Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
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SpTah Dew. Gamwell, in Good House
Keeping writes The French motto,
',chsque pays q sa guise," ascribes TO
every country custom peculiarly its
own. But there is one custom which
may truly be Raid to belong to no coun-
try, while II is approved and appropriated
by all. For there is nothing more sure
In this year of our Lord 1886, than that
the month of February, and the 14th
day, is observed throughout all christen-
dom as the day sacred to 81. Valentine,
wherein Cupid plays strange freaks with
young and susceptible hearts. The
wisdom of Solomon underlies the saying
that "there is nothing new under the
sun" Certainly the commemoration of
this day is not confined to the Christian
part OF the world, nor to the present
decade of centuries, since there is
abundant proof that It was observed by
pagan nations at very early date, and,
for anything we know to the contrary,
the 'Song of Solomon itself may have
been valentine.
When the practice of sending billets
doux, and tender messages on the 14th of
February originated In one OF those things
that belong rather TO the dim lightof ira
dihon, than within the pale Of history.
Chaucer and Shakespeare both refer to it,
but give no explanation of its origin other
than the supposition that 'ithe birds were
said to have selected their mates on that
day."
Perhaps more correct theory con.
meets it with the feast Of the Lupercalia,
that ancient Roman festival of purifica.
ton and expiration, celebrated February
18th (whence the name of the month
from Februs, another name for the fes.
tivaD in honor of Lupercus, surnamed
Februus, the god of the fertility. This
order was instituted by Romulus and
Remus, it was claimed, and none but
patrician guests were allowed as mem
bers. Goats and dogs were sacrificed
| and among the ceremonies the names Of
young women were placed in box from
which they were drawn as chance
directed, by the youth, and the ONE
drawn became the valentine OF com,
panion of the other. Strange as it may
seem, this hit or miss arrangement
pleased all parties to such an extent that
it was source of great trouble to the
pastors of the early church, who found
themselves almost unable to extirpate it
A still later invention makes the da,
commemorate the death of st. Valentine
who was a bishop, or presbyter, decap
ltated on the 14th of February, $40 A. d.
during the Claudian persecution at Rome
Wheatly says that "St. Valentine was {
man of most admirable parts, and sc
famous for his loving and charitable dis
position that he was oanonized and hi
day celebrated by the custom of choosing
valentines" Unfortunately for thii
theory the custom was prevalent befor,
the time of st. Valentine. However, it il
pleasant TO think that one who studict
thethings that work for 'peace on earth,
as the good old bishop did, and who lef
a record of himself truly ''lovely and o
good report" should lend the luster o
his name to such an ancient and universe
custom, and for his sake the day shout
be purified from every grosserl elemen
and made medium for the interchang
of the loving and lovely amenities of life
in the home, and in the more extendc
social circle.