New-York tribune., 1899-02-12
THE ST. VALENTINE OF lo99.
BARRING THE UNvARYING "CoMlcs'
COLOR EFFECTS ARE MILDER.
THE MIssrvEs OF THIS SCAR WILL BE As
COSTLY AS EvER-BlG ORDERS FROM
,rur yvrsr FILLED ny NEW.

YORK DEALERS.
/ The Postofice Department is preparing Tor ue
annual rush OF February = the ctter-carriers are
nervlng themselves for their extra Work, ana Il
glimpse AT the bookstores and department-houses
OF Broadway. Twenty-third-st.. and SNth-aVe or
a short walk along the Bowery or Avenue y VIII
convince any one that St. Valentine Is as close to
the hearts Of the masses ever before. I"'
stocks shown barring the unvaryng comics dis
play less Of vermon and other startling coors
| than usual. The forgetne-n not is the flower most
used.
The number Of valentines exchanged appears TO
be about the same from year TO year their manu-
facture furnishing employment 70 thousands oi
people Although the larger part OF the valentine
orders come from the West the factories which
make a specially OF this work all in this city
or in Massachusetts,. The comics, as they are
ca lied in trade parlance. nearly all the output
OF one firm In this city which employs two hunuTeh
girls One man has for years been guilty OF all the
pictures while the door Of another may be Iald
the accompanying doggerel. Ever since September
the manufacturers say. orders for valentines have
been pouring in from the now prosperous west anu
trade was never better. When a drummer taxes
out his store Of gay lace valentines he is sure
OF many good orders from dealers in the Western
States even when the farming sections are not so
well provided with cash they are this winter
There IS n lot Of sentiment about Western folks.
In the cities the demand each year is for novel;
ties Among some Of the daint!est Of the new de-
signs this season are exquisite punches Of the pop
ular English vioets whose central blossom open
ing at a touch. dscloses a laughing Cupid's head
gorgeous butterfly opens his wings to snow De-
hind them the same little god armed with 30" ana
culver On n tandem bicycle Of flowers white
dove and a Cupid race along in company. Two 1T
tie Cupids on wheels bear the legend Love Makes
the World Go Round" In dainty Louis Qunze
sinner still another Cupid. personating LohengTin'
fia m. Il q
Among the cheaper cards. meant 70 raise
laugh are many clever parodies on the sentimental
utterances cf the od-tme valentine. sheet OF
note paper has little paper vioets fastened
TO one corner and underneath IS that old familiar
verse:
The rose IS red the violet blue.
But neither IS SO sweet as you.
50 please accept this -, small bouquet
small card with big black hook-and-eye at
the bottom reads:
TO MY VALENTINE
Nav YOU and forever be
Attached as these below you see
These two should always go together
Though IL be clear or stormy weather
Aro,bor with 4 dlminutlye tape measure at
tached, declares:
Tbls is \ rule Won should follow through llfe
That a man when he's married should obey his
Should dress her. feed her and give her his cash,
But never should murmur If fed upon hash
A still more suggestive favor has a tiny earthen
Jug fastened to the upper right-hand corner. Be-
meath Il Is written:
TO MY VALENTINE.
Early 10 ryes
And late to bed
VIII make your
cardinal red.
At all the fashionable confectoners. book sellers
florists and frulterers orders are already in for
gifts to be delivered on Valentines Day. Daintily
bound books, and bonbons in pretty heart-shaped |
recoptacles OF satin. porcelain or crystal. are al
ways welcome and appropriate. Fruiterers say
that they will be called upon 70 furnish more !
baskets than ever before OF choice hothouse fruits
and all the florists expect TO do rushing business
with cut flowers and potted plants. Among the !
latter the dwarf japanese plum trees will be IA |
yorites.
Lnies-of-the valley. apple blossoms. heather.
prlmroses. lilacs. tulips and the od-fashioned |
bleeding hearts" will all be found at the florists |
ready for ST. Valentines anniversary. At the |
Fifth-ave. confectionery large stock OF satin |
boxes. hand painted with vlolets and forget-me- |
nots may be obtained at prices ranging from 50 |
cents to 81.
The housewife puzzllng her head over menu ap- !
propriate the day may be Interested 70 note |
people the table will be crowned with Cupid |
with bow raised ready 10 shoot Ihls VIII stand |
upon a centrepece composed or bleeding hearts
and maidenhair ferns. Heart-shaped dishes or
candy will hold the bOnhOns, and at each plate Will
be a ong-stemmed American Beauty rose The
arrows. The menu will include
Oysters
Cream OF Love Apple tOmatoes).
Sweetbreads. with Peas.
Tmbaes of Turtle Doves (pigeons).
Ices True-love knots.
Heart-cakes and Kisses.