Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-14

beth Cummins, Hon. John W. Foster, Hon. T..
ter: Or. NJ Muncaster, EdVn LeFevre, Miss A.
+. Wight Miss Carson. Commander e ". Ches-
ter DIR. W. % Hughes; Ms. L. p Holloway.
VALENTINES AND VERSES.
The Old Fashioned Doggerel Love
Token Going Ont Of Date.
DISTRACTED LOVERS LEARNING TO EXPRESS
THEMSELVES MORE EsTHETICALLY-How
THE POETRY Is MADE-THE RHYMES on
WHICH THE WHOLE GAMUT OF LOVE Is RUN,
&c.
valentines! Yes, lots OF them: we've sold
lots of Them" said an Avenue stationer as he
stood looking at his leftover stock of love
missiles to-day. "But young folks don't make
love in this way much they used to. The
paper lace valentines are out of fashion. /
guess there are not fifty OF them in the mails
to-day. Somehow this sweet poetry about
twining flowers into bowers blue vioIets and
true love- turtle-doves and the moon don't
strike in the right spot. Taste has changed.
Now here's frst-class valentne-twas left
over from last year;-it's all lace. and if you
lift up this young lady you'll find she's lying
on some pretty poetry. Now, amt that nice
The sun. the moon, the stars grow dim,
The birdiings cease to sing;
For thou art sum- moon, stars to me,
Thy voice doth music bring
Now, could you think of anything sweeter,
Just think all that about the moon land the little
blrdlings! Think of the little birdings singing
love songs! Now that isi-But somehow they
don't take any more" And he laid the dis
another piece OF paper lace caught on to his cuff
button. "Ail" he said, his face Frightening up
as he freed the delicate missile and glanced at
the loving message hidden in its folds. "Ah,
sublime sentiment!
Others are welcome to YOU know:
But when come will you let them goe
a 4, rt-t,.a B..a
And this:
OF messages a host
You'll have through the post
know that is certain 10 be:
But though all be dear.
Ineed not,-I know,-fear
That you love any better than me-
Such confidence! But thew don't take Now
If folks knew what trouble il is to make all this
poetry they'd appreciate it. But somehow now
t t,s want the richness TO be all ia the valen-
tine and don't care for the poetry"
How DO they make the poetry? Have you a
machine asked THE STAR, beginning 10 feel
the effect of the poetic fire.
make 1t? Well, you see it's done this way
No. we haven't machine, Its made by dia-
gram ana the sentiment is measured by the
price OF the valentine. The prices run from five
cts up to two or three dollars (they run uptoS25
this year but the old poetry don'tget that high.
"A I'VE cent one VIII have something like this
.Niolets are blue,
! love YOU
Now that's pretty good for the money. Don't
you think SO? In the two dollar ones they have
lots of twining and flowers, and skies aud ewes.
and birds-and the moon-it ALWAYS aon,es 81
little higher with the moon, but it's worth The
Light is darkness,
Day is night,
&c. &c.
when she don't happen to be there: then they
have something to say about the heart
But was telling you how it was made.
There are certain rhymes that must be used.
| such as flowers, showers. powers. love above
olue, true never, forever, part, heart, art art
roses posey 1 mine mine thine valentine Now
O. valentines. Just put them all in a row and
fill in. Then twist about and use different hll-
ciously handled are very effective In the make
up. The Idea of twisting flowers, love and
signs into garlands Kits it; and the more words
want to the better
But the days OF poetry and paper-lace are
cate tissue in the box. They want something
esthetic. The valentines that are going through
the mails today are made OF painted satin, or
plush, or silk; something of that sort. Sachet
bags made or satin painted in oil, or Chinese
SILK, are very popular They don't have any
poetry about them; only little bow of colored
ribbon, on which is written I'm antique gold let
tiers, My best wishes, or My valentine The
letters must be antfque-all's antique" And
he led THE STAR man back to a table covered
with beautiful valentines. Some similar TO the
popular Christmas or Easter cards, some in
sachet bags scented with delicate perfumes,
and silk and satin plaques autographed, hand
painted or decorated with punches of flowers
Some, be said, We're as high twenty-five dol
five cents to two dollars. Most of them were
beautiful, and very few had any poetry on
them. Those for $3.50 and two dollars were of
very handsome satin with deep fringe and col
ored in artistic designs-grNups OF
thetically clad maidens, and delicate flowers
maiden with an appealing expression of love on
her countenance and tears running down her
lbs dare NOT sPean he
sixteen loye-sick maidens,' in esthetic coors
on satin. One of the very neatest valentines
was book, or pamphlet, with handsome illu-
minated covers, called the songs of the roses, as
valentine. In the leaves were punches of
Among the simpler valentines is a set OF two
cards, the courtship and marriage OF the pansy-
blossoms, which represent two little bouquets,
each composed OF two panSies, SO arranged that
without looking unnatural the stems have the
appearance of legs the leaves and blossoms
they meet: in the other they are kneeling on a
toad-stool before a clerical looking pansy. An
other pretty little card represents two old-time
little people handing flowers TO each other over
the garden wall Will the little lover cries, ''Oh
charmer grant my fond request! Say thou
richer and more eiaborate-in all but poetry
than any ever made before" said the stationer,
"and yet they are generally much cheaper. All
the material is very expensive and the work
hne-hner than ever.
4 would 'twere In the power Of words
This day to tell to thee
how thou art In my Utmost thought-
And, All how dear to me!
But since no words can that convey,
Take, dear, my love instead:
And all kind things that could say,
Consider they are said
h,the fire that warns this heart OF mine
But, oh yes, forgot Yes, we have sold lots OF
valentines to-day-,The moon, sweet love, shines
but for thee'-Ive been selling love tokens for
q whole week-'My love is like q red, red rose'"
But the interview was cut short by the depart
ure Of the reporter, while the stationer whis-
pered, "Must say fare well my own dear love-"
THE MECHANICS LIEN LAW.
Mr.. EdsOn's Proposed Amendment-He
Explains the Effect Of the Present Law
Upon Building OPeratiOns-HOw He
Proposes to Remedy What He Con.
siders an Improper Law.
MI. John Joy Edson, who framed the pro-
posed amendment to the Mechanics Lien Law
introduced in the House by Representative
Barbour last Monday, explained the operations
of his proposed amendment to the Working
mems Assembly last Tuesday evening upon in
vitation OF the president Of that body. Mr..
Edison hes, ct the request Of Mr.. Barr, OF the