The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-02-15
Did You Send A Valentine?

There is something about the atmos-
phere of February IA that is like that
of no other day in the year. Christmas
is, essentially, the time to expect
presents and love letters, and missives
of affection are continually treading
the mails. But on st. Valentines Day
odd little combinations of the two fit
anonymously around; for thousands of
futtering hearts are sitting on the tip
of expectation, waiting for one or
more of these little billet doux to drop
from the mysterious somewhere.
Of course, none get so much enjoy
ment out of St. Valentines annual
visit, as children. With them the sig
nificance of the day is of little i'm
portance. They usually think of it
about as the little four-year old who.
said, Mamma, what day is Fourth of
July on?" Her idea of it was one of
fire crackers and torpedoes; likewise
the youthful idea of st. Valentines
Day is the proud sensation of opening
dozen or so of pretty missives, all
sprinkled over with cupids and darts
and things. Of course she didn't ex-
pect any-not one, so she said. But
she would have been dreadfully dis
appointed if they hadn't come.
1t is, perhaps, just as we'll that the
connection between the custom and
name of st. Valentine is not more
often traced, for it is not likely to lead
up to anything more satisfactory than
pair of bars. The fact is, there is
not any connection between the deeds
or the life of st. Valentine and the
mystic jollity of the day. The name is
merely matter of accident.
The origin of sending valentines is
attributed to Charles, Duke of Orleans,
who was made a prisoner in 1415 at the
Battle of Agincourt. He sent a num-
ber of billet doux to his friends on
that day, thus setting 8 fashion that
has since grown into custom.
And it is very pretty one, especially
as its unpleasant features seem to be
on the brink of extinction. The stores
last year had very few of the supposed
Iy humorous caricatures that used to
be so boisterOusly in evidence on this
day. In fact the Old comic valentine
is generally relegated to the close
quarters of the corner grocery and is
seldom given counter room in the
tor fob t1Ch ntnfo n of
this is perhaps not so much matter
of elevation Of taste as that the jaun-
diced Autographs were selling four for
d cent and dealers found the profit not
worth the trouble. But whatever the
cause, their decline is matter of good
fortune, for many very pretty little
cards that carry much happier feeling
are here to take their place.
Not much expense is necessary in
order to procure pretty little missive,
as a few pennies will buy token that
most anyone would be pleased to draw
ont of an envelope. 1t is very sensible
in the manufactures to send out IN
expensive valentines for the little
paper things do not last long, and a
simple background will carry just as
pretty message as solid silver slab.
The idea of sending these expressions
of affection is an innocent one and
should be encouraged The music and
perfume of life are none too common,
and these zephyrs of good will cannot
help making little stir of happiness.
But valentine is not necessarily con-
fined to cardboard picture, other
things answer to the same name, and a
very pretty token at this time is some
thing from the florists stock; and
pretty way to bear out the sentiment
of affection is by sending Towering
plant palm, or fern-something that
can be kept ever green. w. L. w.