The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-02-19
SAINT VALENTINE.
From Saturday Is Daily.


This is It the poNoffi clerks Own
the servants of Unclc S .u, in the mail
service, abolsh the custom # sending
and receiving tender and comic, big and
little, square and round shaped mIssiVes
upon the 14th OF February, they would
do so, by unanimous consent. The festi-
val, however, 30 long in vogue, furnishes
much sport and pleasure to the little
folks The boys and girls do not mind
asking, us there anything for me?"
dozen or more times day at the gen
eraI deltv.ry window ot the postotfice.
Indeed if the fortieth tine brings the ex-
pec.ei ePisile II il net ''love's labor lost"
to them. Eve the deep chagrin at re-
ceiYing b IrrIble aud grotesQue picture
is mt so bad MS TO not receive single val
entine. Upon this day the person with a
hobby. the crank with a notion, or
the being with oible-4nd this CLASH
fication IncIu les about all o! the human
race, even unto h. truly 20 Dds most
likely to be reninded If his falling or
speciality, eitntr upon receipt Of one of
the highly colorsd prints IN vogue, or by
the sight q. them in the book stores. The
subject of one OF these reminders should
kindly take the lesson in mind, not nee
ess4rily To heart. Ii the spot touched in
ones character is a weak nr bad one, It
should bring out the sober thought that
will suggest the needed improvement; ii
the arrow strikes tue comIcal
part of ONES nature no harm eau be done
and great amusement provided; if the
he irt is pierced by the sentimental doc
ument of flagree, poetry and delicate
pictures, it Is to be read as q sligo that
this is CupId's day and he is improving
the opportunity for "better or worse"
with the chance always Ia favor of the
former
The custom of sending miss:ves of
Sentimental o. comic nature upon this
day is of disputed origin. 1t is very
ancient practice, however. Some writers
say that there are no circumstances in
connection with the life OF St. Valentine
which seem likely 70 have given rise 10
the practice SO common upon the day
which bears the name Of the saint whose
festival this is.
Upon the other hand, one historian
tells US that st. Valentine, who was be-
headed IN R me IN the year 270 A. D.,
was "a man of most admirable parts,
and so famous for mis- love and charity,
that the custom of choosing valen-
tines upon his festival took It's rise from
thence"
Shakespeare alludes to its origin as
coming from an ancient obs, rvanee of
birds choosing their mates upon this
date.
Still others say the day has sprung
from practice which prevailed in an
cient Rome at the festival of LupercalIa,
in February, wherein one nj The cere-
monies consisted in young men drawing
from a x the names Of young women
placed therein.
To tie cynic who d .es not i, ii vs in
ST. Valentines Day. thinks It all farce.
and yet has been uheasy all day for fear
be would receive one of thi,se tughtful
chromos that might depict one nf his
weaknesses. The News dedicates the
following, with the hope that be may
yet "laugh and grow fat" and see pleas
| antTy ami good even between the liner
| of his own comic Valentine:
"Tould It not be just as easy
To believe the world is fair
As TO ne -orever looking
/ For sources OF woe and cSreI
And be just we'll to notice
The brightness along uur waS.
| Instead Of e rching or trou tles
That may come on any ias p