American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-02-13
LF1om lhe pilfshnrr Chrnnlcle.l

/ The FOURTEENTH of this month is the day up
on which Of right Cupid ascends the throne OF
Jupiter and rGlgns supreme over all animated
nature.
/ The origin of this anniversary, and of the
peculiar customs which constitute lis ObsGr-
vance, are wrapt in considerable mystery by
the clouds which rest upon the past. St. Val
cntne, whose name is given to the day, accord
ing to some writers was bishop, according to
others was only presbyter. He suffered
martyrdom in the reign of Emperor Claudius
II. having been beheaded at Rome, and was
canonized at an early period by the Catholic
Church. He was very much distinguished tor
his love and charity, and from these character
istics of the worthy Saint it is supposed by
some writers that the custom of choosing Val
entines, or special loving friends, on his day
(Feb. l4th) originated Others, however, at
tribute this custom to the fact, that, III the
countries whence it has been derived, the birds
choose their mates upon this day, st. Valen-
tines, from the coincidence having the honor OF
giving name to the day and the partner chosen.
| There ls, however, still another view of the
matter. Other writer's deduce this custom from
a practice which prevailed among the old Ro-
mans during their LupercaIia. In accordance
with this practice, the Roman boys and girls,
upOil LllG lfln Vi "IO'O biiOIi
upon small slips of parchment, or other substan-
ces, and cast them into two urns, the names OF
the boys being placed in one urn and those of
the girls into the other The young people
then, each in turn, choose out of one OF the
urns their partners for the festivities.
'When Doctors disagree who shall decide'"
Among these different opinions in regard to
the origin of this day and oftho manner OF its
observance it is difficult to determine the true
one. This, however, is of no importance. We
have the day with its love-making, 1un-creat-
inc customs, moi ''more hlllOWed III the breach
than in the observance"
The custom Of observing this day in the po-
puar manner is a very ancient one, and mas
prevailed very generally in England, time out
Of mind, much to the increase OF the revenue OF
the Post Office Department OF late years the
FOURTEENTH of February has come to be u
day 10 be remembered in our own country. In
most of the Eastern cities, and particularly in
/ New York, the number Of Cupid's messengers,
which have by means of the Penny Post, pass
ed between call true lovers" is very large
Twenty-scven thousand tender cpistIcs from
s.srohinr swains'aud "languShing mstresses, "
were delivered by the New York City Post OIL
/ flee on last ST. Valentines Day.
The peculiar form and style of these mis-
/ siyes is, of course, a matter of taste with the
writer's. Love, however, should be the theme,
/ and warm and tender passion should breathe IN
every line. In the mode Of expression, the H.
cures and SMILES with which these bitletS-dOur
every one must SUIT himself or hcrseli--chacun
a son gout. The custom of the day gives every
body the privilege Of writing to every other bo-
dy, but nobody-to prevent actions for breach
OF promise we suppoSe-signs his or her own
name TO the epislc sent. This greatly increa-
ses the mystery and mirth Of this Pastme.
We like these old customs, when observed
in a suitable spirit. hey serve to prolong the
feelings of youth, which too soon give place to
the cares and SORROWS of real life. We grow
old too fast, and need to cheat Old ime ou'
of as many sands as we can. Our bodies we
cannot withhold from his grasp, but our mind:
and feelings are within our own power anC
should be made to linger with Youth while the
former are hurried on to their final resting
place.
ABoIIrIoNlsM IN KENTUCKY. The Ken
lucky legislature is about TO give quictus tC
administer severe punishment to those whc
may venture on her soil to promulgate tho
lanatca doctrines. The following law ha
passed the Senate:
The first section makes an attempt to per
suade any slave from his owner punishable by
confinement in the pententlary from one t
five years. The second section provides tina
if any person shall excite slaves to insurrec
ton or rebellion he shall be punishable by i'm
, prlsonment in the penitontiary not less than
five nor more than twenty years The thtI,
4 kos a n n tpD1nt In pYcItn InSurTpc
ton by oral discourse, or by dlsseminat,n!
printed or written documents amongst thu
E slaves, punishable by fine of from $500 t
$1,000, and confinement in jail until fine ant
costs are paid. The fourth section makes aid
ing, harboling, concealing, or assisting an
slave to escape punishable by imprisonment II
the pcnitentiary from one to five years. Th
fifth section subjects free negro or muIatto
4 guilty of any of the aforementioned offences
4 to confinement in the penitentary of from fv
to twenty years. The sixth section makes |
a the duty of the circuit judges to see the Law
fully executed.
THE LAST NOVELTY. The Germans are ia
: nous for novelties; the last one is musica
d bed, which receives the weary body and imme
;. diately "laps it in Elysium" to soft and gentl
: air of Auber, played long enough to lu tn
:. most wakeful to sleep. When he wishes t
t. rise, the bed plays march of Spontoni, wit
drums and cymbals, and, in short with nos
). enough to rouse the seven sleepers.
d LOOKING FOR WAR. The citizens of Brook
Z lyn are bestirring themselves to prepare for de
g fences Of their city. They will erect suitabl
a defences forthwith.