Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-02-19
WOODSTOCK, W.T., THURSDAY, FEB. lS, 1874

| Is uOne is CURIOUS. LHc euloOSoluS
plate is fixed upon bench (; sheet
of paper which has been impressed
by it is laid upon it and carefully
though expeditiously adjusted, and is
then subjected to a vigorous rasping
with a large flat file, wrapped in sand
paper This rubs away every por
ton of the paper which is supported
by the projections in the plate be-
meath, and, of course, when the sheet
is turned over, the parts Of the design
which were merely depressions have
become holes.
Specimens of the entire productions
of printers, embossers and perforators,
together with foreign importations in
the shape Of ribbons, feathers, shells,
and ornaments of various other kinds,
are now spread upon table, presided
over by one or two clever young wo'
men, upon whom devolves the duty
of designing the valentines.
The object they have to ann at is,
of course, the production of the great
est possible variety of striking and
pleasing effects by the combination of
the materials before them, and the
most successful are adopted as patterns
for the other hands.
Nothing, it is said, can be more
capricious or whimsical than the Sc
lections of the public in any matter of
taste, and in the case Of valentines
this is especially observable. Very
frequently the particular designs
which the most experienced of manu-
facturers would pronounce to be
triumphs oftaste and originality prove
utter failures in the market, and the
great hit Of a season may be some
production which barely escaped the
waste basket.
Only very rash and inexperienced
maker, therefore, will produce any great
amount of stock until orders come in.
Travellers and their sample-books are
already abroad, however, and the pro
duction of the goods now in order is
rapidly being proceeded with. Here
is large room fitted up with long
benches, and occupied by some scores
of girls of various ages. Each girl
has on one side of her pile Of incom-
plete valentines, and on the other q
heap of little objects of some one kind
which it is her duty to add---little
punches of flowers or glittering mot,
toes, or aching hearts, or breaking
hearts, or trusting hearts, or hearts
transfxed by arrows, Or it may be a
heap of unAedged little Cupids. The
audacious little god is unceremonious-
ly picked up on the point of gum
brush, thrust up into the brightest Of
blue skies, and the sheet is passed on
ready for the next stage, each girl
usually adding only one feature to the
general design.
The poetry of valentines is study,
and 50, perhaps, would the poets be il
they could conveniently be got at
They, however, are not kept on the
premises, and it is to be feared that
they have not participated in the gen.
eral progress of the business; for the
experience Of the shop-keepers is rath-
against the effusions of the bard.
The longer the poem the more time
is occupied in reading it, and conse'
quently the longer it takes to serve q
customer. What with the study and
discussion of artistic embellishments
and poetical effusions, it is sometimes
found to take no small portion of q
day to serve a sixpenny customer.
Condenced feeling, therefore, compact
and concentrated emotion, combined,
Of course with sparkle and originality
is what is required of the "Seve Il
Dials Poet" and for such of his lucu
brations as are accepted threepence a
line is the usual remuneration. Not
such very bad pay either, one is apt
to think, until it is considered what
brain cudgeling and paroxysms of
poetic rapture have propably been ex-
pended in spinning unavailable yards
upon yards for every line that finds
acceptance. to say nothing of the time
he may have to spend in seeking Out
those who are open to purchase lines
of any kind-Erchange.
Some days ago we mentioned that
Nebuchadnezzar was the first Granger
L..I LII, e., i 49,. ....... r.,