Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-14

every hundred individuals, male or female, |
to whom the inquiry might be addressed
whether Valentines Day WAS - faithfully |
observed now % ii Was formerly, would tell |
you without moments thought Or hesita- |
ton that the dslugs Of missivss which used
to mark this notable anniversary had Of
late become . very insigni6cant shower,
snd that in very few years the practice
wsuld probably BE- entirely forgotten.
This 10 . mistaken idea. During late
years the demand for the ornamental and
lace psper Of the descriptions 90 largely
used in valentines, has increased to such an
extent that machinery for its manufacture
ha been brought 10 great perfection. and
this has had very natural tendency to con-
centrate in the hands Of few firms busi
ness which was once prosecuted TO large
extent by individuals. A single New York
firm has . capital Of $4,000 invested in
this branch Of trade. The prices Of valer>
tines range oil the way from three cents
each, to one hundred dollars. Il is estima-
ted that 81 600, 900 worth will this year be
distributed by lovelorn youths and maidens,
or an average Of one valentine to every
fourth inhabtant Of the United States.
As regards the style in which valentines
are manufactured nowadays, very little
need be said. Those Of the lower grades
the "comics,' a. they asc known in the
trsde-arc just as coarse in sentiment and
design as they ever were; and very good
reason for this is the fact that many Of the
same verses do duty now which have been
used for the last eight, ten or twelve years.
The somewhat exaggerated designs which
found favor ten or twelve years ago, are
popular now.
As the prices Of sentimental valentines
indicate, the manner in which they ere pro-
ducsd varies from the plain to the most
carefully and gorgeously elaborate. II puz-
zlss many to understand how one Of these
trifiss can be gotten up in such shape as
to make it sell for $loO; but the fact 10
that even this figure is not by any means
the limit Of their price. There 10 tiadi-
ton that one Of the Broadway dealers, not
man years ago, disposed Of no less than
seven valentines which cost $500 each. and
il may safely be asserted tina: if any indi-
vidual WAS SO simple as to wish to sxpend
ten times that sum upon one Of those mis-
sives, some eaterprising manufacturer would
find way to accoomodnts him. Valen>
tines Of this class are not simply combina-
tions of paper gorgeously gilded. carefully
embossed and elaborately laced. TO be
sure they show paper lovers seated in pa>
per grottoes, under paper ioses, ambushed
by paper cupids, and indulging in the lux
ury Of paper kisses; but they also show
something more attractive than these paper
delights TO the overjoyed receiver. Recep-
taclcs cunningly prepared may hide in
watches or other jewslry, and, Of course, in
this direction there is no limit to the lengths
to which wealthy and foolish lovers may 60.
Among the sentimental valentines the
most popular just now is style latcly in
troduoed, the popularity Of which is indi
Gated by their designation, "Perfumed Sach-
els" These are manufactured in oil the
shapes and forms which ingenuity can de-
wise. The most attractive arrangement,
however, is one for holding phetosraphs
and this idea al,ne, it will st once be psr>
ccivsd, - capable Of being elaborated in
in forms innumerabls. Then. too. there are
card valentines Of various sizes, printed in
co!oss, beautifully and artisticalIy blended,
and quite equal to foreign productions in
this same line.
OPENED on SuNDAY.-It has been propos-
ed to open the rooms Of the Young Mems
Christion Association on Sundays hereafter.
This arrangement will take effect next 6nn-
day, wher they will be open from 8 until
10 in the forenoon, from until 6 in the Of
ternoon, and from s until 10 in the evening.
To carry out the proposed object
in opening these rooms the associa-
ton would ask the christian pull
lie to contribute from their libraries
such religious books and papers as they may
have at their command We would here
suggest that they give such as are Of value
aad interest old, Austy church records
or dull and uninteresting works, that none
want to read. They will oil DO preserved,
as no book or paper will be allowed to go
out Of the room. The secular newspapers
will be removed from tho tables and their
place supplied by these cn Sundays.
GooD.-One Of our exchanges trying to be
witty and wise at the same time. tells
nice little story In it, issue Of the 18th inst,
By which Il sndsavors to show that the peo.
pie should let our present legislators alone
while they legislste for the<ountry. Well
aware that the Irregular muss" it speaks Of
hes already commenced. and that too in ito