Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-02-14
HOW ABUSE KILLS A CUSTOM.
1t. Valentine Observances Die Out and
Reappear from Time to Time.

heApDeHT lime TO Time.
That st. Valentines day observances be-
gan by reason of mans observation of nature,
continued as matter of sentiment, and finally
degenerated into mere fun, too often tinged
with i'll natured satire, is known to all well
Informed persons, and is, in fact true of
nearly all social customs In the most south
erly regions Of Europe and adjacent parts of
Asia and Africa signs of coming spri.-g were
apparent at that season. and so the birds were
thought to choose their mates for the year on
that day
Simple innocent notion, wasn't itl-and
suggestive apparently Of the most tasteful
acts of tenderness But observe how easily
all human customs run into abuses. At first
youths and maidens chose their partners
tvalentines'D on that day for the approach
ing festivities, school children exchanged
tender messages and little presents were sent
to loved ones But in no long time the great
began to expect costly presents from their
dependents and the wealthy used this as
sort of disguise for corrupting judges or Sc
curing the favor of the powerful
Gifts to Cesar were "a sort of forced tax
in Rome, and at one time a hard pressed
creditor or criminal might take sort of
hari-kari revenge on his pursuer 10y deciding
everything he had to the emperor In Paris,
at one time, with St Valentines day and
Easter gifts, life became a burden to those
who had more money than influence. Great
bales Of rich merchandise, gloves stuffed
with gold coins, and even fine carriages were
put up in egg shaped or heart shaped pack
ages and sent to those whose favor was
sought. When an abuse or a fashion reaches
its worst reform follows, and SO general re-
volt puts an end to the Valentine business
for time.
In the United States the abuse first took
the form of i'll natured satire Valentines
with coverings as much like the tender ones
as possible were sent to the person one wished
to wound or insult-the contents being sour
rilous doggerel At length this. too, reached
a point where it became almost unbearable;
and now, though comic valentines" are still
used, they are externally quite different from
the sentimental ones, and are usually treated
with silent contempt. But on looking over a
lot of the old sort one is amazed to note the
many devices of those who pandered to mall
ice
There are snakes with human heads, owls,
dogs, dOnkeys and dozens of other creatures,
all fixed to represent some supposed mean
ness of the receiver. Every trade and pro-
fession is caricatured-but these are gener-
ally better natured. Politicians, lawyers and
doctors generally catch it, most unmerci-
fully. The poetry" of these productions is
simply eXecrable An expert" who exam
ined several thousand specimens testifes that
he did not find one above the lowest level of
doggerel
All these, and the abuses i'll the sentimental
line produced the natural result. Valentines
are now left to children and servants, and
even with them the sentiment has mostly
given place to merriment AS to sending a
comic" IA lady or gentleman would as soon
think of stealing u sheep. The law has also
stepped in, Uncle Sam says you must not
use his mails for a scurrilous valentine. Sc
the custom must die out for awhie--to re-
vive in the future, as other customs have
done.