The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-02-25
SARGE PLUNKETT.
Sarge Does NotLikeC Comic Valentines.

that there is nothing in the elegance
OF these store bought things that has
such q touch Of sincerity or the senti-
ment OF hearts as were found in them.
In this age Of progress and learning it
seems that the young people could
ind an original and more sincere way
In speaking tho feelings of their hearts
than was ever known before, but they
don't. and l AM bothered to know if
1T ID because they are not half so smart
as the age is claimed to be or is it be-
cause there is no such affection in
existence. Anyhow, I am sure that
the price of a valentine is a poor way
to estimate the affections of the heart.
1t used to be counted that the birds
came with St. Valentines day and
they did, but they don't come much
now-especially the blue birds, and
there is precious little mating among
the birds unless it may be the Eng
lish sparrows. I can we'll remember
when the trees used to hang with
birds nests and when every hollow
stump was occupied by the pretty
mated blue birds. They tell me that
progress and the English sparrows
have exterminated the birds, but I
don't know as this is correct, it would
be easier for pe to believe that tho
"pot hunters" who have neither :sen-
timent nor thought Of the future nor
any knowledge that progress would
acknowledge as belonging to it, are
more responsible for the absence Of
the birds than anything else. 1t may
be that. the birds became imbued with
the ideas Of what we call the "new
woman and like these women had a
contempt for the good old ways. The
mother birds lost the cravings they
once had, tired making nests and
w%earying with baby birds, and SO we
have the decrease that is so much to
be deplored, and sometimes I am afraid
that the Anglo-Saxon race will be ex-
terminated upon the same idea. It is
distressing to know how mpuy human
beings have come to dread the build
ing of nests and the worrying with
babies. They tell me that France is
in a state Of decay from this very
blight and just in proportion as this
natural and most afectionate. feeling
departs comes the curse of sin and i'm
morality.
But old folks like me and Brown
ought to find better employment than
talking about valentines, or love, or
the fall off in birds or children; but
memories go with us all down to the
grave, and are sad or sweet according
to the humor. The comic valentines
we have received provoked US into
comparing the old ways with the new,
but it was not altogether for ourselves
that we have taken o stand against
the "comics." A sweet little girl Of
u settlement received a letter yes
terday by the rural delivery. It was the
first letter that she had aver received.
and her face beamed with the happiest
anticipations as she received it. She
had no thought Of a valentine, but I
expect she wa thinking of a young
ster who had lately gone to Atlanta
as she broke the seal and pulled the
missive from the envelope. I am sure
that it would be a heartless wretch
who could have seen that girls face as
the ugly valentino was revealed and
not be against the things. She ran
away as quickly as she could and sew
eral hours after I saw her and her
eyes were red from crying. Sullivan,
or Corbett, or Fitzsimmons, men like
these, would consider it under the
belt to send these comic valentines:
and yet there are those who consider
these men close akin to brutes that
indulge In venting their spleen or
getting revenge by sending out comic
valentines. 1t is a poor way to get
revenge; it is not funny, and it takes
no intelligence to do it. Little dago
boostblacks and street gamins might
find a laugh in sending these things
to one Of their sort, but I fail to see
how an intelligent person could in.
dulge in such. I'm ergin 'em-
Browns ergin 'em-dogon 'em.-
Sarge Plunkett, in Atlanta Constitu-
ton. .