The daily gazette., 1875-02-08

following, wherein the swain. after re :
handing MS mistress OF the legend re.
citing the choice made on this day by
the birds OF the air, inquiries of her:
,, Shall only you and forbear. IA
10 meet and make happy pair?
shall we alone delay to live?
This day an age of bliss NAV give
But, ah! when the prefer make
sun c0yly you refuse to take,
MY heart dedicate in vain,
The too mean presence you disdain
Yet, since the solemn time allows
10 choose the object Of our VOWS,
Boldly dare profess my flame,
Proud to be yours by any name"
In the beginning Of the 18th century
ed to take the place of presenfs of lew.
els and money, but it is a comparatively
short time since the present fashion Of
sending printed valentines began. But
although the custom of sending valen-
tines IS still kept up, and large numbers
are sent every year, necessitating addi-
tional le.ter-carriers at the post-offices
IN the large cities, yet the day has lost
its charm. People do not feel the same
superstitous interest that was felt in
former times, and lovers do not look for
ward to it as day on which to breathe
the tender passion. Although Cupid
still hovers DER the scene, and the
hearts are portrayed. pierced with his
darts, yet he has lost his old prestige,
and Jolly-faced Momus has stepped in.
More valentines are now sent for fun
than for love-. They are sent and re-
ceiyed by all classes of people, and are
sold at all prices ranging from one cent
to eighty dollars.
A cartoon in '"P,tnch," represents
two house-maids waiting in the hall,
on the morning of st. Valentines day,
until the master of the house opens the
mail box in the breakfast room, and
one remarks "That it is very hunplea-
SAINT to ave ones letters hoverlooked,
hespecially hat this season hof the
year"
A great deal of taste is often shown
IN getting up elegant valentines, and
improvements in this respect are seen
every year. The high priced valen-
tines are marvels of ornamental skill,
and first class artists are employed in
making new designs. Those with
feather ornaments are very pretty,
and making of these ornaments has be-
come regular occupation of the nuns
i'm some converts in Brazil They are
made from the brilliant plumage of
the birds of the Brazilian forests. A
very appropriate design represents
beautiful bower, surrounded by flow
ers, and closed by folding doors. In
a verse above the sender says that be-
Ihind the doors his valentine may be
seen, and the receiver throwing back
the doors, reveals mirror, in which
her own image is reflected. Valentines
are now often made in the shape of
boxes, so that presents may be placed
in them and sent to friends. Small
articles, such as fans, gloves, handker
chiefs and jewelry. are often sent as
presents in this manner, thus reviving
one of the old customs of the day.
| Valentine parties are now in vogue,
and afford very pleasant and agreea-
BILE manner of spending an evening at
this time of the year. There are sew
eral methods of conducting these par
ties, and the one that is the least trou-
BILE and generally the most successful
is for the host or hostess to prepare a
lot of envelopes. Keep the ladies' and
gentlemen's apart. The name of each
one of the invited guests is then placed
ON one OF more of them, and when the
party have assembled each one must
read what they have received. An
other way is for the guests to receive
lists of those invited and to send be-
forehand valentines for those they
wish 10 receive them, the host having
some in reserve in case some guests are
missed.
| st. Valentines day would be very
appropriate time, for those in aftiuent
circumstances, to send useful gifts to
their less fortunate neighbors, and the
day would thus grow into one of char
ity, and the memory of the old Saint
would ever he surroundedwith pleasant
memories. ~