The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-14

.v. a.,.. 81 r,ankynde that mayde snalIe
10 nrS'c OK carnte Valentynes dave. OF 70
Soo VI" u that a man siialie see on SAW
nfsoe illnl. ,norne.r A custom many cen
..'na ia and one still opser'eu ~ my
- Of England and Scotland ENes tno -
e., inns seeing his or her 'alen. . - .bo
~" sias him or her with KISS. "hich VI"
10 c 1ai. has no right TO resist Or reject
S s,', "a in honor bound TO freely accoru. ~
Dus 80 ~ Sir Waiter Scott will remember MS
t,4l''i',.,s,J description Of how CalnhIiho
CI"ver The Fair Maid of Perth mus
claimed. on ST. Valentines morning, 'no vol
iant arlnorer, Henry Smith. VINO hau s"so "a
i ian' Inn dishoner by his great strength ana
courage on st. Valentines eve ohahes s 80,
re ers 10 this old custom when he maAeS pun
Ophelia sing in Hamlet:
Tomorrow is st. Valentines day
All in the morning Detime,
And maid at your window
To be your Valentine.
In some of the rural districts OF thglalu
there are observed on Valentines Gay Ai"ni
quaint folk customs which suggest tnosg ..
the Christmas season. Among these - . .I"s
Of children going about in merry groui' ~
house % house, singing at every uoOi '''' '0
lowing rhyme:
"St Valentine. st. Valentine
Curl your locks as | 90 mile
One before and two benin
Good morning 20 you. Valentine.
The good housewives at whose doors they
sing reward them with bread, cheese' Doo'
aud half pence. ,,.ooo
In cur own time and country the only usage
OF St Valentines day that - retAheu - 'uo
sending of the printed and painted Sa'cn-
tines. obtained at the statiOners shops
and even this custom perhaps alter
all more honored in the bfeach ihan
the observance seems to be fast dying
ont POstmasters all over TINS country
testify that the number OF these mlsslFeS
passing through the mails has steadily ulih'n,
ished for several years past. ms iaiihE on
began with the introduction OF ChllslnH9'
New Year and Easter cards, the mum
Der of which transmitted by post has IN
creased lust in proportion TO the dimlhu-
ton in valentines. The reason Is OOyl-
ous 4 sentimental valentine. the only
one for which the word IS not misnomeT'
can only have its proper significance wheh !.
passes between persons OF opposite sex. a
Christmas New ear. OF Easter card, on the
contrary. Is universal in its applicability. IL
is equally appropriate and acceptable from
mother 10 daughter, from sister 10 sister
from lover 20 sweetheart. from frend 10
friend. Good wishes on any Of the testai oc-
casiOns named, Christmas, New leaf Vl
Easter may very gracefully aud APPROPRIATELY
be sent by ANYBODY t. any BODY. and the popu-
r. finally extiaeuish even the last remaining
American observance Of the day devoted 10
the honor of good st. Valentine. ..,
one of the Oldest usages III connection with
that occasion is the giving of gifts. IN the
lottery of st. Valentines day the persons
drawn as valentines are under direct oDIsa-
ton to make valentine present, 10 those
who have drawn them in the days when
even royalty and nobility used to participate
in this drawing of valentines, some OF these
presents we're of the most expensive and mag
nifcent character. The first valentine pre-
sent received by Nell Gwynn from Charles
IL. is said to have been necklace OF ulA,
monds and pearls. valued at three thousand
pounds while Sir Walter Raleigh on one oc-
casion appeared at court wearing thirty thou
sand pounds worth Of diamonds and other
Jewels. consisting largely of Valentine gifts
from Queen Elizabeth and other lady ad-
Iulrers. GEoffKEY WILLIsTON CaRIsIINE