The Evening critic., 1884-02-06
THE SENTIMENTAL SAINT.
Something About valentines ana
the Trade rhoreln.

the Trade I'herein.
The time has como when the l0ye.slck swain
secketh tho stationery store and seoctoth
tho gay and tasteful combination OF laco
paper, gliding, bleeding hearte, fostlvo cupld5
and brilliant nowero which form tho orthodox,
though anonymous, conveyance ofsweet sentl.
menjs and tender VOWS to ones own and only
valentine.
r The purchaser, whether blontod bond
holder or an.impecuniou3 clerk or a reporter,
can md an Immense variety from which 70
select, and the principal stores exhibit an as
sortmont ranging from five cents 10 i've dol
lars In value, or NJ loast In cost, and calculated
TO please every taste. Tho lace paper COM
Dinatlon stands at the head OF tho list as dis
tinctively valentine, and relief from the
monotony Of tho other varieties which, with
changed inscriptions and other verses, have
done duty for Christmas aud New Year'e,
Easter and birthdays, md in It's varieties OF
photographic designs, fringes and no fringes,
In boxes and out OF boxee, has passed tho
zenith OF Its popularity.
There are many beautiful designs this year,
the elaborate combinations OF pictures and
lace paper and love lines In pasteboard boxes
being most In demand, while hand. painted
satin and BLK valentines bring tho largest
prices but command the smallest sales.
Tho Autograph card, In Its thousand varie-
ties, 10 the most artistic and pleasing OF tho
lot, but 10 rather monotOnOus, and for real
genuine novelties search is vain, and tho lndl-
catione arc unmlstaKnblo that tho trade Is on
the wane, although the popular worship OF tho
sentimental saint is strong enough to guaran-
tee at least one more profitable season.
"You notice one thing" said leading sta
TONER TO THE CRITIC. "The funny valentine,
the vulgar, comic, insulting and alleged funny
liihograph, with It's questionable verso and It's
gaily-printed monsuositiee, has disappeared
from the larger stores where there was once
an immense demand. II has degenerated and
lost popularity, and is romanded to tho littlo
candy-sbop windows to n surprising oxtent
Where the largo establishments sold by tho
gross few years ago, they Will not sell q
dozen now. About tho trade In the senti.
mental varieties Well, cannot say that It
is growing, nor that IL Is very materially de-
creasing IN Washington. II has decreased
more in other cities, and tho demand here Is
worthy OF rather better supply. Tho Eng
lieh manufacturers are making very small
ventures and Introducing no novelties. The
American manufacturers are uneasy for fear
the thing has been overdone, and are not put
ting many out, and the result is that the stocks
do not show much originality, though It can
not be denied that they do show O rather i'm.
proved criterion OF taste. We do not begin TO
exhibit valentines two months ahead OF time,
as we used to; but we do big trade for about
three weeks, and mako fair PROFITS out OF the
letter-carriers Will ind much difference be-
tween this and other 1t. Valentines days, and
think the washington girls will receive
about an many tributes, and as pretty ones,
% In former years. Next year think there
will have to be revolution in designs and
styles, or the trade will tumble"