't remember II" sid the Colonel.
"Of course You don't. because it went into
the paper un1er the title Of SmeaTeasc To-
morrow"
a stupid Llanlor Of The comgositor''' |
ives. sir and that's what ! want to see
YOU about. The way in which the poem was
mutihatcd was simply scandalous. haven I
slept night since II liexposcd mo to derision
People think / am 40 ass. Lot me sho"
YOU
"Go ahead said the Colonel.
"The first hnc when wrote il, read IN
this way:
Lying by weeping willow, underneath agsne9
slope
That is beautiful. poetic. affecting Now
hoa dill your vile sheet present It 10 the p"h-
lic2 There it is. Look ut that Made 1t
read this way:
Lying to weeping widow, TO induce her 10
elopc.'
Weeping willow. mind youl 4 widow -
O thunder aud lightuing This Is too much :
It's enough To drive a man crazy
Pm sorry. said the Colonel. but
"Bnt look a-hero at the fourth verse, sail
the poet. That's worse yet. What l SAID
was:
Cast thy pearls before the swine, and lose them
in the dirt
wrote that out clearly and distinctly, In
plain. round hand Now what does your
compositor do2 Docs he catch the sense ot
the beautiful sentiment Does It sink into
his soul2 No sir. llc sets il up III ihlS
fashion Listen
Cart my plll, before the sunrise and love iheu II
they hurt
Now isn't that cold bloodcd onirago 90
maus feelings? I'll leave IL 10 you II u isn'
hard?"
"It's hard that's fact. f" said tho Colonel.
And then take tho ffth verso. Ia ue
original manuscrlp, II said. plalo ss dny ilsh'
Take away The JingInG moucJ, u 10 on'I sh''"F-
Ing drofs.'
a man With only ..ono ere. ohd esssisos
over that, could hayo.fcad tho lines oofiociJ.
Du, your pirate, up stairs shofe--do you hoo"
what no dldf 10 modo u read
'Taso away the Jcoring.. monkeys, on q sore'J
glabdcrcd hoss."
By Goorgo, folt liko bralning him Win
Gre.shovol WAS never so cut up IN my lio
IL SAs natural, too, said the Colonel.
"Thcrc for instance was the sixth yerso.--
wrote:
4 am weary Of the tossing Of tho ocean sit
hcaycs.'
It's lovely line too but imagine my
horror aud the anguish oi my iamllyi Wbch
opened the paper and found tho lines ,raus-
formed into
! am wearing out my trousers till they're open
al the knccs.'
That's a little TOO mnch That seems 10 mo
like carrying things an inch or two too far
think / Layc a constitutional light TO murder
that compositorj don't you -
" / think you have"
"Let me read you one moro verse. J wrote
4 swell the Ing echoes as they roam among the
And irol my soul awaken to the ces,aey that
thrills.
Now what do you spolo your miserable
oulc;st tGrnod that iutog Why, into this
= Hncll the g., iu, shoes as they coast along tho
bulls,
Aud peel my s,ul mistaken to thc.nceuracy
riatwhirls.'
Gibtcrish, SIR Awful gibbcrish | must
slay that man Whore is he?"
he is out just now, said the Colonel -
Come ln Tomorrow
Il vii, said the poet. "and will como
armed"
Then he put IN hia hat, sboolJcrol his
aud iriitod ol down stairs.
uamilton's Last Prayer.