The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-14

ransacked for pretty aud ugly lines how the Post
Once was crammed with tremendous deposit Of letters
and how to-day the poemen rushing In every
direction, loaded with piles OF magnificent envelopes,
containing still more magnificent epstcs, knocking
S.tps nsrohsDs Offices and even edorS s.nesa sas
and best Of all for the lucky carriers themselvesreoev
ing handias O. silver and coppers everywhere most
important individual the postman to-day, for every
good looking girl is looking for him. and every old maid Is
cumming him as q pest. How many lovely creature
may be ''sting at her window impatenty waiting
for the knock and probably giving vent 70 her feelings N
much this way
Where can the postman be, 1 saye
he ought 10 fly on such day.
On oil days IN the year, you know,
RS monsrous rude TO be 80 sow; l...
The fellows 30 exceeding stupid
Harki There he isl Obi the dear Cupid.
Then the scene that folowshe breaking Of the exqui
eey executed seahe quick egress Of tho letter from
its praonthe opening Of the carefully folded isive-
last Of all, the reading Of the "short but swoev' lines
Two souls with but q single thought,
Two hearts that beat - one, n ,.
something else equally appropriate sentimental and
expressive. All this b we'll known TO everybody who
knows anything shout customs in Gotham, and also
caricasures and the evil spirit Of hatred % allowed 70
fling its darts with mpunity at the hearts OF its unfortu
unnecessary then to describe what all our readers
so well acquainted with, and therefore win pro.
coed to give brief account Of the customs Of people IN
oden times on this same day, and the origin Of the Gus
The custom Of celebrating st. Valentines day. ~ IN our
Wre1 q Wy dsrSe the prscce o
very old rural tradition that the bird Of the choose
their mates on that day, and hence the poet wrote
The tuneful choir in amorous strains
Accost their feathered loves;
While each fond mate, with equal pains,
The tender suit approves.
With cheerful hop from spray 10 spray
they sport along the meads;
In social bliss together stray
Where love or fancy leads.
But other writer's cam and with more showf
which feasts In honor Of Pan and juno tho
latter deity named Februsta, Februas and Februla
Mr. p0ISs IN biz illustrations Of says.
nomes OF young women we're put into box from which
they were drawn by the men, chance directed. The
sibe endeavored eradicate the vestgs Pagan
superstons and chiefly BY some Communication Of their
particular Saints, instead Of those Il the women;
and q the festival OF the Lupercala had commenced
about the middle Of February. They appear 70 have
because II occurred nearly at the same time.
It should seem, however, that utterly impossible
mon people had been much accustomed; fact which il
easy to prove IN tracing the origin Of various other
s the n Of the
adaptation TO the Christian system 1t Is reasonable to
suppose that the above practice Of choosing mates would
persons 30 chosen would called Valentines from the
day on which the ceremony took place.
Is certain that our old English and scotch ancestors prac
tced several hundred years ago. Lydgate monk who
died In l440 wrote thus -
saynte Valentine. OF custom yeere by yeere
Men have an usauncc, In this regionn,
10 take and serche Cupides KaIendeere,
ana enu S snsyr caSyss, y gres sas0c'oon
Taking their choyse, a theyr sort doth falle.
The ecclesiastical poet doubtless refers 70 the custom
practsed IN England and Scotland tn those days, BY tn
semSe soSssSer on g. v.lsntnss DAY. and write shoir
names on separate bilets winch they would roll up and
spar by g s & Of sn
would light upon girl, whom he called his Valentine,
and each Of the girls upon young whom she called
many couples, the Valentines gave feasts and balls 10
their misresscs their ble several days upon their
bosoms sleeves, and this little sport often ended In
love. 70 tg
In other places was the custom 10 determine your
valentine by the first girl young woman you might
happen 10 meet in the street that day who not in
mate Of the same house yourself But OK the most
singular ceremonies wss the following which used to be
Ssa Ss sny ss1
valentine would procure I'VE bay leaves and pin one 70
each Of the four her pillow, and the 9th leaf 10
take out the yoik ill 1t With salt and then swallow she'll
and all without speaking or drinking after it. What
this DOSE would be her valentine. Another ceremony
consisted In writing the names Of several young on
slips Of paper rolled up in clay The slips were thrown
into tub OF water, and the lucky unlucky YOUTH as
the might be, whose the little ball that
first rose the Valentine. variety OF other queer
ing "the Holly Boy and "the Ivy Girl, catching the
owl and two spnrows before daylight, 30 but would
take up too much space to give detailed account Of e.ch
this day. we may mention that within month or 30 a
leading firm tn this city have sold for cash the enormous
number Of 500 copies Tho dearest valentine costs $5
and tho cheapest only one cent; 30 that keeping
up the day. within the reach Of the poorest In con-
s e % The
lenl advice Of the poets- 49,
Heed not the Top, who loves himself,