The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-11
IsDlToES CHAT.
A Few Thoughts of ST. Valentino
ST. VALENTINES DAY.

81. NAItN ilNE .
The 18th of February is day of pure
sentiment the one day of all the year when we
can make love to all of our friends, send pretty
little tokens to our dear ones. and do all sorts
of delciously foolish things, all in the name oil
St Valentine.
St. Valentine was a Bishop of early Rome
who was beheaded in the reign of Claudius, 21C
A. d.. aud was early canonzed. He was man
of rare sympathies broad charities and uniyer.
sal loves famous for his deeds of kindness. Ii
is fitting that the 14th of February should be
called ST. Valentines Day. The customs, how
ever, o, Valentines Day an.edate St. Nalen-
tine ami formed part of the ceremonies OF the
old Roman festival Lupercalia. celebrated In
the early Spring.
This was a relic of the nature-rellglon
which was the primitive form of worship, ana
sprang from a recognition OF the pecunafity oi
the season. 1t is about this time OF TIE year
that birds choose their mates, ana rropapiy
thence came the custom OF the young men ana
maidens choosing valentines or speciih ifiehus
on that day. As Tennyson says
In the Spring fuller crimson comes upon Inc
robins breast: =,
IN The spring the wan,on lapwing gets himself
another crest;
In The Spring a livlier iris changes on the bur
In The Spring voung MANS fancy lightly turns to
thoughts of love.
St Valentines Day was formerly celebrated
on the Continent. especially In France, oy
very peculiar aud amusing custom.
On the eve of ST. Valentine a number OF
voung men and maidens would assemble TO-
gethcr and inscribe upon little billets the
names Of AN equal number OF maids and bach
elors of their acquaintance, throw the whoie
into n receptacle of some sort and then draw
them, otherwise. The person thus drawn
became ones Valentine
These imaginary engagements often led to
real ones because one necessary consequence Oh
them WAS that for year young mau became
bound 10 The service OF his Valentine, alter the
fashion Of medieval knight TO his sweetheart
At one time il was customary Tor both sexes
to make each other presents, and gifts oil gar
iers gloves. and jewelry were common IN the
18Th century.
The introduction of the comic Valentine
sletracts much from the graceful symbolic
meaning of the festival. The approach of the
Day is now heralded by the appearance in
shop windows of vast numbers OF hideous
colored caricstures with burlesQue verses too
yenomeus TO suggest the semblance of fun.
Personal foibles are buriesqued and ridculed
even TO eoarseness, and ill-natured people make
them pretext for pay ing off old scores OF real
or fanciei injuries.
We also see the so-called pretty Valentines.
which are. generally, of sentimental kind,
representing a view of Hymen's altar, with a
pair of impossible lovers undergoing initiation
into welded happiness before it, while Cupid
fuiters above and hearts transfxed with his
darts decorate its corners.
Besides the exchange of Valentines it is quite
customary now to send to our friends books and
souvenirs: bits of sentiment and flowers some
thing toremind them that we love them and
are thinking of them.
The Valentine. in some form, is destined to
live IS long as young people have their fsncies
and as long as love rules the world.