Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-02-09
DAY WITH CUPID.


-. V0IOmtlnOB . O0J WIN laB n n ~
Display Of Pretty Things IN
= Fringed Paper, Satin and SILK.
With the exception of Christmas, Their
J. is no day looked forward TO, by thu
. young people, with so much interest al
that of st. Valentines Day, which Oe'
ours on the l4th OF February, only five
days distant, and then will be ushered
in the day of Cupid and his capers. For
mere than week past the valentine
counters at the various stores have been
in blossom and are resplendent in
beauty. They blossom to bear fruit in
the form of hearts made heavy or hearts
made sad, as the case may be more or
less serious. The stores this year show
a larger and ch0icer selection than ever
before, and consist Of every description
except the comic aboninations-and
are more worthy the money of the lover
of beautiful things,and more deserving
preservation for their intrinsic merits
than heretofore.
The good work done by the great
firms in the Christmas card cOmDeti-
tiOus, and their stimulating awards,
shows itself in the Valentines of 1892
Their beauty is more refined, their color
ing more natural, and in every way the
work of the genuine artist is more mo-
tl"eaOe than in any previous year. The
man who cares to spend five dollars to.
day for valentine, does not necessarily
get ali un,neaning mass of tilagree paper
surrounding a pair OF turtle doves with
their bills teiescoped, but he gets such
a charming picture, so dainty and
tasteful in it's surroundings and belong
iBgs as insures it a place of honor in the
house Of it's fair recipient, aside from
any deep and fervid feeling i. may re-
present.
The newest designs this year are
Prang's works, which include new
set or Aesthetic" valentines,a and those
who like that sort of thing will revel in
the pretty iellneatiou Of blonde Oscar
| Wilde sort of youth, gazing tixedly at
an assortment OF daises and suntlowers,
or u consumptively slender damsel
swinging lily in her attenuated I'm
gers. The same house is sending out
| the scented valentines of the last two
seasons in improved and more elaborate
style. They range from fifty cents to $3
as 10 price, though each contains but u
single scent: The same feature is noted
in De LA Rue's valentines, which are
higher priced and finished to the last
degree OF taste. A five dollar Prang is
superb in rose-colored satin, plated
about lively picture 80 as to form al
elegant frame, and the whole affair is
contained in nice fiat box. The Will
minSton daDSel who receives such a
valentine from her adorer may be Ger
tain that he's got it pretty bad, and will
propose inside of "a hours from date of
receipt.
The Fringe valentine Mania is seen in
more aggravated forms this year, and
the delicate tints of rose, pearl gray,
crimson, and other hues, are embodied in
the fringes which surround these pretty
objects. Prang' Blonde and Brunette"
are two examples of this work that
would be hard to exceed for richness.
Another very lovely chrome valentine
shows a Lonely sort of maiden pacing
the seashore over the line, "When
through the.quiet fields walk. " The
purporr of the poem and picture is that
when so employed she is thinking Of
her valentine. For children apparent
ly, are the low priced but scarcely less
pretty valentines and cards. They are
destined surely to cultivate the incip-
lent love OF pretty things that most
youngsters possess, and, AZ least, must
create a dislike for anything homely or
commonplace. Then there are the
quaint little fan-shapcd valentines.
They, too, are fringed and embody
about as much beauty as the most un-
reasonable buyer could ask for aqrar-
ter De La Rup and MarruS H. Ward
aud Tuck are the foreign competitors OF
Prang.
The first named has embodied some
rather Frenthy ideas in his illustrations
insonuch that some dealers are,,obliged
to exercise considerable discretion in
selecting their stock. These "life-size"
subjects are 80 exquisitely drawn and
coored, however, That where seen they
may meet with ready sale. Another
feature Of this years valentines is the
mere fitting union of sentiment and il
lustratiOn. The selections have some
slight reference to the motive OF the
picture and are moreover well chosen,
and decidedly appropriate. Evidently
brains are being called upon to produce
this year $ valentines, and the best tai
ent in the market is laid under tribute,
that sentimental lovers may serve up
their feelings in paper and pictures
and tringes and sweet smelling sack
et." TO those who receive these em-
bems of cupid and his capers they
should not forget to deal leniently with
the hearts of the DONORS, for surely
none but loving hearts send these So
called "tnrle doves and Sicn.'