The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-12-04
Portlnau Letter.

LSttSls
There are eXtenuating circumstances
that draw the mantle of charity over
many grcivOus offences. Here we sit
to-day, encamped among the debris of
soap dishes, cigar boxes, tooth brushes,
pepper boxes, salt cellars, ,lishpans.
sii0u-brushcs, toothpicks, table nap
kins, pincushions, hammers and axes.
Is 1t IL grevious offence, asking the edi-
tor il we way indite this letter with
pcncil7
But a short time ago the office of
TIE 1NTELLIGENCER was cnthroned
among the ravage of moving printing
office. Did it learn then that mercy is
one Of the sweetest virtues of sympathy
that it is as blessed to give-mercy
as receive? and that it is prone any
time under like social ravages to have
pen stubs and slivers rf pencil wrapped
up, so to speak, Incorporated in the
manuscript that seeks admission
through the editorial door? If it has
SO learned, then "swcct are the uses Of
adversity." I looked for my pen and
ink o-day and was told might probp :
bly, find them among tho dinner dishes
or among tho table linen, as they were
where they would surely be cared for;
| doubted the probability of such a
"find," but found them later, / was
told, in n boxthat was under stove.
never minded, but looked under the
house, where among some broken glass
luckily discovered the swecpings of
the desk, where were acouple Of pen
Gil stubs inch long which, in the inven-
tive emergency Of Robinson Cruso, L
sharpened with the glass splinters, end
while the men were hauling things
around, like Patience on monument,
/ sat on chair and scribbled. To be
able to turn ones mind instantly from
one engaging subject to another, with
out lack of calWness, and with supreme
self control, is one of the absorbing
psychic studies of the day. This
practiced while the numbering rumbled
on and perceived in my stub pencils as
much dexterity as in the most plant
Ensterbrook or Bank Point.
The editors say: "Dor't write with q
pencil" No wonder! What mistakes
we make with our Ms and Ms and Us,
and how the words rambl over line
like struggling vine over fence, SO
that the poor compositor who must
mind his Ps and Qs, or rather his
"ems"-which are measurements with
him-goes nearly crazy, and the proof
reader, who does not wish-as saw it
once in grocer's advertisement-to
allow Rolled Cats to take the place Of
Rolled Oats, he or she to save life and
position among the struggling pencil
lines, often of bad spelling, grows gray
and haggard before growth of pa
thence is experienced. But nearly, rs
Kipling hath it, this is another case,
and pardon may be requested where
there is no intent and no escape from
causes.
We might be asked, "Docs this mean
the Anderson Intelligencer's correspon-
dent is leaving Portman7" We answer
Eyes" the present correspondent is
leaving and leaving behind, too,
large part Of our heart for Portman:
81 love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods :nd tempted hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above"
l have never been weary Of the
rugged exterior, which, likcned to
character, is picturesque because rug
ged, and sublime because the nights
are as high as the depths are low.
Many n pleasant memory and solemn
thought came to me between the
shadows of tbe hills, and while look
ed at the stars that spanned the blue
vault many thought of the Creator
moulde sentiments in my heart, whose
reflection shall brighten my soul never
to be extinguishcd OF dimmed. Could
/ say n parting word to those whose
gracious presence it was my pleasure
to know would say, there are beauties
in those depths and psalms on those
nights that are not to be found in the
cathedral Of the Holy City, and that
night and day, when work and worry
are not conspiring to blind and deafen
the faculties of alteration, G ID is in
His Holy Temple among tho hills, and