The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
BRAND new ST. VALENTINE.
GIRLS NOW NOT 4 BIT LIKE
THOSE HE Used TO Knob.
They Are capable OF Doing the wooinr
a. They Are Of Doing the Other Things
OF Which Men Once Had = None.
poly ~. Valentines New Attitude.

poly Valentines New Attitude.
st. Valentine Is classed among III.
saints about whom religious history has
chosen to remain discreetly vague. II is
recorded that he was a Christian martyr
in the reign Of the Emperor Claudius. His
festival was celebrated on Feb. IL, ana
about this time Of the year IL was the Gus.
tom TO worship Juno.
History hastens TO assure posterity that
the association Of the saint will the heather
worship Of Juno, from which the sending
OF valentines originated. was wholly acct
dental, but It fails 20 explain just how tie
accident occurred and thus leaves st.
Valentines career shrouded in a fascinating
mystery.
While the February holiday was never
celebrated by any glittering street pageant,
neighing steeds with gorgeous trappings
and audible and visible high jinks, there
has always been nevertheless a mighty
throng, a vast army the world over, an army
OF youth and beauty that marched on Naleu-
tines day 20 invisible music and bent be
fore his shrine in graceful, reverent homage.
Our grandmothers loved him and they
were far more particular than We In Their
bestowal Of affection. There was no more
important date in the year TO the girl OF
fifty years ago than St. Valentines day.
But the days and the girls of yesterday are
gone and st. Valentine no longer holds
his court.
Eheu fugacesl Where are they
Those were the days when youths pined
for maidens and dared not speak. Girls
blushed, looked down and wept on the
slightest provocation. The feminine DOSE
Of the time was a fawn-like tlmidity to-
gether with a wraith-like fragilty.
Girls shrank ia those days and did very
little else. The shrinking attitude was
the only correct one when young women
were asked to dance or to supper. Nova
days they give only half dances at a time
and ask for two suppers in a night.
Valentines were supposed 70 be anony-
nous confessions Of love. the opening
wedge for one OF the serious courtship-
of the time when engagements were III
earnest Popular girls numbered their
valentines as a debutante Of to-day does
her bouquets.
They took the form fret OF original verse
In the stately quaint style of the period
Then France. which always fnds nature
crude and likes it's lilies gilded, began to
get up lace paper monstrosities with bleed
ing hearts, arrows and obese cupids re-
pouss6.
ms OF course doomed tne ernDiem OF
the day. Thrifty manufacturer realizing
that the demand for valentines, like the
demand for babies shoes, had a Arm foun-
dalton in the hearts OF the people, began
to turn out more elaborate machine mace
horrors each year. They made them in
the form OF plaques, and even fashioned
them Of plush with cords and tassels like
pew cushions. The poetry accompanying
these upholstered greetings became ad-
mirably worse each year.
H., - ,lA YNna tFtan a oh a M was going
on In the eternal girl. ~lnsidiously, sh"
was advancing, taking a place IN the busi-
ness world with a frivolous rufied apron
as a cloak for her deadly intentions t.
push man by degrees into 10 hacS grouno
until he became finally extinct. She was
taking up professions, raising violets,
chickens and even pigs on former aban-
doned farms.
She gave up faintlng. weeping and cook
ing and began to look at man out OF a differ
ant corner of her eye. She stopped shrink
ing, let out her corset laces, took deep
breaths and began 10 juggle with dumb
bells. st. Valentine, nicheless between
the worlds, observed the situation WITT,
amused surprise. for he was always a friend
TO woman.
Anonymous love became extinct, al
though il must ave given rise 10 some
charming situations impossible In tho
direct hypocrisy Of our fiirtatlons. y"
man Of to-day allows c0ncealment to prey
on his damask cheek for any length Of
time, Nor does he send anything, evel,
his love, without his card. Or II he be-
eccentric enough 10 do SO, he always calls
the next day and looks unconscious.
And 80 s.. Valentine has passed into
another reincarnation, masquerading prob
ably IA Il fashionable florist. Flowers
ara sent nowadays on the festival just
as they are on the other gift days OF the
wear. But the old m charm
Of the custom has gone.
There has been a distinct reversal In tho
attitude of the sexes, unspoken, perhaps
but fully in evidence even at the dancing
schools where the little boys are scare"
and much made up To-. A they grow W
this condition continues and the girl who
can accumulate the most formidable nuIn-
Der of men as a background Immediately
assumes the position OF popularity, Will"
the soulful maiden who may look at mel
with All analytical Henry James sort o;
viewpoint is condemned TO the sad fate OF
the young lady named Nell, that tie iaIe
boys sing of, who
was not yery much OF a belle.
She so Ia The sand aud held her own mana
IA! never got on 10 the sell.
George Moore, who has formed the re-
Srettable habit Of hurting unpleasant truths
AZ ~, SavE that a glance around "A drawing
room to-day reveals the fact INT man j.
IA. looked -up-'o and the soughi-lof to-day
II p,rl, do not actually prop0sc he say"
thay DO not hesitate 10 lead the horse 10
the water. Ihl- j. on the other slde OF IN"
ocean. a broader field, where pretty Amer
can girl- arr taken 10y their mothers ooronei
hunting.
But tie American man il edulated. feted'
inyitoi. f4ttared, followed up until, mar
YOU. until he ~ secured Then he Develop
into a Mr.. Pipp.
Rrt hachalnrhood is his heyday and & l.
not to I., wondered a, that he prolonsS =
unit il he b cumes all but dDdder!ng, when yo'
hear of tn engagement TO some bcau'i.G
Young hoir.e-. Aud IN accordance VII
our odd American customs the girl 70
alW avs congratulated
-. Valentine, having been q thorough
smar, saint. AZ all events, has prohah''
adapted himself 10 hIs loss oi f~eliuu@ pres
tigc. For despite the CnaI E'd conoltlo.
~ thing. hearts continue to tang." and 20
un,anglc with a delightful activity, char,
acterizi0g the agc. Valentine cannot iah
10 note that Cupid still keeps busy il ~
playful way with results Apparently do
81 ranuous as when love Was yoLug.