The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-09-28
LOVE AT A PENNY A LINE.
The agony Column" Of Continental
Newspapers.

HenJdl lS SJIlhlHBly llluSJidIod Wy thO
"agony columns" of their respective
newspapers Here we often have
amusing and affectionate lovemes-
sages committed to cold print by
some impatient and despairing lover.
1t may be passionate according to
English ideals, but as yet the Briton
has not succeeded in acquiring much
of the torrid ferver of the Continental
lover.
For instance, an italian paper re-
Gently contained this passionate ad-
dress in its advertisement columns:
Yesterday when l saw you l had not
then received your dear letter. I'M
agine in what state of desolation l
had been. The day was to me veri-
table agony. / could not discover a
reason for your silence. You, may
guess how l suffered. But at last
yesterday evening again saw your
adorable handwriting. Thanks, thanks.
with the whole of my soul. Thus, at
any rate, we may part with tranquil
hearts. But when l think we shall
never see one another again my soul
freezes. Write to me often, for 1
have need of your gentleness, and
have a foreboding that l shall sue
cumb to the pestilent climate of the
country | am going to. And l shall
write every other day to you. To you
all my soul, all my love, sweetest and
most adorable creature"
1t is. perhaps, paradoxical to term
this poetical specimen an agony;
nevertheless it Immediately followed
the above rather mournful address:
by your side" begins the lover in
rhapsody, kissing you, gazing in
your eyes, sweetly embracing you, 1t
is sweet to repeat, to swear to you all
my love, sublime, divine, fascinating
enchantress Mine eternally!"
French newspapers, especially those
published in Paris, make feature or
the "agony column" from which they
derive considerable revenue. LIE
| Journal prints between 200 and 800
love advertisements a week, the uni
form charge being 1fr. 75c. (nearly Is.
6d.). When translated into cold Eng
lish they lose something of their rhap-
sodical nature, but the following is an
exception: The richest vision of
thee will be found engraved on the
most profound depths of my heart.
Have always had faith in you, and
eagerly await news. Ineffaceable re-
membranes" Another lover, less op-
timistic, inserted this: Am incon-
solable to have to give up seeing you
today. Have treasured such pleasant
memories. All! if you were mine!
Do not go far away without seeing
me. Am sad. and think of thee"
There seems to be romance underly-
ing the agony" which read: ''Janina.
As. III. Excuse. Impossible to cor
respond direct Attrocious life! For
got to visit cemetery" The Echo de
Paris, Figaro, LEclair, and Petit
Journal to name only a few, contain
scores of similar "agonies" every day
in the week.
The lists reveal all sorts and condi-
tions of lovemaking and romanc1ng.
One lady acknowledges receipt of
poetry but Indignantly demands to
know why "he" did not call for her
at midnight in a carriage; dozens Of
Apollos confess their "desolation" and
mourn" their exiles. Every simile
and adjective known to the vocabu-
larry of love is used with delirious en-
thusiasm. Little cabbage" is fav-
orite term of endearment! Here is a
Paris: Little Cabbage! Take from
poste restante, railway quarter letter
in name of Jeanne Duyal Ever
thine!"
: More romantic is this appeal by a
lady to her inconstant lover: "Bas-
sano," she says, Il supplicate you for
reply. Hast thou suffered? The
last time saw you so disdainful My
poor one! You will answer me, will
you not? Love you"
Advertisements lauding commercial
articles such as soap, pills, etc., have
so far been rigidly excluded from
French "agony" columns. These are
officially termed Petite Correspond
ence." But the man in search of a
wife, or woman in seach of hus-
band, is allowed the hospitality of
the lovers column, and now and then
some extraordinary advertisements
: see the light of day. "Rich gentleman
; asks marriage with negress. Replies
las. bureau 6S," appeared in L'Petit
Partisan a few days ago. 1t is to bs
hoped that the rich gentleman
found a negress to his liking.
Candor is the dominant keynote OF
. an advertisement inserted by lady
who describes herself as Young for
eign artist, we'll educated. pretty, ele-
CANT, witty, desires marriage with