The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-11
ONLY THREE MORE DAYS
and We BAsHFUL YOUNG NAN WILL
MAKE A DECLARATION.
Origin of the Custom Of Sending valen-
tines-UnIque Ones for tho Backward
Lover to Choose From.


Just think how many thousands OF
youths all over this great big fat land of
ours will send their coy, cute, cunning
and comely sweethearts one OF those
little mysterious poems that make the
heart of the feminine fair one fiutter
with delight.
II you are fortunate enough to have
girl who has not yet been in the business
long enough to give you the mitten." do
not once dream of such thing as stand
ing upon pedal of bashfulness. Sum up
your courage, summon all the senu-
mentality that accompanies the nine
teenth century firt. tear your hair over
last months fun moon. and yes, and
send her little verse like this
81 come wythe burnynge love
Thy VALENTINE to be"
But don't get discouraged II she should
reply,
Nay, comic vallentynes
Are not ye kynde for me-"
1t Is an old custom. Away back yonder
many centuries before the good old times
our grandparents are always prating
about there was a kindly, sympathetic,
charitable old gentleman named Nalen-
tine. He was noted for his love Of hui
manity. and many a good deed he
achieved for his fellow-men. Valentine
lived in Rome. and like many old Romans
who deemed 1t sweet and honorable 10
die for ones country" he managed to
get himself beheaded at the instigation of
one of those dctatOrial sports known as
Emperors) who had nothing better 10 do
than TO stand on the corner near the
Forum and bet heavily on the next chariot
race. An effort was made to win Nalen-
tine back to idolatry. He remained firm
in the faith. however and after a lorg
Imprisonment. was beheaded on the
Flaminian way February 18th.
The practice of sending love-letters on
the lith of February is said to have been
derived from the above account.
Another legend is that The practice
was derived from a custom prevalent in
Rome at the festival OF the Lupercalia
during the month of February. when.
among other ceremonies the names OF
young women were placed in box from
viii in each of the swells drew one as
chance directed. This was a drawing
card at those times. but it's most too
much of a lottery TO suit the present gen
Grafton.
There is still another source from
which the present custom Is said to have
been derived. and Shakespeare is the
authority. He said that on February
18th birds began to couple. and hence
the practice Of sending love-letters on this
day.
Some one has even suggested that there
is a similarity of sound between the
words 'galentin," a French derivative
from gallant" and valentine" This
however, is a rather far fetched explana-
ton
There seems to be such variety of opin-
ion on the subject a fellow might venture
theory Of his own. Between you and
me, | think they are all wrong, and the
correct explanation is that this particu-
lar day was once selected by a bashful
young lover-who had remained in single
misery as long as he could comfortably
do $40 send his adored a love letter.
When he had written the all-important
missive he couldn't sum up the courage
TO annex his name. 50 he let her go ut
that Now, ever since that time, he 18th
Of February has been set aside as the day
for the shy sutton TO get In his work.
But, how the custom has changed, Up
TO few years ago the dea. beau would
remain painfully silent until the 14th of
February, and then express his private
opinion with an anonymous lampoon as
grotesdue az It was vulgar. This formerly
prevalent custom has lmost entirely van
ished, | an happy 10 say, and is now
confined only TO the incorrigihle small
boy and people who are not strictly au
fait in matters Of etiquette.
But there is another style of valentine
which is always more or less acceptable.
and the idea of leaving the curious young
maiden To guess the fellow who is loving
her in secret adds a high degree Of inter-
est.
one of the most unique designs I have
recently seen was n diminutive journal
with a fancy cover. on the top Of each
page was printed the words. cupid &
co." and the pages were all lined and
spaced with red ink. so as to gi9e The
book-keeper a chance to enter items.
From the top a dainty little ribbon OK
tends, and when you pull this Cupid &
Co.'S book keeper hobs up 5erenely with
a pen behind his ear. really TO record
any fervent declarations that ardent GUS
toners might feel inclined to utter. The
little book. keeper presents no bills-the
candy man and jeweler do the collecting
he simply records the proc ceilings as a
sort Of advertisement to Cupid & Co.
Another clevcr device was a medical
guide. called Or Cupi1s Remedies for
Heart Trouble" which was little ap0th-
ecary case, I'm which were a number Of
papers carefully folded around variety
of POWDERS. lust ben ,ath these we're di-
rections printed I'm verse. | did not read
the directions. being a widower beyond re-
covery, but happened to glance at one Of
them, which | think advocated billing.
cooling. palmistry and a variety Of har n
less pastimes in which some patients are
said to participate under peculiar circun-
stances.
But. with all seriousness. send her a
valentine. DO .he gallant act. and don't
allow another year to roll by without
your name being registered on Cupid &
Co.'S book. Ii isn't treating the fair sex
with proper consideration. Bashfuln KS
is no barrier. for you can leave OFF your
name. Sit down like a man. and write a
genuine old-fashioned love-letter. and IL
next year you are a bachelor with no
buttons on your overcOat. why charge IL
TO me. and I'll pay the bill with tears Of
sympathy.
THE FIRE AFTERMATH.