The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-14
ST. VALENTINES DAY.
Its Oh servance, Origin, Abuses and Bene-
fits.


It's Oh servance, Origin, Abuses and Rene
From the gay and varegated appearance Of all the
s'ationors windows yesterday, one not well posted as
10 the great occasion be celebrated to-day would have
supposed that all New York had suffered from kind
oil eruption OF gold leaf cupids laces flowers butter
flies BIRDS and all manner OF sweet soft pleasing and
enjoyable material OF the fancy dealers manufacture
initiating equally beautiful natural objects Young la
dies were out In all their strength OF youth and beauty
selecting such mssves best suited their tastes Even
stad and sober marons forgetfu of the occa
sion, and bought valentine to put spouse in mind Of
the day when he sent her the few lines which brought
about their wedding. Boys Of all ages from ten to
twenty thronged the stores and shops in somc
thing TO send to their dulcineas There others who
hunted up the horrid and monsrous to in venting
spleen or revenge or spite upon those who had incurred
their dspeasure II IL TO be hoped that tie latter
was but sparsely represented
THE VALENTINE TRADE
Is very extensive Orders have been filled In this
city during the past from all the principal cities
in the North West and South and also covering great
portion of the Eastern ane Middle States. Charleston
the great depot for the Southern States but many
shipments have been made to New Orleans, Mobile and
ATLANTA Probably from 200 to s120, 900 in this
particular branch of the stationery trade would give the
limit 10 the valentines sent 10 the South The trade q
the West double tho money, and perhaps II Is not out
OF the way to estimate the valentine trade OF this city at
nearly If not quite million Of dollars annually lnclud
production cannot fail short Of this apparently high
figure. The quality Of valentines sold has deerioraed
somewhat Of late years. and the CHEST priced made
do much exceed ten dollars, while tho cheap
comic kinds have been the increase. The latter,
which formerly sold for about four dollars gross now
sell for seventy five cents showing the effects OF compe
tition Formerly valentines worth fifty dollars were ire
quenty purchased by the sender but now ten and fifteen
dollars seem be the limit Until recently nearly all
tho ornamental parts of the missves had TO bo imported
ORIGIN OF THE DAY.
Saint Valentine, who was behcaded at Rome In the
reign of the Emperor Claudus, A. d. go, was man OF
most admirable parts, and famous FOR his love and
charity that the custom of choosing valentines upon his
festival took its from thence The second cxplana
of the is founded upon the fact that tho
birds supposed upon this day 10 select their mates
People OF modern times will probably most read y give
the eahered songstcrs as Their excuse for indugng In
sending love mssves At least they will prefer To lay 1t
to the birds 10 placing IL TO the credit of St Vacn ne
Another origin the ceremony found in the
festival OF the Lupercalia, held during the month
of February, when, among ether ceremonies the
names OF young women were placed in box.
from which they were taken by the young men ac-
cordug chance directed. The pastors OF tho
carly Church, finding IL impossible to extirpate
this pagan ceremony changed its FORM Az once prac
used Il was habit on tho February the 18th
ISL Valentines Day) TO have the names of select
Der Of put into some vessel by equal number
Of the other and thereirom every one drew name,
which for the time being called his her Valentine
The custom Of choosing Valentines existed very carly
and much practsed among the gentry in England.
There also frequent references to 1t in the works
there will be the distributing clerks at tho
Post 0o for the carriers, messengers and errand
boys.
con the wines of love II fly,
From grocerie TO grocen,"
of all the young and manageable ladies will be upon tho
alert until night, and oven until tomorrow Bridget
OF all work. the coachman, cook, and even tho boot
black upon the will be looking out Of the corner Of
his eye for the postman and the gilt-edged tendcry
worded missve Poor indsed, must be the girl or boy
without q valentine.