The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-14
ST. VALENTINES DAY.

! Tho Lovers Festivnl-EIovv the Custom
Originated md How It Ia Carried Out.
In the year 270 Ammo Domini, Valentine was be-
headed at Rome, and was in due course OF time
canOniZed He was bishop and is said to have
been "a man of most admirable parts and famous
for his love and charity.n Because of his great
love 1t is supposed that lovers regard him as their
special patron and on this day February 14 which
is assigned him in the calendar. they make their
vows Of fidelity to each other. In ancient
times q peculiar custom was practsed on St.
Valentines Day. The names OF the young men and
maids were each written on slips and placed in
boxes the young men drew at random from the
box in which were the maidens' names and the
maidens drew from the other box. The names
thus drawn were called the valentines. 1t Is stated
that on this day the birds choose their mates,
which may be considered very material reason
why the lords OF creation should choose their
mates, or announce to those already chosen the
feelings which agitate their manly bosoms. How
touching, for instance, Is the following:- lA
~ Ifyou love love you, .sf Ll'
No knife can cut our love in two. ,,.r.
What maiden could withstand so tender an appeal
especially when 1t comes to her printed in gold let
tiers partly hidden in laced paper and surrounded
bya wreath of little paper roses and forget-me-
the bottom OF the page How many tender hearts
have been made captive by That beautiful distch it
Is impossible to say, for it has been doing erectlve
THE PRACTICE OF SENDING VALENTINES
commenced When was that is a cOnundrum
which the oldest living inhabiant must "give up.n
In this city the valentine business Is much larger
than Is generally supposed, and during the past
with works of art OF all degrees and expressing all
the different sentiments OF the human mind. Love,
charity Kindness, hate, Jealousy, envy, disgust:
all are considered by the valentine maker, and q
ready made mssive can be obtained to give full
expression OF the ruling passion. Love- or course,
From ornamental gllded and enamelad boxes,
costing hundreds of dollars, and nlled with choice
gifts and gushing poetry, down 20 han sheet or
common printing paper, costing ABOUT one cent,
and ornanented with what looks like the portrait
OF q fresh liver and hand big enough for Fourth
ward butcher, surmoupting the words-
Iscnd thee here my heart and hand;
Oh wilt thou give me thinef
Thou art the fairest in the land,
Ny darling Valentine.
If the darling did not wilt after such q prorer
she must be obdurate indeed, and could scarcely
with small wings and large eyes the latter
turned heavenward), who appears with his elbows
resting on some damp clouds and his finger nails
stuck In his mouth, while the clouds form halo
around these souentrancing Words
II thou 1t be mine,
Then I'll be thine.
I'll call thee, sweet
My Valentine.
The custom Of sending valentines has latterly
been dying out, as, like all pretty practices IL was
abused and made to be the means Of communi-
eating evidences OF the meaner quaties-spite,
hate and such like-whe gifts and tokens such as
were formerly considered part OF the duty to st.
or Christmas. From general appearances 1t may
be deduced that the custom will be well carried
out this season and the postmen's bundles be
to-day much heavier than usual