The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-13

ST. VALENTINES DAY.-To-morrow be-.
ing the fourteenth day of February, is St.
Valentines Day. As it comes on Sunday
we presume many little episodes will be
passed through the Postofice to-day and
Monday. The custom of sending back and
forward rhymes, "cutes," gems, etc., ETC.,
is an old one-outdating the memory of
many by-goDe generations-whicb, origi-
nally good, has in latter years been abused
and degaded'by the ignorant and vulgar
into whose hands it has fallen. So that now
one who lays any claim to respectability is
almost under the necessity of -prefixing an
apology, if he would avail himself of its
privileges. Among the unpleasant features
of modern civilization, this universal diffu-
sion of ready made wit and sentiment
stands pre-eminent. It is lqnite conven;
ent in buying hat or a pair of boots, or
cradle or coffin, to find all styles and all
sizes waiting for you, leaving nothing to be
done but to make selection. But when
this is carried into the realm of poesy and
art-when on the fourteenth day of Feb
ruary ten thousand bowie knives, all
made in the same shop,-(some little
rusty having laid over from last year,
plunge into ten thousand faithful
hearts, all printed from the same cut,
and ten thousand cruel maidens are expect
ed to relent at the heart-rending spectacle,
the sight is too appalling We are obliged
to turn away and-smile. 1t is too bad
that Our young ladies, when in rlutter of
expectation, they open the mysterious mis-
sives, must forever find the same old coup
lets that greeted their grandmothers and
grsat-grandmothers in the days of yore.-
And printed at that odious The hand
writing is the most valuable part of a val
entine: Away with this detestable printed
trash and restore the institution to its an
Gent beauty and efficiency by the revival
of original, manuscript valentines. letwe
would not cast too severe ceusure On the
poor youngster who, totally ignorant OF the
wsy in which lines are measured and rhymes
manufactured, pays his last sixpence for
what he feels is but feeble exponent, tho
the best he can obtain, of the emotions
that expand his heart about six diameters
on the fourteenth of February. If any one
is to be heaped with ridicule, it should be
those who shipper over a piece of blank pa
Der embossed with gingerbread work
around the edges, and birds OF paradise and
cupids in the corner.
Much as it has been abused, the custom
Of sending anonymous letters one day IN
the wear should never be suffered to fall
wholly into disuse. 1t is but right that
abe social distinctions and proprieties OF po-
sitiop, with which so many Of us are hedg
ed about, should be broken down once
wear, and banter, sarcasm, coquetry and
love allowed a free range. On one day in
three hundred and sixty, FIVE, it should be
lawful to crack joke on the soberest dea
con, and compel the proudest maiden in the
land to listen to the plea of the humblest
sutton. The institution might yet be re-
deemed if alt the musty old formulas could
be cast aside, and every one persuaded to
oomno,a he oun All have not the knack
of rhyming; but piece of decently con-
structcd original prose, sweetened with a
sentiment or spiced with joke or two, is
far preferable to any poetry which is quoted
in tho valentines which are offered for sale.