The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-09-11
Personal Column is Most interesting
Part Of the Press and Contains
Some Gems of Love
Letters.
POPULAR METHOD
Love in Italy is Entelrely Different
From the Tender Passion
In the Colder
Countries.

by Henry Wood, Rome correspond
ent of the United Press
ROME, Sept. 10.--Italy just at pres
ent Is plunged in the throes OF a sort
OF international, comic opera warfare
for the preservation OF what is de-
clared to be nothing less than q ma
tional institution, If not national
necessity. This is the personal col
umn" In the advertising section OF
practically all Of the newspapers and
which is used for the express pur-
pose of promoting love affairs.
The fight that has been started for
the abolition of this, the most popular
feature OF almost every Italian news
paper, Is the same that has resulted
in Its abolition from most American
newspapers. It is charged t.lat he
column has lost its original, dist,nc
tive purpose Of helping loved ones in
distress and has become means of
promoting immortality.
Against these charges there was lit
tie to say In the various fights that
have been made in America. But in
Italy the situation Is different.
1t Is pointed out that love in Italy
Is a vastly different proposition from
what 1t Is In the colder countries
botn as to temperature and as to
sentiment-of the north. Love at first
sight Is common, it is asserted, be-
tween couples who have no acquaint-
ance with one another whatever. Well,
what are they to do? Etiquette does
not permit of reciprocal introductions,
and they would be doomed to pine
away and die, hut for one thing, and
that is the personal columns of The
daily paper.
As the war stands now, there is
Ieyery indication that the columns
champions will win. In the meantime,
tearing that possibly it may be abolish.
ed 1t would appear that almost every
lone in Italy is hurryfia to take nd
vantage of the limited opportunity
4 that may remain, and as a conse-
1ol lance the column in almost every
Iper is full.
i Italy just at present Is breathing
out a volume and vehemence Of pas.
sion that make the most lurid love
pages of Laura Lean Libbey read like
an expurgated edition of the Sunday
school quarterly. A few of the com
municatfons selected at random fol
!. low:
4 ratino-Thousands of thanks. an.
gel cry felicity reading your sweet.
J est of expressions. Thanks. thanks,
thanks, beautiful loved one. Is your
, sister better? / pray for her always
! as well as for you, beloved idol OF
my life. Courage, l am reduced to
the lowest extremes physically. |
cough always Dreaming of YOU.
cry also. During vacation was very
J crazy without news from you. There
fore, you love me as before? You will
not abandon me ever? Thou art my
life; abandon me and | will die. Beau
tiful little treasure, beautiful little
heart; beautiful little loved one. Send
me your address by special delivery.
: Thine eternally, No. PATS, General De-
: livery.
Beautiful Signora followed yester-
day morning by youth wearing eye
glasses from the Piazza venezia to
her residence in Via Marcello is beg,
: ged to indicate some mode whereby
he can manifest his liyeliest sympa-
thy and admiration.
: signorina, wearing violet blouse,
who awakened the most profound ad-
miration in the officer who followed
: her on the Goose Is begged to write
that he may express the deepest emo
tons of life which he now entertains
J for her.