The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-13

The Small Boy VIII Observe IT, ~ W."
Sentimental Youth

Tomorrow is st. Valentines day
Long ago. when knights rode iortn' 'he.'
horses clothed with rich c.parison. WIN
terinc arInor steeled them from the lance !
heartless toe. when ladyes fare 10 80
! castles dwelt. with rushing mOat O0'""'
Was the time OF valentines L-.+;onq
Since that period the days celeDIa'lon'
have become less anj less, nnth 10" '"o
tom IS .ob
More honorod in the breach
Than in the Observance.
Now the small boy. with but few exceptio-s
pay al tribute 10 the Ime-lohOIv ~ o,,
this year ne IS confronted WIN " IY+n
flat his boyish brain refuses 20 solve l"y
d.v he * 10 celebrate comes on SUNDAY ana
with mat appreciation OF the s~acredne,s OF
that dav he cannot aio-d 70 be 80 naughty as
I, slip valentines under doors on the oaDoath'
CAN HI ESCAPE.
Saturday night is. 10 all intents and pur-
noses. as well suited for the delivery OF Naich-
fines as Monday would be, AMI II the Httle III
I dividual can ONLY escape the clutches Oh nurse
and tath-tub tonight Will be the time. but
can he escape. u
Look AZ ID from any point Of view the small
bow has n mOmentous question before nlIn'
and as momentOus auestiOns are not exactly
in his line of thought. he is IN a iuahuaFy
Probably by tonight. however. matters VIII
work out their own saiVstlOn. ahl untl iueI
rhe decision 10 bee arrived 20 Will Doe ava tea
with breathles- interest ny tile large nuHiOei
o. people who are made nervous ane uncV--
Portable by the antics OF tic ceieOfatDI,
What "A pity his social sphere does not aalhIs
of "a Ward McAlister Then the question o.
Saturday or Monday night could DC lei0 10
the social dictator.
THE SAINTS HISTORY.
st. Valentine. accord ne o. some eccIesiastl-
cal writers. was q bishop. While "ccpiv'"-
others he was q presbytef. VINO WIS uolS"
40 Rome IN the reign " the Lmpe4gt N.u'-
lus iZlOl. and was early canonlleu' ""ot'
SAYS that -. Valentine WAS o man @ hIoNV
adm.rable parts. and SO famous lot iNs rove
ard charity that tie custom oil cn0os4A- 'o'
eutines upon his festiyal took us Use from
thence
Others derive the custom from birds be-
mo supposed TO select their mates on tAi5
dar. others from o practice prevalent IN an
cienf Rome al The festival 81 SupeIcalla, our
inr the month of February. when, among
other ceremonies the names ~ the young
women were placed in % box from WAlcu
they were taken uy the foaig meu' Us enAngo
directed. The pastors ul tae carry chuIch'
finding IL impossible 20 tXurpate t-l5 pagan
changed IT'S form. 10 was the cu--
tom on the eve of February l4tn. -. faleu-
tine 3 day. % have the names az q select NUM-
Der OF one sex put into some vessel 10y an
ffffII HffIaHFfI va AAU OAa|A 4EA 1920"
every one drew O. name, Wnich for the ume
being. was called his or Ier valentine. IKE
custom OF choosing valentines existed Nety
early. and presents oil gloves. gntters ana
jewelry were Us OmmJn as valentines.
THE s~ESrnuNIALs.
About the book stores one finds quite a col
lection OF what are known as sentimental
valentines and Inc of them are pretty crea-
tons. a large number OF them are o. ccllu-
lold and possess Just four lines of the dalntlest
verse that can be found anywhere outside OF
a volume Of poetry. Many OF Thorn bear
quaint cOnceits of handwriting ~ water
co.ors. and the cards. booklets and other crea-
tons are certainly protaer than those seen IN
former years.
The comic can also be seen in greater
prOfusiOn and all the AID and ideas OF the
caricaturist have been exercised t0 make the
pictures AS exaggerated Is possible. Livery
conceivable human III from the glr. who
possesses "ChicagO-siZe feet 90 the man who
has a nose with the hues oil sunset l5 limned
by the photographer. aad the small boy has an
unlimited and extensive selection from winch
TO make his purchases.
TEMPERED WITH ~DfsCREII0N.
The practice OF sending these comic pro-
ductlons should be tempered with consider
able discretion. and the practice OF breaking
dOOr-bells and unnalglng gates should never
be permitted. The police should sec 70 it
that such Oienses are not committed and
parents should instruct their irrepressib.8
sons that such acts are naughty ia the eN-