Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-09-05
LOVE UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
Cupid's Task Is Not a Pleasant One
In Spain and Italy.

Cuptd's Task Is Not Pleasant one
In Spain and Italy.
That all the world loves a lover has
been evidenced by the worldwide In
terest that has been manifested In the
courtshlps and marriages which have
recently taken place tn leading official
circles Of this country and in royal CIR
cles abroad. Every movement Of the
happy persons involved In these Incl
dents has afforded entertainment for
the world at large.
Undoubtedly the lot Of the American
lover is the happiest of all We hear
great deal of the romance Of Spanish
love-making, Of serenades whis-
pered conversations, of fan talk and
the flashing Of dark eyes from the
suffered balcony above.
But the Spanish or italian lover
would tell you that this is all moon
shine and that there is mighty little
romance in leaning against a wall In
draughty, narrow street, with the
mistral, or the levanter-which at
home we know prosaically enough as
the east wind-cutting ones liver into
sole leather and driving through the
thickest cloak that the local tailor can
turn out.
And this is what the Spanish or Ital-
ian lover has to put up with. 1t is
not the custom to invite him In to tea,
and pretty well until the banns are up
he Is expected to do all his love-mak-
ing from the curbstone- So 1t happens
that Spanish street at night is lined
on either hand by mysterious figures,
who appear to be glided against the
white walls like flies on ''catch-em-
alive"
At first, the nervous tourist will but
ton up his coat, and wish he had
brought a revolver with him. The
sight Of these dim figures, cloaked to
the eyes, their swarthy faces half Gov
cred with soft, slouching felt sombre-
ros, recalls to him every villain In ev-
cry drama he has ever seen, and as
the streets echo with their soft whis-
perings, he imagtnes that they are con-
spring to murder him
habitant of the town he would soon
recognize the first Villain as Pope Her
zero, the ship brokers' clerk, who Is
desperately In love with Juanita Aram-
buru, and perhaps, just a little in love
with the good house property against
which he is leaning, which will all
come to Juanita when her mother is
gathered to her ancestors in the white
walled catacombs outside the city.
In the second villain we have young
Enrique De Moline, son of the proprie-
tor Of the Hotel De Paris, who is the
'Querido" or sweetheart Of pretty
Elena De Las Sierras, only daughter
Of the elderly manager of the local
branch of the Banco De Espana; and
so on.
Let US translate all this love making
into English, and here we have, robbed
Of q romance which is only SUPPOSE
tious, poor Pepe Herrera, or Joe Smith
which is the true English of his
name, as frequent in Spain as 1t is in
any other COMMUNICATING the best
love he can to Joan Aranburu. who
lives In a second story fiat at least so
feet above his head.
In all sorts of weather Pope, or Joe,
Is bound to turn up at o'clock every
evening to transmit his love making
In hoarse whispers to the balcony
wherein his Juanita stands. If he
misses an evening, winter or summer,
Juanita will want TO know the reason
why, in just the same sort Of plain En-
glish as she would Il she were Mary
Jones.
And 80 Joe Smith has courted her
for the last three years without even
the privilege Of kissing that tiny hand
which waves so whitley IN the moon
HIGHT above