The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-10
WOMAN 5 v ORLD

0GNClDH4AS - 9SNSAANN N--Sle0A 80
Grand Rapids. Mich, says the Chicago
g-,r,es-H Herald What the end will be can
nat now be foretold.
rbe principals in this romance are
f.rroer soldier and little Porto Rican
l-aorita. The soldier was a private in the |
D-,neteenth United States Infantry. Pre-
lions to his enlistment he was barber |
=, tbis city. He is now day laborer in
f,,rniture factory, and his bride, the
d,urb5er of Senior Carlos Gensana, al
Id of Ponce, is trying to be happy as
sao can under circumstances which to
tor must be somewhat discouraging. Be
fore her marriage the bride had never
bsen bevoud the shores of her native ISL
and Her new life must be as strange
~ her as would be life in another planet.
Three years ago, before war with Spain
t.as even looked upon as a possibility
George Martin, then working al his trade
as a barber in this city, grew tired Of civil
life and decided to become soldier. He
enlisted under Lieut.. Rowan, and was as
stoned to the Nineteenth Infantry, then
stationed at Detroit. When the war with
snain broke out the Nineteenth was hur-
RED South While waiting for orders to
advance where hostilities were active Mar
lin was stricken with typhoid fever and
Uas taken to a division hospital His regi-
nent was dispatched to Porto Rico with
Cen Miles, and Martin, still patient but
eager TO join his command salIed soon
otter.
when active hostilites in the island ceas-
Cd through the surrendering habit into
which the islanders early fell time began
10 hang heavily upon the hands OF the
soldier. Martin decided to resume his
trade He opened little barber shop
in Ponce and soon prospered. About this
lime Martin discovered that many OF the
Porto Ricans were anxious to learn the
language of the conquerors. He started
class in English which became so pop
mar that the soldier rapidly advanced
rom barber to an instructor, and some Of
the best families in Ponce furnished the
pupils. -,
summoned to the home of the alcalde. IL
was a beautiful residence of stone and
marble luXuriousy furnished and con-
tanning evidences of good taste and refine
ment. The alcalde introduced the teacher
"a his daughter, a pretty, dark-eyed SEN
orita, and it was 10 teach the Senorlta
Mercedes Gensana the English language
that the soldier had been summoned. The
American was tell, stalWart and good
looking He FELL in love with his pupil
while she was coming her lessons. She
had susceptible heart, and early it be
came manifest that his affections were
returned The courtshp was pursued UNI
der difficulties, with members of the fam
iy always in attendance when the tutor
was present. In the course of time the
Americana asked the venerable alcalde
for the hand of his daughter, and the
prize was readily bestowed upon the young
citizen of the rich and powerful country
aoe Porto RirO
The wedding, which soon followed, was
one of the most brilliant which the city
Of Ponce ever witnessed, as bet1tted the
tavorite daughter of citizen so promi-
nent and so wealthy. It was attended by
the elite of the city. Martin s comrades
were there to the number of 200 or more
The festivities continued several days, and
when the bells ceased ringing the senorita
had become an American bride.
Soon after Martin and his bride sailed
for the states and came directly to Grand
Rapids. The soldiers term of enlistment
had expired. He was offered a commits
sion in new volunteer regiment recruit
ing for the Philippine service, but de-
i chned He is now working as a sand pa
4 porer in one of the local furniture factO-
ries and his southern bride is adapting
herself as best she can and most hero
cally to her new station in life as a poor
mans wife. She and her husband are liv-
ing on West Division street, a section
Of the city tndL Is close TO the TdllIOdi
tracks and amid numerous factories. His
family. honest and kindly, are poor. They
know little OF luxury, and the home fur
nshings are of the most common. In such
Surroundings the dainty gowns the laces
and satins which graced the bride upon
her wedding day seem strangely out of
place and bravely has she laid them aside
to don a kitchen apron while she helps
pare the potatoes for the family meal or
wash the dishes. Under the tuition OF
her husbands mother she is learning the
mysteries of housekeeping, and doing the
work which at home was performed by
| the retinue of servants which she had at
/ command.
She bears up under it with fortitude
and to visitors who call seems pleased TIC
show the wardrobe she brought from
home, and tries in a soft, gentle tone
which tells of education and culture to
/ explain the different articles. Her wed
ding gowns for ordinary wear are light,
fluffy affairs, suitable for tropical wear,
but against the rigors of Northern win
ter she is already preparing in making
4 dresses of wooden serge, a material she
4 never before knew.
II seems curious that with all the talk
about the greed of titled foreigners Miss
Julia Grant. dowerless girl, should have
had offers of marriage from two European
princes. The Prince of Turin would have
placed this American girl on a throne If he
could But had he been successful in his
WoOing of Miss Grant he would in order "a
4 contract a binding marriage have been
Obliged to renounce his expecta tons TO the
throne of Italy. For the prince to have
married am American would have added
another to the already too long list OF
morganatc marriages. The romance oil
'Ae affair is a pretty one and the way the
royal sutton took his congo was entirely
manly. 1t was in Washington that the
prince met his divinity was at her home
IN New York that he left his heart. Al
The time of the meeting Miss Grant wa.
guest at the Austro- Hungarian legation
among all the men she met there none
seemed to make any impression bat tn,
ffInce of Turin. Il was love at first sigh
OF his part and he followed her to New
York, where il is said he made the forma
oler of his hand. title and estates.
Mhen the matfer was referred 10 gen.