Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-02-17
ST. VALENTINES DAY.
From the Earliest Times 1t Has Been OBJ
served as Cupid's Holiday.

From the Earliest Times 1t has Been oD-
served as Cupid's Holiday.
It is singular that the first saint to
be canonized should have for his me-
mortal custom as amusing and senti-
mental as that which has made St.
Valentines day one of general observ-
ance in all civilized countries. St.
Valentine was gentle and charitable
Christian bishop who for the great
crime of converting the pagans was
first beaten cruelty with clubs and then
beheaded. His martyrdom occurred in
27O, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius
Claudius, upon the 18th of February.
AS saint he is supposed to have spe-
cial power in cases of epilepsy. There
was erected to his memory church IN
Rome by Pope Julius called the Church
of St. Praxades, and the gate to the
CITY was named the Porta Valentlnl,
after the good bishop.
Now comes the modern historian to
inform us that the day and custom an
| tedated st. Valentine and was pagan
holiday of the Saturnalia and Luper-
Gala, the first the annual holiday OF the
slaves, the last festival held In the
month of February in honor OF two
heather deities, Pan and Juno. The
custom of the day was lottery In
which the names OF young women
| were drawn from box by the young
/ men. The drawing resulted In an at
tachment or companionship which
| lasted until the next observance OF the
| day. These customs continued until
! Francis de Sales, in 1900 or there
! abouts, substituted the names OF saints
in the lottery box, which refined and
pious custom still exists in old and de-
vout families in Italy. 1t is the only
religious feature that ever attended
the festival which has for its origin
the pagan love of merry-making.
It is presumable that the name OF
st. Valentine was given to the 14th OF
February for the memorable reason
that the good bishop suffered martyr.
dom on that day. But the poets and
dramatists ignore the saint and espouse
the ornithologist. They support the
idea that on this day the birds choose
their mates.
! Tradition says that the present fash
/ ion of giving and receiving gifts ane
choosing q valentine, originated witt
: the knights of foreign courts, who me-
/ at this time for tournaments OF night
I ing and feasting. The fair daniel o
) that period chose her knight, who, TO
twelve months, was her troubadou
and sworn to do her bidding. One
. | the customs of the eve of st. Valentine
, / was to take FIVE bay leaves and p1l
| them to pillow. The young damse
. | who did this was sure to dream OF he
: valentine, to whom she would be NAL
o | ried before the year was out. To cato
! a lover asleep on ST. Valentines da
= means to kiss him and win pair 9
gloves. AS young man Is very VII
: inc to pay this modest price for ks
= from his true love, there is much II
nocent shamming for the privilege.
It the same way the youths OF the pa
were abroad early in the morning (
Ii St. Valentines day that they might
the first to meet the fair ones OF tt
opposite sex, who strolled out on tt
TO same gentle errand. Those who did n
N po cut watched at windows.
o. The age which succeeded the paga
Of observarces of the DAY, and which WI
DR. marked by the chivalrous attention
of knights to ladies, was the goids
re ace of valentines. Costly and elegal
h, ! gifts were bestowed, and the mo
at chivalrous and teader sentiments we
ly expressed in the courtly language
TX the day. The first valentine evGr WI,
ten was penned by Charles, Duke
ne Orleans, who was captive In Englal
at the time. It leaves the impress