Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-13
ST. VALENTINE,
Or Loves Anniversary nay,

distributed by sentimental and jocu-
larly inclined people.
This peculiar custom of observance
had its origin with the Romans be-
fore the Christian era. Ii was about
this period that the feasls of Pan and
Juno were celebrated and young men
and maidens close companions for the
year. Lovers in those days went
themselves to tell their tales of love
and catch responsive glances Of their
inamoratas. After writing became
general valentines grew fashionable,
and since printing came into vogue
the ancient custom fell into decay.
The earlier celebrants used al times
to put the names of young women In a
box and draw them out by chance,
like prizes are drawn at the present
day, each owner of Rame being
allotted to the man who won the
ticket upon which it was written.
The beginning of the ceremony is
involved in obscurity. St. Valentine
himself was, a priest of Rome, mar
tyred in the third century, and history
gives no account of his having any,
thing to do with the matter beyond
the accident of his particular day be-
ing used for the purpose,
A hundred years and more ago it
was a joyous occasion in England and
Scotland. One of the practices in
those countries was for young ladies
who were so fortunate SIS to have ac-
knowledge lovers, to look into futu-
rity in a simple sort of way. Five
laurel leaves we're procured; the cor
ners of four were pinned to the cor
ners of their pillows and the fifth in
the center. IF the lover was then
ireampt of,the oracle signi6ed that the
dreamer would certainly be married
before another Valentine anniversary.
A notion was prevalent in some cir
cles that on this day the birds selected
their mates. 1t was also supposed that
the first unmarried person of the Other
sect whom one met on St. Valentines
walking abroad was destin-
ed wife or a destined husband.
The poet Gay made a rural dame
remark:
List Valentine, the day when bird. were kin 4,
Their paramOurs with mutu.u ehirpings md,
| early rose, jut at the break Of day,
Before the sun had chased the stars away;
A-feld went, amid the morning dew,
To milk my kline Il rso should housewives do),
thee frs / spied-and the first swain re see,
In spite Offortuns, shall our true lore be.
st. Valentines Day is alluded to
by Shakespeare and Chaucer, and also
by the poet Lydga.e, who died in l44O.
One Of the earliest known writer's of
valentines or poetical amorous ad-
dresses for this day was Charles, Duke
of Orleans, who was taken at the bat
tie of Agincourt. Drayton, poet Of
Shakspeare's time, refers to bis val
entine:
Muse, bid the morn awake,
Sad winter now declin ;,
Each bird doth choose a mate,
This day s st. Valentines.
For that good bishops sake,
Get up and let rs see
What beauty il shall be
That fortune US assigns.
In his diary of a couple of centuries
or SO back, when Charles ii reigned
in England, Sam Pepys wrote
This morning came up to my wife 5
bedside Il being up dressing myself
little Will Mercer to be her valentine,
and brought her name written upon
blue paper in gold letters, done by
himself, very pretty, and we were both
pleased with it. But | am also thi;
year my wife's valentine, and it will
cost me &5; but that must have laid
out if we bad not been valentines.
Two days later he adds: II find that
Mrs. Pierce's little girl is my valen
tine, she having drawn me, which
was not sorry for, it easing me Of
something more that l must have
given to others. But here ! do FIRST
observe the fashion of drawing mot
toes as well as names, SO that Pierce
who drew my wife, did also draw
motto. and this girl drew another fol
me. What mine was forget, but ny
wife 5 was most courteous and mos
fair, which, as it may be used as al
anagram upon each name, might b.
very pretty" Noticing soon afterwart
the jewels of the celebrated Mis-
Stuart, who became Duchess of Rich
mond, he says: 1.-The Duke OF YorE
being once her valentine did give hel
a jewel of about $500, and my Lore
Vaudeville, her valentine this year.
ring Of about eco. This evening my
wife did, with great pleasure, shev
me nef STOCK OF Jewels, increased b.
the ring she hath made lately as nj
Valentines eift this year-a 1urkeJ
stone set with diamonds"
Time has changed the custom yer,
materially, and now presents are no
among the ceremonies. There are al
sorts of missives, however, in the shol
windows. Many ara costly and 0
beautiful as we'll as unique and artist
design; others are comic or fancilul
and numerous thousands of ever
imaginable type will doubtless pas
through the mails tomorrow morn
ing, carrying tender and senti
mental or humorous messages to tbei
respective recipients. The style
change with every season, and it is
curious study to stroll along the pub