Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-02-11
THE SENTINEL.
LOCAL AFFAIRS
st. valentines Day.

st. valentines Day.
The l4th of the present month is St. VAL
entine's day, and although the practice upon
this day of sending to one g choice sentiment
al valentine is somewhat lessened many are
the glad hearts made that day upon the re-
ceipt of beautiful glded token OF affection
Equally down hearted are those who receive
burlesaue misunderstanding them deroga-
tory to their good looks and sense and pecu-
liar actions. The Philadelphia Ledger, in
speaking of this February festival, has the
following
1.-The saint whose name Is used was Ro-
man priest, martyred in the third ceutury.
1t is written that it was Pagan custom in
Rome during part OF the month OF Febru-
ary. selected because it was supposed 10 lie
'.the season when nil nature mates, for the
men 10 draw from box the names of young
women to be their companions for the year.
The pastors Of the early Christian Church, in
endeavoring to break down the Pagan custom,
substituted the names OF saints instead OF the
names Of women to be drawn from the box !;
but the secular custom. modified by the Christ
ian system, was perpetuated, and st. Nalen-
tines day which occurred about the time OF
the Pagan ceremonies, became The day for lis
observance. In some parts of Normandy the
word 'valantin' is still used in the sense OF
sweetheart, but whether the choice Of st. Val
entine rs a patron Of gnIlants arose from the
similarity of his name to the word 'valantin,
Or whether the latter was made ont OF the
saints name, are questions in dispute The
custom has greatly degeneraied within the
last few hundred years. In the Time OF Shaks-
peare the valentines, male or female, were
chosen by Tot and were expected 10 make some
kind of presents TO the ones who chose them
These presents were frequently verses, but
were sometimes valuable Baskets OF Jewels.
The tickets bearing the name OF the valentine
were worn upon the breasts of those who
drew them, but were sometimes sent TO the
chosen fair one, and the transition from the
custom of sending tickets, verses and presents
to that of sending printed valentines would be
IL very simple one. The practice OF sending
burlesque verses no doubt arose from the IN
congruous choice OF valentines made when
the choice was left TO chance drawings. The
present custom is quite meaningless and seems
to have lost even he few merits Of the Pagan
festival from which it originated"
Death from Kick.
Mr. Michael Carr, aged 48 years, a tavern
keeper at GAINESVILLE, in this county, met his
death from receiving a kick in his stomach
on the 9Th inst, whilst in fracas with Geo.
Washington, colored, resident of thai
neighborhood. Mr. Carr had had the negro
man employed in hauling ice; when the jolt
was completed. contention arose respecting
the price of labor, and from high words blows
shortly eusued, in which, as above stated, the
deceased caught the fatal blow. Death was
not instantaneous but followed upon the h
inst, Thursday, when coroners Inquest
was held, and after nost-morlem eXamina-
ton Of the stomach by DIS. Wootton. oil
Poolesrille, and Wood, Of GAINESVILLE, the
jury, in acquiescence with the opinion Of the
doctors, rendered verdict that the deceased
came to his death from kick administered
10y George Washington, who was immediate
IL arrested and by the magistrate of that dis
Itict held 10 bnil TO the amount Of three hun.
dred dollars TO make his appearance at the
next Term o. conri for this county.
Mr. Carr left Ochiud no deposition, but sui
fcred severely with pain from the iHairtion
lie leaves nehiud It devoted and generous wife
aud four children 10 mourn his demise.