The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-15

Of our paper to-day to giving reports Of the
Rapids improvement Convention at 81.
Louis. This will command general atten-
ton. The matter greatly concerns our peo>
pie, and these will be pleased to see what
their representatives 10 the Convention are
doing.
The word OF the law came from Joshua,
unto the chief Of the Night Watch, and the
keeper of the Calaboose, saying: Go forth
and search out and bring before the Grand
Jury these certain Keokukians whose namss
now give unto you, and who il is believed
are wont, enthusiastically, to pledge each
other in the flowing bowl. These can testify
whether or not intoxicating beverages are
sold in this borough, contrary to law. They
went and they had gay old time, carry
ing out Joshuas commandment. The Ar
kansas rebel cavalry, during the late war had .
highly original word Of command. II was
"Attention mem Prepare far 70 git onte,
your crittersl' The next orderwas, f." Gis!'
The appearance of Joshua's messengers had
the full effect of this military order on Va
rious groups on the street. Some Of the tall
est Citing ever performed in this commu
nifty transpired on that occasion. Hereby
hangs several tales, but we hsin't it in oul
heart TO tell em.
A POPULAR SArsT-Eevs dealers and sta
TONERS we're busy yesterday. There was quit.
extensive demand for the peculiar mis-
aives consecrated to the eommemoration o
ST. Valentine. He was q genial old chap
beheaded by the Emperor Claudius man!
centuries age. Then he was put in the calen
dar of exalted worthless, and since that TINT
has annually given his sanity attention to thu
matter Of getting susceptible young folks int
scrapes, that they had frequently better beel
beheaded than to have gotten into, and woul'
frequently almost give their heads to get GU
of. The fate of the old chap has thus beel
typical Of the fate Of his votAries in all times
1t is difficult to tell how the custom Of send
ing written messages originated. There
the story of the mating Of birds at tina
season. At the feast of the Lupercalia, il
ancient Rome, it is said one Of the sport
was to put the names of many young womel
into box, and shake them up that's til,
names, not the young women, and sacl
young man drew forth name and had BIZ
sweet heart. That's rather risky. One doe
badly enough frequently when he has his de
liberate choice from lot Of feninines
When Christianity became established q
Rome, the pous father found this feature O
the Lupercalan feast so firmly established a
Roman custom that they couldn't abolish
it So they changed il from its pagan form
and placed it under the oversight of Sain
Valentine, and gave it the sanction of TIL
church. Thereafter, at every ST. Valentine
eve. either sex put certain number of name
OF persons of the other sex into box, ant
each drew forth the name of his or her "yal
sutine = for that yea-
In succeeding times the observance of Ii,
day grew immensely popular in England
persons Of the highest rank participating i,
1t. These practical and uHsentimentsl day
are not favorable to any such trivalities. Tn,
old Saint has fallen from his former respect
dis votaries now are the little folks. for In,
most part; and the messages sent those il
Instrated monstrosities that have been recen,
iy lining the show windows Of news room
and book stores. They are unmalicious inn
pertinences. 1t isn't safe, however, to pre-
dict that our Saint will fall into oblivion. a.
has lived long time, and humanity doesn'
change much, after all.
1HE DISTRICT CouRr.-In the cas-. n