The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-13
CUPID WELCOMES
VALENTINE DHW .

on parchment. Over these wordy express
slons the lliterate galiants OF the romantic
daSs struggled and toiled and pounded,
their hearts pierced with huge arrows
They did not buy them a, the shops. but
made them themselves. and likewise de-
ilvered them in person, so that the custom
had 10 II some real meaning,
In studying the numerous literary aliu-
sIons 10 the festival we find none earlier
than the twelfth century Remembering
that II was the most specially mystical and
legend-loving Of all the centuries, and that
a saint presided over every imaginable cir
cumstance and situation. We may reasona-
bly, claim that the pairing of the birds was
considered specially snder the patronage
OF this saint Undoubtedly the belief had
become sn accepted fact I'm Chaucer's day.
for his Assembly Of Foules.' or the great
gathering OF the birds, is treasure trove
for suitable extracts He describes the
grace OF the Empress Nature and amusing
~ sketches the anxiety Of the assembly as
To who should mate with the great eagle.
Pairing time for birds is spring, and Ten
nyson expresses the next step toward the
completion OF the chain OF evidence In his
lines:
In the spring young mans fancy
Lightly turns To thoughts OF love.
One of the most popularity quoted Of val
entines Is that written by John Dome. the
Satire poet of the seventeenth century.
In bis rugged style he anticipates Brown
Ing.
This valentine was dedicated 10 Princess
Elizabeth and Elector Frederick on their
wedding day. February H. 1914:
Hail Bishop Valentine, whose day this Is,
All the air Is tbs diocese,
Ard all the chirping choristers
And other birds are thy Pensioners,
Thy msrryesi every year
The lyric lark and the grave whispering
The sparrow that uegleets his NE for love.
The household bird with the red stom-
Thou fnak'st the blueblrd speed rs soon
As doth the goldhnch or the halcyon-
TITS DAY more cheerfally than ever shine.
This day which might iniiame myself. old
Valentine
On Valentines exc Il used 10 b. a COM
mon practice among girls 20 gather fvs
bay leaves. pinning one on each corner Of
their pillow. and ore In the center. Their
rcpose was made sweet by the visions OF
possible sweethearts IN their dreams.
Before retiring hard boiled eeg was Dir
vliea the yolk taken cat and its space
nlled with salt. The egg. shell ard all. was
swallowed No drink of water was allowed
after this charm.
Unless the digestion % cur fair ances-
iresses was bullet-proof. the wonder mas
well he why hobgoblus and not lovers dl,
nor visit them IN dreams.
In oxford the children stiu sing:
Good morrow Valentine
FIRST lis yours and then lis mine.
80 please give ma a valentine.
and another rhy ne;
Good morrow 20 YOU. Valentine.
Cut your locks as l 30 mine,
Tive before aud three behind,
Coed morrow 80 yea, Valentine.
For three centuries. from the fifteenth
to-the eighteenth. We have constant alhI-
sioas in prose and poetry. 20 the custom
% writing names Of men and women Oh
slips Ct paper that each enc might draw 4
slip a lady had the right - choose her
representative maa. WHO tAus FOR twelve
ynouths was bouud by honor TO serve her.
10 - her viii and desire and sing her
praises in rhyme
The expression relieving the valentine
arose waen the man drew his representa-
tive and kissed her to prove has ACCEPT
ance he tasu wers her NAME on his breast
or sleeve and gave q bz3t or entertainments.
Sometimes these slips ~ names we're
wrapped an IN Eiay bah o. clay and
PLACED IN the bottom Of a shallow dish.
Water was poured n and ,he hall which
foatesi "a the surface glrSt bore The name
q the flrst pair % lovers.