Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
MY VALENTINE.
Born of n Sentiment Old as Man, and
One for Every Man.

One for Every Man.
II there had not been a great many
fellows just like the composer Of Sweet
Marie" who went moaning and dreaming
about the dells, telling all the daisies
of his love for the charming young lady,
yet daring not tell her. that song would
have died upon the air when first 1t was
sung. and would never have been gotten
together again. But IT was the fellow
feeling that breathed a soul into IT, and
has given II a note which Will call out
its response as long as man shall love
the bright eyes and sunny smiles or
woman. The author Of the little song did
not invent new feeling for man, or even
discover one, he simply put the express
sion of II as a song upon mems lips. The
real sentiment is as old as Adam. The
ancients felt it, and, too, put 1t In song.
breathed IL into their literature, because
il was first in their lives; carved upon the
tonbs of their dead, because 1t was last
also In their lives. But II remained for
the knights Of the romantic Middle Ages
to give us st. Valentine s-Day. me
valiant men of those days could meet
each other and swing their huge battle
axes each against the others breast IN
the vain effOrt 10 crush Oul lidb At'AAO ~
meath. vet not one could dare tell gentle
maiden of the fire which burned. the
battle thirst. So they fixed up a nice lit
tie card and wrote their story upon II
and sent 1t to her, leaving II to her TO di-
vine the knight who bore the tender SEN
timents inscribed therein.
That day is past, and there are now no
iron-clad men riding about the world TO
love and fight. but human nature Is un-
changed since man received 1t nrst from
he nostrils Of the Creator.
Here is a doting fellow who Is con-
sumed with a passion for certain fair
maiden. He had told his secret TO all the
gowers OF the field, and has knelt down
and whispered it to the violets. which
crew on purpose in the way TO be
messed by her dainty feet. He told 1t TO
his fayorite books, and taught 1t to the
birds which have translated II into their
Cad song. But not for all the world
o,,Id he tell her. She would be sur
,rised and he would be taken of his feet
AZ that. for who is it who doesn't know
about his secret. He has left his couch
a. night and, creeping to the window,
has written IL all out by the silVery nght
eood,np his room. He has tried to tell
hor In those passionate words, but begins
NJ the end, becomes confused ana can 80
no further. To him (and there emahyl
tho valentine is a good Anglican angel
~ light and love. From his Dook-store
he selects the dainty card upon whlcn
orc written in letters of gold the words
he fain would whisper in her ear at sun
set and with the profoundest confidence
mat she must know that no one else on
nth could have sent it but himself, ne
entrusts II to the POSTWAR. The postman
,s rude man, without one bit or senti-
mont in his clayey composition, or ne
conld net handle the precious letter so
carelessly. =.
And so II IS, and as long as man is
strong and brave enough TO be timid IN
~ rTesence of the woman he loves, so II
The lover finds himself in peculiarly
hannv position this year, owing 10 the
orieinality and exquisite taste ana
Salntiness OF the designs The bookstores
os the city are plenteously supplied with
,tese graceful messengers In composition
30 s,,t the most passionate sutton or the
aa,eat and fairest OF all maidens.
S"n,a Of the old designs remain. but there
arc many new and strikingiy peautiful
onas THE high-priced are corrections OF
ca,Iuloid or bon paper, garrisoned WIN
..sss and bedecked with hearts and
III" ,-s,ots NJ silk and satin. Then there
~ humbler. but still dainty, sort,
LEV the angel or dove messenger. anc
s,,,i others with designs Of the wheel
harrow. In which Cupid carts along us