The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-07-15
6oms Oueer "Personals."

Il was An excellent idea that moved
Miss Alice Clay to the collection and
publication Of the most curious adver-
tisements which appeared in tho Sec
ond column OF tho London Times be-
tween 1900 and 1880. the compilation
cessing then. probably. through laud-
able desire to spare the feelings OF the
people now living who may have
deep personal interest in some OF the
''personals' OF more recent dates.
F0ur-score years ago the advertiser was
more stately and eloquent than concise.
For instance. here is q card from the
Times OF December 10, 1900: IF the
lady who . gentleman handed into her
carriage from Covent Garden Theatre.
on Wednesday. the third OF this month.
will oblige the advertiser with line to
z T., Spring Garden Coffee House. say
ing Il married Of sisgis, she will quiet
tho mind Of . young nobleman who
has tried. but In vain, to find the lady.
The carriage was ordered to Bond street.
The lady may depend upon honor and
secrecy. Nothing but the most honor
able interview Is intended. The lady
was In mourning. and sufficiently clothed
to distinguish her for possessing every
virtue and charm that he would make
choice of for . wife. Deception will
be detected. - the lady's person can
never DO forgot" Four times In July
1850. was this advertisement published:
.'The Ono Winged Dove must die. un-
less the Crane returns to be shield
against her enemies" No answer was
returned till the Esd and Goth OF No
vember. when these cards appeared,
suggesting e whole tragedy; 'Somer.
set, s. B.-The Mate Of tue Dove must
take wing from England forever. I'M
less material change takes place. J.
b." Kent, j. R-The Mate of the
Dove bids final farewell adieu to the
British Isles. although such q resolu-
ton cannot be accomplished without
poignant grief" A tragedy Of an0th-
er sort Is indicated In this (November
z, 1870: Would Phillip Ake to hear
Of his mothers deathr' Here IL IN odd
one October 2. 1851: 'The Minstrel
Boy" ''dressed In . rusty black surtout
coat, common cloth waistcoat, trowserS
marked with ink, and an old Caen hat,
n urged to return to his discons0late
friends. All will be forgiven. and
Charlie will give up the front room"
There Il apparently love story under
these dispatches of May $3.50. 1850:
"a. w. The dog Wolf Is dead. Tho
experiment has succeeded. The Bear
mOurns. ETdss yale Gsuicus." "A. w.
The Wolf Is not dead but has been
dangerously i'll. Letters are intercept
cd. trust no one. Break not your
pledge. Communicate personally.
B|ts." Another curious story OF
separated lovers and Argus-eyed guar.
dams IL told In sorios Of cards. April
IL, June "a, 1856. where . lady adver-
tised thrice for her lover. believing him
to be I'll, and then received an answer
directing her 70 advertise again and
give her initialA Bot she warily sus-
Dccted q fraud. and announced her sus-
picions. while simultaneously the lover
corroborated them by repudiatiug the
reply and arranging for safe cores
pondencc. There are agony ADVERTISE
ments In all the langunges-French.
land. q . rule. very bad French. Ger.
man. Italian. Spanish. Latin, Greek.
There arc scores of them In cipher.
more or less easy to read. Thus, (Oc-
tober %, 1907 there Is communities
ton beginning; X rave ramap Oh q
khe devh gu cqzy, wahhav. which,
with considerable difficulty. has been
deciphered 40 follows: Very vexed at
every part Of your letter. Why not
take interest in your appearancep Heir
ess B.. Have more trust Shall a.
ways remain, as usual. yours only"
The reply. four days later. further bears
out the theory that the advertisers had
Q marriage In view: ''On prowl aud
near game. Party scroiulous. but got
the brass Parker! Family very soft, and
como from Leeds. Mako inquiries.
Trust Il broken reed. Ready wanted
to swsgger withsl. Help Jones usu-
ally"
W gayer sort arc such personals a
these: Map 10, 1870, ''WoOlo0m00loo.
Shout! June 81. W0oloomooloo: Shout
rapidly and royalty. Varmint all van
iah0d. ETC.. etc.