Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-03-09
ST. VALENTINES DAY.


We are reminded by the receipt OF
dozen or more Valentines (from the
various publishers, not the ladieS, )that
this is St. Valentines day. They are
on paper OF all colors, PLAIN and cnclos-
cd in borders, written in neat style,
and filled with
sThoughts that breathe and words thai burn.''
They are adorned with cupids and
cupids arrows, and hearts and roses and
oil the signs embicmatlc oil Love. Had
they come from the softer sex and been
received in u less business-lkc way,
we might have been tempted TO the
indiscretion of answering them in
kind. But as we are not SO young as
we once were, we must yield, we sup
pose, all hopes OF the receipt OF such la
vors for the future. There was a time,
however, when the I4lh Of February
did not find us neglected; but having
been participant in the sports and
merriment incident TO the customs OF
the day, we will no, quarrel with nature
that our blood has grown sluggish and
our hair has begun TO yield to the in
fuence of the irosts of-(none your
business how many)--winters. Hay-
ing enjoyed as an actor our own day,
we are philosopher enough, we hope, to
laugh rs spectator at the love tricks
and jovial mirih of those who have
succeeded us.
The observance Of the day, as most
OF our readers know, finds It's origin in
the death OF Bishop Valentine, who
suffered martyrdom during the reign
of III Clodius, Empcroroi Rome. The
life ofthis worthy Presbyter was dis
iinguished for love and charity, in
commemoralion of which Christian
virtues, the custom ofchoosing annual
loye-fricnds, or Valentines, as they arc
more familiarity termed, is generally
supposed to have originated. As this
practice was pursued andcrthc Romans,
II was an exciting an interesting epoch
many, wo have no doubt, Gaiting
from il tho greatest comfort aud pleas
ure of thei. life--perhaps the obtain
ment Of a good wife. But, under any
circumstances, it must have been look
ed TO momeatous interest. The prac-
tiee was this, and 10 fully realize the
importance of the occasion, let young
folks in any city or village in the coun-
try suppose that similar scheme was
now annually to be set on foot and that
the result was to be binding for the
year: On every recurrence ofthe 18th
OF February, the names of ali the girls
were put into a wheel-the men not
being as fastidious as at present on The
subject of matrimony, of course there
were no old malds--irom this wheel
every young man was, blindlold, per-
mitied TO draw out one name, the law
governing the lottery making it obliga-
tory on the parties TO consider them
selves as "beau" and sweetheart for
the year. He TO attend upon her and
she TO accept his attentions during all
that period; when if they, at the expi-
ration OF The time, had not agreed to
abide together +" for better, for worse"
at the next drG,ciRg time the name
was again cast into the wheel and anoth-
er trial afforded all parties. VIA,
lhink you girls, Of rev!ying the prac-
,iee? VIVA. one of Americas fair
daughters, thrown into close intimacv
with gentleman for a twclveaouth,
that would fail 10 win herselfa hus-
bande What man 50 cold as to with
stand the melting rays OF pair Of blue
eycs--(lre they blue or, black reader)
directed at his heart for n whole
year? We trow none. Revive the
custom then, ladies, in its pristine
parity, at once, and thus cxtermina,e
oil old bachelors.
There was, subsequent 10 the prac-
tiee Of the lottery system by tie Ro-
mans, anew plan hit upon Tor mating
the young folks. The first gentleman
thai a girl spied on ST. Vaiealiae'S /
morning was 10 bn her s.,r,,, ro,.,sf f,r