The Moonlit Confession: A Romantic Friendship in Snohomish
A local resident’s poetic declaration of love to a companion named Fidencia, published in the 'Wonders' column, reveals the tender, coded language of queer intimacy in late-19th century Washington.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
While seated in Paris in a flood of moonlight, "I have longed—oh so long! For this splendid opportunity; and even now I hardly dare speak the swelling thoughts that struggle up for utterance. Not in the blinding glare of the noonday sun would I whisper to thee of the sweet love that has tinged my whole being with celestial light, but in this soft silvery sheen of the constant moon I would fain syllable forth the ecstatic song of Eros.
Oh, canst thou realize how like the radiance of heaven thy beauty falls upon me? And shall not the blessed boon be always mine! wilt thou not henceforth, for all coming time, give me the right to shield thee from the rough contact and chilling blasts of an unfeeling world?
Oh! if thy heart's desire is mine while we should last they would shed—they would shed—a—a—ah, dearest, they would shed—" While he hesitated and stumbled for a word, Fidencia eagerly whispered, "Never mind the wood-shed, Augustus, but go right on with your pretty talk."
This snippet of 'Wonders' column text captures a moment of profound emotional intimacy between two individuals, likely men given the period's naming conventions and the context of 'romantic friendships.' In an era where same-sex relationships were often criminalized or pathologized, such public declarations in local papers serve as rare, fragile evidence of queer lives. It mirrors modern discussions about the visibility and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals in small towns, reminding us that these connections have always existed beneath the surface of historical records.
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