The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-02-14
For The Gasette.
ST. VALENTINES DAY.
nv II. 4. DE FRANCE.


The festival Of ST. Valentine has been
se,ved from time immemorial in "merrie
,ol,nd.n and in our Eastern cities is al
Iost universally celebrated. Though the
,m .st. Valentines day" js used, yet it
probable that this martyr had very little
any thing to do with it's origin; as tradi-
IN informs us, that festival Of sim'lnr
baracter was observed by The ancient Ro-
ans about this time, and Of course long
fore Valentines birth or death. The
anne most likely was conferred upon the
.,s, Of Love, by those who lived in the
mes when the church Of Rome possessed
Universal sway. In that church, we are
bid, 0its members were wont on this par
cular day to choose Patron Saint for the
ear ensuing" In England, about this
me. .birds select their mates, and thence
.me the custom Of the young men and
aaens choosing Valentines or special low
friends on that day"
Sir Walter Scot, has in bis novel entitled
st. Valentines Day" given US an insight
The Scottish mode Of celebrating this fes-
val; and the grea, Shakespeare has spo-
pn of the custom in one ol his plays, by
hich il seems, that the young men IN
Iose DAYS, were net quite SO gallant as
,ey are at the present time, as according 10
account the maid sought the swain.
The custom in the Eastern cities is to
md Valentines, generally in verse, to ev-
" person one knows; OF course these
pistles are anonymous; many are sentl-
entail, others comic, while some are pecul.
|ry obnoxious and insulting. The abuse
thing is not an argument for doing il
way, though The conduct Of some, taking
bvantage Of the custom Of sending anony-
ous letters, is criminal in the extreme.
he sport consists Of endeavoring 10 dis
pver whence the missive comes, and oi
fspaichng an answer TO the detected on
True Lovers day" which occurs on the
9th Of the same month. Very often the
guesses" are wrong, aud another receives
be reply, whereby most amusing blunders
re made.
To give an idea Of the enormous number
lat passed through the regular Post Office,
'i,y Dispatches, and Express Messengers
the city Of Philadelphia alone on last
aentiue's Day, corps of 200 extra car
ers were in requisition, who made six de-
veres each day, during the week: and It
calculated that upwards Of $4,000, Val
ntines and answers were sent and receiv-
during that time. costing from FIVE cents
Ach up to as high as $50.
Cherry Wood, Iowa, FEBRUARY 1850.
A VALENTINE RECEIVED.
"There is flower, lovely flower,
llngcu Oecp Win dlku 3 uHCuUHSluS Huc,
Pure as the ether in its hour
Ofloveliest and serenest blue:
The streamlet's gentle side il seeks,
The silent fount, the shaded gro,,
And sweetly to the heart it speaks
Forget me not, forget me not'
Valentines day l849.
ANSWER TO THE ABOVE.
Forget thee not! could mortal man
But cas-, single glance on thee,
And fail thy virtues all to scan
Or mindless be Of modesty!
Forget thee not! ah sooner far
Would the light of earth meier view;
Nor gaze upon the twinkling star
Shining in yon ETHEREAL blue.
Forget thee not? the sun may DIM,
The moon may wane, and wax no more,
And trees may dwndlc limb from limb
Yet in my heart thy name III store.
Forget thee not? for me 'tis vain