River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-02-06
ST. VALENTINE AND HIS DAY.
Origin of the day-Something About
It's Ancient and Modern Observance.

Origin of the Notwithstanding About
Its Ancient and Modern Observance.
St Valentine was a priest of Rome
who suffered martyrdom in the third
century. Historians differ as to the
year, some placing il in 270, others in
$50, but agree that he was beheaded
on the 14th of February Legend tells
US that his life was one of singular
virtue and his death befitting a saint.
History having so little to say of this
godly man, endeavors TO make amends
bydwellingat length on the ceremonies
and festivities observed on his day, but
the good bishop himself seems to have
little or no connection with the prac-
tees to which the 18th of February
has since been given up. This day is
thorght to be especially devoted TO
the business of Cupid and Hymen. Pos
sibly that il is the season when birds
choose their mates may be the origin of
this belief. Again. it has been supposed
that il may have originated from the
fact that the Lupercalia feasts of an
cient Rome, in honor of Pan and Juno,
were held in February, and that
amongst the ceremonies practiced IA
yorite one was to put the names of
the women ina box, 10 be drawn by
the men; each man being bound by all
the rules of chivalry TO serve and
honor the woman whose name he had
drawn But in olden times the day
was taken much more seriously than
later. Comic valentines and absurd let
tiers were then unthought of; and IL
letters of any kind were sent they
contained only a courteous profession
of attachment from man to maid, ven-
turing modest hope that his love
l. light meet with some return. Many
a bashful lover found courage on this
suspicious day to ayow a devotion
which otherwise might have remained
unconfessed for an indefinite period.
Mission. a learned traveller of the
early part of the last century, gives the
following account of the principal GER
emonies of the day: ION the eve of
St. Valentine the young folks in Eng
land and Scotland, by very ancient
custom, celebrate little festival. An
equal number of maids and bachelors
get together, each writes his or her
or some feigned name, rpon sep
aratc billcts, which they roll up and
draw by way of lots. the maids taking
the mems billets and the men the
maids. so that each young man lights
upon a girl whom he calls his yalen-
tine. and each of the girls upon young
man whom she calls hers. by this
means each has two valentines, but the
man sticks faster TO the valentine who
has fallen to him than the valentine to
whom he has fallen"
Another old custom was to throw
open the window early in tie morning,
and the first unmarried person of the
other sex who appeared was the des-
tined husband or wife. Needless 10
say, every properly-devoted swain
would assuredly be in the right place
on that morning.
For many years past it has been the
fashion TO send dainty creations o.
paper lace decorated with hearts, roses,
cupids. love-knots. etc, with all kinds
of loyer-like quotations in gilt and
silver letters, but this custom, too, is
almost done away with. Lovers con-
tent themselves now with exchanging
dainty gifts and tender messages, a
much more sensible and satisfactory
way of expressing their devotion.
Almost any pretty gift is suitable 10
offer at the shrine of St. Valentine, but
flowers head the list. Books, pictures,
photographs, card cases. purses, jewell
ry. etc. are all appropriate and pretty
as valentine presents. 1t is quite the
custom of late years to give an evening
party on the 14th of February, present
ing each guest with an appropriate
souvenir of the season.
II should just like TO know, though,
said the ten-year-old sage of the house
hold, after reading the above, "why, 1t
the young men think IL necessary to
send valentines to their sweethearts,
they don't keep on sending them after
they're married. Wouldn't the wives
like it, don't you think? You bet they
would, And aren't they better than
sweethearts? Pshaw. what does a
sweetheart do for a fellow. and just see
what a wife does! III wait till I'm mar
ried TO send my valentine!"-Mrs. S. III.
Sn;lar. i'm House lreeppr.