Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-02-20

pessecution Of the Roman Emperor
SsHaudius, A. d., go, and after the
fashion of his church. was canonized,
ttsat is, made saint. Wheatlev says
that ST Valentine was man OF most
admirable parts, and so famous for his
Save and charity that the custom of
choosing valentines upon his festival took
sia rise from thence" Others have de-
ligssd the custom from birds being sup
Fsesed to select their mates on this day,
hut the prevailing belief is that the Gus
t.as was taken from the old Roman fes-
tlval of the Lupercalia.
Ihe festival occurred on the 14th OF
February est. Valentines Day,) which
tine Romans designated as the day of
Ghc Luperci. All kinds of amusements
aud iudulgences We're allowed on that
'aay; and among the ceremonies was
ssCe OF placing the names of girls and
young women in box or urn, from
which they were taken by the young
fellows, according as chance directed.
ylais incurred the necessity of bestow-
stsg a gift upon the owner OF the name
each Que Of them drew; aud, if the fair
<ane reciprocated by another one OF by a
written message, he was to consider
himself her valentine, as modern usage
terms it. The pastors of the early
church, finding it impossible to extir-
gate this pagan ceremony, changed its
sosna and gave it another name.
All through the middle ages, the Gus
som of choosing valentines was prac-
decd; and the day was very popular
snlong the young folks Presents OF
gloves, feathers, scarfs, and iewelry
we're common as valentines: SO, you
see. there is nothing new in the world.
IN this respect; and when you receive
Eour valentine this year, you will re-
u1ember that the Roman youths and
children honored the same festival in
very nearly the same manner as you do.
And now, wish to tell you the story
OF a valentine far back in those dim old
ages. which was sent TO Roman prince
aanled Britanicus.
He was little olive-skinned Italian
boy, who lived in Rome about eighteen
j hundred years ago. Rome was at that
9dnle the capital of the civilized world /;
and in the splendid imperial palace on
She Palatine, surrounded by all the en-
blems of the most exalted sovereignty,
another young boy wore the purple of
she Emperors. This boy was Nero. He
and Britanicus were cousins; and the
young Prince was, at the time of which
we write, the guest of the boyish EN-
peror, living with him in the palace of
The Caesars, as though they had been
brothers.
Britanicus was some three years
younger than the Emperor, being but
fourteen. while Nero was seventeen.
This single fact made q good deal of
difference in the respective lives of each T;
for had Britanicus been the older, he
would have been the Emperor, and Nero
would have been the Prince. AS it was,
che former would become Emperor if
Nero died. But that event was not lia-
Die to occur very soon, nor did Britanicus
wish it to. He had no wish to lie COM
PEELED to wear the heavy, embroidered
purple mantle-a symbol of imperial
rGnk-and be waited upon by those
stern, darkbearded men, who came
every day to see his cousin and talk
about sober state affairs, when he wanted
10 ride i'll his new chariot or go to see
che gladiators fight in the amphitheater
No, Britunicus thought it was hard
enough to be Prince, without being
anything else.
Both of these boys were orphans.
The father Of Britanicus had been the
Ezaperor Claudius. who was now dead,
as was also the Young, dark eyed Roman
woman, his mother. Nero's father had
been brave general, who won many
victories for Rome at the head of his le-
.gions. When he died. his widow mar
srsed Claudius, her cousin; and she was
still alive. She was stately, naughty
locking woman. with dark, shining hair,
sud fierce, black eyes that seemed to
look right through any one. Secretly
Bntanicus did not just like his aunt,
and stood little in fear OF her sharp
eyes and scowling brows.
yBritanicus stood one morning in the
marble atrium, or courtway, of the
palace, looking out upon the street.
His fine, boyish figure was clothed after
the fashion of princely Roman lad.
His olive.colored legs were bare, and
his head. with its long dark hair, had
40 covering. But the tunic of full, rich
silk. belted at the waist and descending