The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-12
EROS AND ANTEROS.
Cupid DispOrts Himself on st. Valentines
Day-Observances OF YOre-HOw the
MOderns Burlesque the Ged OF
LOye-Funny Tokens, Etc.

Sunday next, the l4th OF February, will be
ST. Valentines Day. Of course, as almost from
time immemorial, souvenirs, in the shape of
valentines -satrical, humorous, or tender--have
been exchanged, so they will be exchanged this
time, Next Sunday we can take them to
church in Our prayer-books. Whether we
expect to receive them and intend TO send them
or not, glance at the history and customs OF
the day can 90 us no harm. At any rate, as the
simple reading of farce does not make the
reader fool so the simple learning of the
tricks and prapks perpetra'ed by st. Valentine
and his disciples cannot transform as tuto
clowns.
Origin of the Day.
Every body knows that the l4th of February
Is called 81. Valentines Day from the name OF
a certain Romish priest who lourished ~ the
third ceDtuIy. This unlucky churchman, on
the I4th OF February, A. ID. 270, was beaten
with clubs and then beheaded for which reason
be was raised by the Holy Father to the dignity
of ssiDthood. Tue greater portion OF his re-
MANS 1t is said, are still preserved III Rome, In
the Church OF st. Praxedes. Near this point is
a gate winch once passed oy the name OF the
POrta dei POpOfo but which, III other days, was
known a. the POrtd VdteBf{nt.
Venus, Eros, and AnterOS.
The customs, however, connected with this
day In modern times have no relation either to
the life or death OF st. Valentine. They had
tn ir origin first in desire 10 express aheCIon
by the sending Of pretty token; then IN
desire "a express contempt or poke fun by
the sending of a ludicrous token. As Venus,
the Goddess of Love, Cupid Cor Eros), the God
of Love, and Eros brother AnterOs, held espe
cial sway over the affections. let US gather the
facts of their neurological history. Many ac'
counts are given concerning the first OF this
trio. The one most generally received repre-
sents her as having sprung from the froth of the
sea, Ike o symmetrical bung from huge beer
barrel. She was The goddess OF beauty, tue
mother of love, the queen of laughter the mis-.
tress of the graces and pleasures, elc. She was
numerously married. She wore natty girdle
which had the power of exciting love. Her
contest with Pallas aud Juno tor the golden
apple of Discord is well known. Mr.. Paris
awarded her the apple, for which favor
he received the hand Of the fairest woman on
earth. She had son by the cod OF war
old Mars. This sons name was Eros or Cupid.
He was o worthy chip OF the old block, for he
fought many battles among hearts, and was not
more careful of those tender things than his
mother Some people believe him to have been
achubby little boy, who flew about on wings,
and carried bow and culver. Owing to tue
warmth OF the climate where he sproutcd, he
couldn't endure any more clothing than a zig
leaf. He was able to rutiie the coats of wild
beasts without their biting him; and he had a
brother whose name was Anteros, who Was
very necessary to his health and vigor. Why?
Because the little fellow could grow neither in
strength stature unless said Anteros
was constantly by his side. This Anteros was
not deity who presided over the, opposite
kiDd-hearted chap who presided over mutual
love and mutual tenderness. From the fact
that he mad the power to cause an increase in
the strength of Cupid, 1t mi aht be inferred that
return of passion gives vigor to love. Some
folks believe that it does. Perhaps! The pair
of them, Cupid and AnterOs, are often repre-
sented la old pictures striving to seize
palm tree from each other, 10 teach that true
love always egercomes by kindness.
Valentines of 8id.
The origin of the modern custom of sending
valentines is very ancient, and involved in
considerable obscnrity. The only rational theory
that has been advanced concerning It, is that it
is a continuation of the Roman ceremonies in
honor OF Pan and Juno, which were celebrated
in the month of February, under the title of
LtpeTcoiiG. One of the several customs by
which this festival was dis,inguis shed was the
ifplacing of the names Of young women in box,
from which they were drawn by young men
.tas chance directed. To such PRACTICES how
Lever. the early Christian pastors were opposed,
because they savored too strongly OF the old
4 idolatry. Knowing 1t TO be quite impossible
10 eradicate the custom at once, they endea-
tvored to impart TO IL an orthodox character,
by substituting for the names of maidens the
4 The dra wing was Fixed upon the 14th OF
sFsbruary-which happened to be st.valentine'.
Day-because it was the middle or the month
which had been devoted to the heathenish
Lupercotid. The sainta did not long remain in
favor, however, their places soon being usurped
by the maideDs whom they had displaced; and
this feature of the old Roman rites once re
and natural. The practice OF the choosing
mates became reciprocal, as far as the two
sexes were concerned, all who we're thus choseT
/. being termed valentines from the day on whict
llthe ceremony took place.
T The Day In Times of YOre.
WIN In the time of Charles ii, it seems that tht
names of married persons, as we'll as those o
! the unmarried. were placed IN the wheel o
4 fortuLe on st. Valentines Day.
1t was general In those days for the person
/ drawn as a valentine to make tue person dra "
ing him or her a handsome present. This wa
done to relieve" the donors of the obligation
Under which they were placed by being draw
as valentines. Miss Stuart, a celebrated belle
who afterwards became the Duchess of Rich
mond drew as her valentine, in 1867, Lor,
Vaudeville, and the latter was glad to relies
himself by presenting her with ring costin
$500 On one occasion the same fortunate lad
reiieued the Duke OF York from the decree 9
4 fate on receiving from nm n jewel valued a
e800
In olden times the common people believe
that on st. Valentines Day the birds were az
customed to select their mates; and owing t
the strange influence which pervaded the air,
vas maintained that young person on walkin
sbroad would frat encounter the one with whoI
Lis or her lot was to be cast tor llte.
That the Observance of ST. Valentines Da
Is of very ancient origin is proved by the faC
that both Shakespeare and Chaucer ailude to
n Duke Charles OF Orleans, who was capture
by the English on the field OF Agincourt,
lIl5 was the earliest known co4n poser OF tho
amorOus stanzas for which S.. Valentines Da
has been distinguished.
valentines Nowadays
Since the times when each return OF $
Valentines Day was signalized by the glviI
and reception of costly-freq pentlY very cost
-missives in the torn of remem brance token
the world has changed aud the customs atten