The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-14
WHO ST. VALENTINE REALLY Is
None Other Than Old Pan, in a Chris
tian Garb.

Who has ever thought that St VaIen-
tine was once really clothed in human
flesh, and more than Santa Claus and
Cupid? And yet the few votaries who are
left him viii still worship at his shrine.
| in Rome, where once year the ceremony
IS performed OF bringing out his skull.
crowned with roses. These flowers are as
unfading as the quality over which the
saint presides-for they are made Of pink
tissue paper.
Indeed the blessings of this saint must
be widespread, for another church in
Italy has the precious relic of an arm;
an abbey in Normandy. St Peitro in Nj
Ian. and the Antwerp Cathedral have
each a portion of the dissected saint.
That the name Of a Roman bishop,
ulartyred 1900 years ago, should De in
scri6ed upon love 5ing.es seems about as
appropriate as placing cap and balls
upon a cardinal
Long before the year one Of the Chri-
tan era Roman youths and maidens
bowed at the foot of an alter dedicated to
a god, so old that he has been called the
child Of Chaos. He has had many incar-
nations and Travelled under many an
alias In reality St. Valentine is but a
pagon god with a christian halo IN
blinded from the dazzling light Of his
halo one finds a pair of horns; remove
the stole and he sees pair OF cloven
hoofs; for ST. Valentine IS no more or les
than the pagon god Pan; like a bishop
presiding over his foclzs.
This spring festival in his honor. called
the LupercaHa. is probably the most an
Gent celebrated IN Rome. and for count
less ages sacrifices have been made to
Pan on the 18th Of February OF each year.
On these occasions it was the custom for
the Roman youths to draw the names Of
maidens from a marble vase. So popular
was this with the holiday loving Romans
that they continued to celebrate their fes-
tival TO Pan long after their conversion
70 Christianity, simply leaving out the
sacrifice. Five hundred years after the
beginning Of the Christian era the Pope,
finding It impossible 70 chcange a custom
rooted in so many centuries, decided 70
give it a csnonicaI form.
The calendar of the saints wascousulted
and conveniently enough there was a
saints day ready mande. which fell upon
the eve OF the oaher Moreover. vaIen-
tines martyrdom took place upon the
PalatIne Hill. near the spot where the al
ter to Pan had stood. 50 the Romans
went on celebrating, drawing from the
vase aheir lots. which from that time
were called valentines"
Nowadays. even in Rome. the old saint
IS sadly neglected though there is one
little cnapel-strangeIy enough not at the
sa.na's sh-ire-waere a few sentimental
youths still drop their love billets. tied
with green ribbons. and the Santuzzas
and the LUCAS come TO claim them.
The custom Of drawing ones Valentine
by lot became exceedingly popular al
over Europe, and continued as ate as a
century ago. Bua Is grew 10 oe such an
extrsvaEarce that Il wore itself out, FOR
each Valentine was expected 70 present
his OF her partner with a costly gift
Even royalty took part n the festival
Princess Mary. who was later the
''bloody'' queen. has this mention in the
Inventory Of he- jewels; - 5roach OF
sold. enameIed black. with an agate OF
the story Of Abraham. with 81 small
rockr rueies' which IS stated IN the ma
gin to have been given 70 Sir Anthony
Brown, drawing her grace % his YsIen-
tire"
And Pepvs writes in his dairy Of $3.50:
Ny wife 10 81 " Battea's, and there
sat awhile. ne having sent ny wife a
haff dozen pair of gloves ard = pair y
stockings and gartsrs for her Valentine
TINES have changed since then. s15
society women NJ longer receive 50 h
tokens 0s esteem from their admirers,
fo- this "a said - be TOO uate-1a lis5i-
an age Saint Valentine IS neglected ard
out o. fashion. and 70 wonder. when aa-s
The ne7 and women ara too busy = FAR
II love; to-. as Bulzer saws. Love is IA
business II the idle. ard ten tdle1ess %