St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-14

What must good st. Valentine THINK
of the people of this world if he is any
where where he can see us-and see how
we commemorate the day of his death,
for it is the day of his death that lovers
have appropriated for their own. 1t IS
an old custom, this of celebrating the
good saints day, and from time lmme-
mortal has been devoted to lovers. L
can fancy that the saint must be sur
priSed sometimes when he sees to what
base uses the day is put. 1t is on this
day that some people pay all their debts
of spleen. though what good it can do
any one to send hidcOuS carcaturc TO
an enemy, when for the life OF them
they dare not acknowledge the act, |
never could see. On this day the children
are anxious to get to school early so as
to he on hand when the teacher opens
the neat-looking little note She gets, to
find picture of an old maid with pre-
pOsterously big head, a little body and a
ruler to match her head. OF course,
they feel that she is their mortal foe,
and are right in trying to get even with
her on the only day when custom has
sanctioned the sending of anonymous
letters. As q rule the teacher don't care
a whit about the valentines, and enjoys
the fun she can see the children are
having out of it, as well or better than
they do, but the custom is q bad one.
There is danger Of hurting some tender
heart by sending these things. Some
times the heart is one that has enough
to bear already without having
ridicule added to the burden. l
know that you are not thinking
of the pain you may cause by sending
picture that is intended to make fun of
some personal pecuIiarity; some de-
formity. perhaps. But did you ever
think how bitter is the load of a mis-
shapen body, an eye out of plumb, or
any other mark that mars the beauty of
body it is natural for all to desire? And
would you like TO LOOK into the neart
you have wounded so thoughtlessly and
see the storm Of rebel!ious thoughts
that is arraigning heaven for the cross
1t has to bear. the cross made tangible
and CALLING by your foolish attempt at
wit? | am sure you would not. Thank
the Father that you have none of those
things to bear. and, oh! be pitiful of
those who have. 1t is a very pretty
thing to send little token of your love
or friendship 10 your mates. Some of
the sweetest treasures the older people
about you possess are the Oldfash
Toned valentines, made of lace paper,
with gold or silver lettering on them,
and little verses full of sentiment,
where ''hearts" rhyme with darts"
and "valentine' with ''be mine" The
hands Of the SenderS have been dust tor
years and the paper is falling apart
with much folding. but the faint per-
fume of yiolets and rose leaves still
clings to the frail leaves and still has
power to open wide the door and bid
youth live again. So, dears, send all
the pretty valentines you choose, and
take pleasure and comfort in those you
get. The good saint can but smile on
such 4 keeping OF tie day of martyr
dom. No doubt If he can see lis he has
learned many lessons since he left this
earth, but none can be grand
er than that that teaches us
to take pleasure only in what
gives pleasure to others, and shun as we
would a serpent deed that wounds a
helpless human soul. l hope you will
all get pocketful of valentines; but if
at your school today there is a girl or
boy who gets none, can you not apply
the golden rule in such way that the
sensitive pride of a neglected one will
not be wounded? | would like to know
how many there are who Will do some
kind thing in memory of st. Valentine
today. AUNT POLLY.