New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-14
VALENTINE THE SAINT.
HOW THE PATRON OF THE LOTTERY
OF LOVE" WAS SELECTED.
EhAmENs HEARTS STILL FLUrTER WHEN THE
POSTWAR RINGs-THE MODERN SOUVENIR
OF FEBRUARY a.

Valentines or the present different from those
szonderful. gilt-edged. lace paper affairs bedecked
ssfth Cupids. bows and arrows. pierced hearts and
doves. which were the admiration Of our childhood.
The old English custom of sending anonymous
preseats-sometimes really valuable gifts-is be-
coming and more widely adopted. And in
spite OF the cynics. many fair maids heart beats
faster when she hears the 0ostman's whistle
St Valentines Day. and there is little thrill
she pie OF letters and parcels is brought in and
opened. Boxes OF dewy Neapotan vioets heavy
with the peTfuued breath of the sunny South. bon
Sons jewery. painted creamy lace fans gloves.
perfumed sachets embroidered painted silk
satin. and the thousand other dainty trifes dear
the girlish heart are nowadays all pressed into
service valentines
Il is universally acknowledged that the valentine
has long look back. II dates from the time of
pagan Rome II was the Roman custom TO devote
Che latter portion Of the month of February to
she celebration OF the Lupercalia, feasts in
Aonor of the god Pan and the goddess Juno, the
last receiving the name of Februsta or Febrella.
eThe Romans. who copied the Greeks in all their
customs had adopted the Athenian habit Of
love lottery by drawing the names Of young girls
at the Eupercalia, but when Christianity had made
SITS mark and Rome converted from paganism
the members of the holy council considered how to
break of this decidedly anti Christian amusement.
The golden youth Of Rome stuck to the annual
lottery and IL would not have been prudent TO
close Il by order of law. A simple and holy monk
hit upon what was thought a splendid device. Let
US" he said. substitute the names of holy women
long their reward Moreover, let US. as
the lottery is drawn in the middle of February,
place f. under the patronage of some holy saint
whose feast falls about February Il or IS"
Unfortunately the history of st. Valentine and his
disciples has little or no chronological sequence
After the saint was made patron or the lottery
OF love- nothing much is heard about him until
the Middle Ages. when he is found firmly estab-
nshed the patron, not Of lottery OF holy
souls" but Of flesh and blood people. who rever-
enced him with extraordinary devotion The eve
OF 81. Valentines feast kept with great honor.
Good parents recommended their sons and daugh-
ters TO his care and the maidens prayed hard that
the morrow might bring them "a valentine that
later on would turn into husband Inc next
morning with the early dawn every one was on
The custom OF choosing the valentine from
chance meeting sometimes entaied awkward con-
rising one Valentines Day at an early hour found
on entering her sitting room young mason li who
Aecordlng 70 the rites Of the saint ne was mer
caused her intense annoyance, but there was no
getting out of the unpleasant position Her valen-
Hne ne was. and should so remain he however
proved 10 be most discreet In the end he discoy;
saved her life
ENGLISH VALENTINE LEGENDS.
It was an old English belief that the birds Sc
lected their mates ST. Valentines feast, and
mat an Influence potency was Inherent In the
day which rendered in some degree binding the lot
or chance by which any bachelor or maiden was at
this time led 10 fix his her attention on a per-
Son Of the opposite
Old John Dunton in THE British Apollo" says
that it formerly the custom for the valentines
10 interchange presents In the reign of the
staarts. however, there was introduced the French
fashion Of the presenting his valentine with
bouquets and gifts all through the year OF their
temporary engagement By degrees the gifts be-
came more valuable Pepys speaks Of the jewels
given by the Duke Of York valentine TO MIS-
tress Stuart, and tells how Lord Vaudeville; VINO
her valentine the following year, gave her a
ring worth 1900. This giving OF presents became
AZ last heavy tax, and later poeticai valentines
were in many instances substituted for more costly
gifts.
The literature OF the valentine is extremely OH
fuse; any one possessing the growing mania TOT
collecting" might equip himself with library OF
pocket books dramas gift books poems and letter
writer's ouizzing, satirfcal and yirtuous.
The earliest poettcaI valentine is ascrloeo 10
Charles Due d'Oreans. who taken prisoner
al the battle Of Agincourt Il5, and, being carried
20 England was imprisoned In the Tower or Lon.
don He of romantic, imaginative turn OF