The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-14

Wichita school Pupils are the Bes
Customers This Year-Comic Valentines
are All the Rage, and the More Hideou'
They are the Better They are Liked by
the Sender-They Cause Trouble and
Worry Among Uncle Sans Servants.
All day yesterday the book and nov
city stores We're so crowded that the
scenes reminded one of Christmas eve.
All the dealers in valentines agree In
saying that it was the biggest day Tor
valentine sales in the history Of Wich-
tia.
Those who believe that the custom OF
sending valentines is dying out would
be sadly disappointed if they saw the
throngs that were purchasing.
A reporter dropped into one place not
far from the Eagle office in the after
noon about the time the schools were
dismissed and for the succeeding hour
1t was impossible for the clerks TO wait
on those who wanted TO buy VaIen-
tines.
Il have been a long time in the bust
ness" said the dealer but 1 have never
yet had such a busy day as this. What
is most striking is the increased de-
mand for valentines by school children.
1 candidIy believe that there are not
ESQ school children in the city tonight
who are without valentine
What kind do the children buy?"
''They buy all kinds, but are quite
sure to have one for their teacher. OF
course they wanted the caricature Of a
school ma'am and failing TO get that
they took old maids, washerwomen,
chambermaids and everything in that
line they could get that would convey 10
their school teacher an indication OF
their esteem of her. Uneasy will lie
the school ma'am head tomorrow night
If she is in the least sensitive. I ac-
tually feel sorry for them and I feel
a kind of remorse for having bought
the pictorial nightmares that l did. 1
must say, however, that some of the
children bought pretty valentines but I
presume they bought them for their
mammas' sisters or classmates"
The police department mail will also
be a large one tomorrow. l ran out
Of policemen early in the day. There
are some terrible caricatures for pO-
licemen this year and L have an idea
that ali Of them were made especially
for the Wichita market. Some OF
them ara dandy cops with their hands
sticking out behind their backs in the
attitude Of boodliug, others are on the
order Of Washers while the majority of
them are painted nose fellows in the
attitude of drinking beer at back doors
The cop IS a much abused man by the
valentine makers.
And. Great Scott, how the singers
will suffer this year. They, too, are
In demand as well as the piano thump-
ers. I feel sorry for these poor people
every time 1 think Of the valentines I
sold for them today and yesterday"
How about the professions"
THE doctor viii get by far the worst
Of it although valentines for lawyers
have been in great demand. This no
5oubt is owing to the recent trial for
disbarment against Judge Campbell.
[ don't know how many valentines the
other fellows sold for Tiger Bill, but
expect or rather suspect that / sold
dfty. The doctors can expect a terri
bic roasting drought the mails. The
caricature artist has made out the doc
tors TO be worse than the Kurds in Ar
menia 50 far as butchery is concerned"
No, the newspaper caricatures did
not 20 well. [ expect you fellows viii
get some, but not very many. There
Is nothing very new in valentines for
newspaper men; they are the same old
Chestnuts with scissors and paste pot
that 1 have been looking at for twenty
years or more"
The tippler and topper will get his
usual quote Notwithstanding prohibit
ton. The preachers too, will receive
a large dose Of pictorial sarcasm. The
one. however. that have most compass
sion for is the old maid. The old maid
valentines this year, on account of it
being leap year, are positively shock
Ing and If they don't make some body
commit suicide l am mistaken. The
bicycle and the boomers are quite new
features in the valentine art. l have
sold a great many Of them"
That the valentine custom is on the
Increase, as stated by the dealer, was
corrobOrated at the postofiice.
\ reporter called at the postoffice
whore an animated scene was seen.
Extra tables were spread in the CORR
doris and seated around the tables We're
scores Of males and females busily en-
gagged in directing letters with decorat-
ed envelopes, licking postage stamps.
On some of their faces was n happy
smile as . comic valentine was tucked
out Of sight and then turning to a com
panion would say with childish glee:
wv ont this make them scOrching
mad2 / bet she could bite ten penny
nail in too when she gets this. 1t was
the most horrible thing could find, but
II just suits her, and that spring poetry
at The bottom IS simply blue blazes"
y on had better be careful and dis
Guise your handwriting. or She may find
out who sent It and then you Will pay
for your fun"
= guess I VIII direct ii backhanded:
but don't you know this vertical sys-
TEN we are using in the schools is do
ing away with personal handwriting.
brt il would he terrible if she should
find out. II she did she would put the
old man up to giving me a humping
and that would break up me and Ellea-
nor going 10 parties together. I like
Eleanor all right, but confound the
troublesome relatives. Don't you know
that il was her who told Elleanor's
mother about Eleanor and me meeting
OF the bridge and having a good long
talk. And you know when We were
going - Burwells' party and Eleanor
made anCements To go over TO Flos-
e.e's house and stay all night, and we
Aa5 everything so nicely arranged that
She CHANGED % come across one of my
notes IN Eleanor and upset the whole
plan I have been just dying for val
enJne day 10 come 50 l could send her
my opinion of meddlesome Matte.
hut have not stuck the envelope We:
IL Us 80 up the stairs and take another
icok.'