Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16
ECHOES FROM ALTON.
ONE OF THE MYSTERIES OF THE
MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
Uncle Jerry's Idea of Coid-ho"e-
Made Vnlentines-The pleasures VI
~. ots-Time Way-Pcrsonai-Goo
Roads Question.
ororreypopdence of the Dispatch)
Roads Question

fcorregpondence OF the D!spatchJ
ANTON. VA. February h-Why peo-
ple grow sentimental in February
mystery; there Is really no month u
the wear so full OF hard-headed VeXauon.
The climatic transitions are sudden anu
as practlcal as snow. rain, and mud can
make them. Up here II haG been RAINY
and raw for two weeks, with pehe
trating chilliness in the atmosphere 'n"'
searches out.one's hidden weakness closer
than a patent Pill. Tuesday IL eieaisu
away. and was intensely cold |o''
enough" Uncle Jerry said, when ne
brought in the huge backlog Tor the
niaht. "to freeze de horns ofen ef muiie
cow" The blizzard that followed was
severe. the wind blowing with the loree
and bitterness OF last winter; trees were
blown down, and the roads IN many
nloces strewn with fencc-rails. Every dis
agreeable phase Of a weather report has
surely been crowded into this February
week. and yet on yesterday / saw girl
up TO her ears in the sweet paraphernalia
of white paper, satin ribbon, and gold dust
for homemade valentines. Her fingers
were chillcd-even by the big wood fire
and her dear little nose was as blue as
true love; but she was cutting imitation
paper lace-and skilfuily at that-in
squares diamonds. and crosses, that
pulled themselves away in avenues lead
ing to q gilt heart skewerCd through with
Cupid's arrow. Sent out with this speci-
men Of native talent j. a gilt-edged card
with a fancy lappet covering its senti-
ment, which. II not as fine as the city
valentine. has at least the virtue of origi-
nality, and very often OF sincere af-
fiction. one OF our country lassies val
entlnes read:
one year in four claim the right
OF bidding thee 10 nuptal rite;
And / VIII hope couldst thou be won
Four years OF love TO crowd In one.
Though / advised that a cross-cut saw
and a pile Of wood might be more sug-
gestiye OF what would come with such
cold weather around, / don't think the
most ardent shop valentine could display
better rhymes.
NOT so MUCH PLEASURE
Except in the country, Of course, writ
ten valentines have long since ceased
to be used: but l doubt it ever the print
ed and painted productions OF the sta
toner s-shop gave one half the pleasure.
AS long as there are lovers. so long VIII
good Bishop Valentine hold his sway.
Those were happy times in the old coun-
Try schOOl-hOuse VIII n we, "a children,
looked forward to ST. Valentine s-Day,
for which II had probably taken US
weeks TO get our billet-doux ready. How
eagerly we filed into school that morn
ing-ihe girls In their dark calico dresses
and Ringham aprons; the boys in suits OF
Kentucky jsans-and slyly put our mis-
sives in a wooden box 10 play post
office" at noon. with what anxiety did
we listen until our names were given
outl And with what delight read over
In secret the tender contents OF our valen-
tines,
The term valentine applied to the
colored penny-wOoi-cuts Of a humorous
character is a gross misuse OF the word
The comic valentine" az II Is called
ought to die out entirely. 1t IS a maker
| Of mischief. II IS always vulgar otter
brutal. and no right-miuded or well-bred
person would be guilty OF woundine
/ anybodys feelings by It's presence. Like
many anotlier mischievous thing, The
/ comic valentine seems 10 be upon the
| increase. and TO be even more popular
than those OF sentimental character.
! There is an old superstition that tbs
/ birds choose their mates on ST. Nalen
tine s-Day. But II Is certainly not true
| in this frigid zone OF Virginia Not O
| feathered darling among them but would
! freeze this February before he could
| trill n single amatory note.
| Shakespeare alludes TO this belief wher
/ he says In his "Midsummer-Night'
! Dream:
"St Valentine Is past
Begin these wood-blrds TO couple now
PERSONAL.
! Mr.. William II. Turner. OF The Hin
! Is very sick.
Misses Minnie and Mary Goodloe ar,
/ In Gordonsville
Dr. and Mrs. Francis Smith Of Bates
| Vile. were at "Avon" last week.
Dr. and Mrs. Forest Williams wor'
guests at Chestnut Ridge" Thursday.
Miss Monte White, OF Staunton. 4.
visiting her aunt, at Spring Creek.
/ A leap-yoar party was given by th'
| Misses Humphreys. near Doby's. Thurs
day night. The ladies went for the
| gentlemen. and carried out the usual leap
year conditions with success.
There has not been snow enough q
benefit the wheat. Owing 10 the drought
last fall rather small acreage was
seeded and this l. looking badly
TO hll UP mud-holes without drainini
Is simply putting i'm more dirt 20 make
more mud. as thh fearful condition o
our country roads show. Too litti,
| thought IS given 20 drainage and to-
| little money spent on the public roads.
Miss Mamie Slower OF Augusta. spen
some days last week at Mr. G.. r. Mar
tins.