Adventures in indigence, and other essays

"Adventures in Indigence" by Laura Spencer Portor is a collection of essays where the author shares her encounters with those living in poverty during the early 1900s. Through her stories, Portor looks at ideas around empathy, watching society, and the hidden worth of people facing tough challenges. The book begins with Portor's memories of her childhood and a man named Musgrove, whom her mother helped. Musgrove's life was marked by constant misfortune. Portor explores how these early experiences shaped her view of poverty, teaching her about the strength and difficult lives of the less fortunate; setting the stage for a story that seeks the deeper connections between people, discovered through the experience of poverty.