The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-14


facetious friends indulge in fnlrthtul pas
times II i IN fact the one day IN the
year in which the English speaking peo-
PIE employ many devices FOR finding their
Valentines" or true" loves for the CON-
ing year.
The festival Of 81. Valentines day. which
has degenerated in cur time 70 a sort os
burlesQus Is q bequest from cur English
forefarhers who once celebrated IL with
considerable pomp and not r little sup
erstlflon. The origin Is as obscure as = -
ancient Chaucer speaks Of il in his As
sembly OF Fowles.' referring 10 sup
erstition among the poorer class in Eng
land that on this day he birds selected
their mates. The origin can. however. be
traced back % ancient Rome. There Il
was the custom 10 celebrate the feast or
the Lupercalia during most OF the
month OF February. There were feasts N
honor OF Pan and juno. On these ooea-
sions. amid a variety OF ceremonies, the
names OF young women were put into
box from which they were drawn by the
men.
The pastors OF the early Christian
church endeavored By every means 10
eradicate the yestiges OF pagan supersti-
ton often BY some change Of their forms.
In this case they substituted for the
names Of Young women those OF saints,
and as the festival of the Lupercalta COM
menced about the middle OF February,
they chose st. Valentines day for the
celebration OF the new feast. because II
occurred about the same time.
AS late as the early part OF the last CEN
fury the English celebrated st. Valentines
day as an important festival. and employed
many devices for finding their ''valen-
tines" or true loves" for the coming
year.
few OF these are handed down and are
not greatly different from the fortune
3 h.. - Get e.
/ day. In a letter by an English maid OF
the last century she tells in all seriousness
/ how she pinned five bay leaves TO her
/ pillow on St Valentines eve. four 10 the
/ corners and one in the middle. and IL
/ dream OF my sweetheart ! shall be married
! before the year IS out But to be more sure
! boiled an egg hard. removed the yellow.
and filed IL with salt. This / ate before
| going TO bed, shell and ALL without drink
/ ing after"
| Another plan that could be tried at a
| valentine party Is 10 write names on bits
| OF paper roll each in clay and then put
them in water. The one that rises first
| Is % be your valentine
Nowadays the general way in which the
occasion is celebrated is by entertainments,
in which some form Of amusement peculiar
to the day Is provided. The invitations
take the form OF Valentines, ornamented
with some device, cupids, hearts, lock
and key. and q few lines OF doggerel re-
| lating 10 the occasion.
| The souvenirs are Of the same style and
can be made IN endless varieties Of pApier
mache. tinsel and coral!ne. particularly II
one is sklllful in the use Of the paint brush.
The favorite designs are fans. hearts and
four-leaf clover. Cupid is always present
with his weapon.
| A clever idea for an entertainment FOR
small people Is a heart party. suggested by
| the success Of the wel-tried donkey party.
A huge heart. lavishly decorated with a
lock. Is fastened on the wall. key IS
given to the guests present. and. blindfod-
ed. they try 10 fl the key IL the lock. A
prize is given 10 the guest most successful.
Many prominent social leaders do not
hesitate TO venture the assertion that no
gaver or more brilliant assembiage ever
filed Ranke hall than that which win
gather on "Wednesday evening. February
- on the occasion Of the annual charity
BAH. This function is always a brlllian t
one, bat this year Il is the intention % the
good matrous having 10 IN charge 20 make
IL the finest thing OF the kind ever attempt
ca IN Seattle. There is every probability
that some OF the best known men and
/ some Of the hardsomest women for miles
/ around wiil make the evening OF the 2ith
the occasion FOR that reunion which oc-
| ours so rarely under ordinary social
| conditions. Seattle for her part win util-
/ ize the magnitude and charitable nature
/ OF the bah as the reason FOR the presence
! OF her men foremost al the uar. In mesii-
I cine. IN business aud finance. in politics.
and in everything that goes 20 make the
| city what it is The most influential woTn-
/ en- VIII be there ard the smartest matr0ns.
I The younger element vii Re out IN force.
I Las year the demand for tickets Jagged
/ urtll the last few DAYS preceding the
I event but this year there IS a disposition
/ 20 purchase tickets early and make all
{ arrangements for the event
Another feature, ard one which IS sure
/ 20 prove popular. IS The fact that a major
I tty Of the ladies' wiz be given an opportuui-
( ~ 70 exercise their ability 81 arranging
/ new creations in caIi-o tor the manage
. ment has decided that BE- shalt be q calico
. bath This action was arrived at AT an
s enthusiastic meeting held az the Cham
4 her Of Commerce Lass Tuesday morning
. hy the member OF the Ladies' Refef So
/ cIety az the Orphans Home which was
/ Tor the purpose Of making arrangements
! IN detail gor the bail The ladies we're as
"a uait ia deciding that the goNn 70 Re
( worn should De OF calico. tu conformity
I with the tIrrsz. and 40 that the gentle
/ mems ties should be of the same goods.
Unique calico programmes are 81 prep
J a~ation and viii - couated hv lady
I friend q the home. The gallery VIII he
( reserved for spectators. and IL present
( slaus 60 rot fau IL ALL he crowded for ev-
/ e~v inch 81 space. Tee haE viii be hand
/ souely drapes3 with national colcrs. and
+ choice flowers uiH 10 scattered about.
/ Eivinr she room the Appearance Of 40 in
( wense dr4 WIrc room Refreshments will
ae se~ves a1rlrE The evening after O. clock
io tGe banquet room For so grand gn az
/ fasr the tickets have been placed az The
( nominal ssrn ~ S2 for each person. in-
/ ciudlar refresh ments Considering the
/ worthy cause FOR wh5ca the ball is given
/ ard The elegance that wHi characEerize
/ the event the amount is 1sit a mite Tick
I cts can ~ Rad from TIE aides o. the sew
! era1 committees. mGa wtr also he or sale
! 81 the drug stores % stewart a. Holmes.
( DLbss s. GOODWIN ar- James lee. Mrs.
( a II Brcokes, pres -eEt q the home.
I requests the several e1-nu-l ffees 20 n1eet
wifh che advisory boar az the Chana1er Of
/ Cornue~ea Tuesday rr5rrln e. 20 o'c1ock
Ene committees. WHOA are made uo Of
/ the leading mstrons e fhe cIsy. are as
I 70 oSs
+ Rs-e-tion-ag-s- J r. M,Naught. Mrs
: r. e. Nerfes5eT. Mrs. Montgomery Russell
+ Mrs g. - StlnnSc1. Mrs. : Arouson. sfrs.
! " 4 Fl C;reen. Mrs - p Back1sS. Mrs.
! = ToErraa. Mrs. =. - Henry, Mrs J.
! = NaeDoDSaL
shr.erts-2grs- 3 " Errse. Mrs.
Z : l.. Crs wfera. Mrs. Johe Teary. Mrs. 81.
! W Fssate-r Mrs J G-eE0~y. Afrx e
/ MAYER. Mra 81 q. 1Ia1Eoekz. Mrz. A
/ Dsaklespess. 2grs. : g. sIrupson. Ms. 4.
PrOsch. Mrs ~ GsstzssIa. Mira .. J.