The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-15
Cstv IntslIsrenae.

yALnrr,rys DAv-Yssterd day being St Vslantines dsv
the custom Of words OF love-
representations, In the shape OF hearts,
rings eupids bows etc. was followed up With
vser In city the live lorg day. The
why this day dedcsted to st. Vaeu tine together
with the origin az amatory epstes as yet
involved In mystsry and obscurty The earliest vsen-
tines nothing than slips Of paper on which
the Of both written they were placed
apart, the men drawing from the pile on which the
wonens endored and they ayatn taking the
Grst the touched opposite heap These
worn for Q number If days sometimes made the
coat waist or bodes-sometimes only the Sleeve
Just fsgned real lover intended to express
passion and there Is doubt that such game began
in jest ended at times in earnest, aud that by this
me ans many has his fair bride. Formerly it
was belle vedand the harmless superstition exists
in rene countries at tbs present daythat the first
made met this Ruspcious morning. considered
the persons valentine and was hailed such-s cir
cumsianse which Gay, In Lis "Shepherd's week. thus
describes:
Lat valentine the day when birds OF kind
Their psrsmours with mutual chirpiugs hrd.
early rote. just at the break Of Day.
Before tbs sun had chased the stars away
Ah-d vent, amid the morning dew.
Thee frs. spied and the first swain we zee,
In spite Of fortune shall our true love be
The various stores throughout the city, where large
collections q valentines Of shape size, and design
were spread out for selection were crowded Yesterday
from morning till night by the young and the gay OF
both purchasing btts douI but the numbsr OF
the fAirer evidently predominsted who-being leap
year informed by the cslendar-had the prl.
vege Of the initiative Judging from the great demand
the humber of valentines going to and FRO yesterday
must have reached from twenty to thirty thousand We
understand that many vslentines received were OF
ooarse tcurriicus nsture-a circumstance that Will
have tendency to bring the whole custom into dsre
pute.
serday, ever ing about half past six 90 ,k
fe broke out in the fourth story Of thu large brick
building the Of Broadway and Murray street.
occupied by II. davtt an the National Daguerreotype
gleiy the occupants OF the building as folows-
TIE 1tst hotris occupied by Ball, Black Co, jewel
lers ard by W. O. stout card and seal en-
grayer The second floor by NJ Lafeyer d T. smith ar
chitecte and Thomas Jones' keeper Iof bookkeeping;
tie third by D W Bouel, artist; w. W. Niles, and l.
r Begley attorney; Henry Rciley, Taylor Van Ske-
lien, manufacturer Of artificial flowers the fourth floor
BY Gavitt, ds9uerreotype gallery, by Ellis H.
OF Gavtt's dsguarrs eyps gallery but from what
cause he could not tell The flames spread with sush
rpdty that before the reen could get fairly at work
the rooms were completely burned out and in conse
quence OF the mposby Of getting the hose operate
with anything like effect, caused by the bursting
CT several of them, fears were, at time enter.
tanned that the whole building would fall a prey to
the devouring element when, however, several pos.
crful streams ultimately brought to play on
the flames, they were sson suboued, but not before
the greater part OF the fourth story demolished
9svtt lost every thing, amounting to about $4,000
which net insured This Is the eoond time that
has had the mis of being burned outthe time
in Albany some three or four ago and also without
being insured Eilis and II. Noand sustained grest
loss the ameunt Of which could not ascertain Van
ekt lien lost about $500 worth without any insurance
damage was caused BY water in thu second
and third stories. The greater part Of the fire depart
ment were on the Lpot The Chief Of Police, Captain
Svey snd severs others with their men, were present
The stock Of Messrs Ball Black Co., valued $3.50 0D0
Is fully covered by insurance For a period Of forty
years this establishment has claimed loss from
an insurance con pany
ASolHER FraE.-On Friday night, about hall past ten
O'Clock, re broke out in house No. 2l4 Grand street.
occupied BY Far, as shoe store. The hre was
cssioned by the upsettDg Of q camphene lamp which
sat fire to bed clothes Officer Ahren assisted In
extipguishiDg 1t without giving alarm.
FALSE ALARM-On Friday night about hah-past ten
O'Clock, alarm Of fire rung occasioned by
straw burning the Of Thirtye ghth and
Tenth avenue.
THE RANGE THE THERMOMETER The folio wing is
the Of the during the week taken
from DelAtOur,s m etAreOlo0ica1 nh atio