Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-02-06
ST. VALENTINE TOKENS.
What the Shops Are Showing in Ap-
propriate Novelties.


making and jest the day of ST. Valen-
| tine begins to come around on the cal
endar. The shops are the first to make
known its approach, but presently
! there will come Valentine dinners and
luncheons. where heart shaped en-
bleins of all sorts are prominent, and
even the name card carries soulful
, lines. This is modern adaptation of
the valentine, and clever people with
! knack for jingles find their resources
in great demand.
Valentine favors take the form of
bonbon boxes, flower corsages and
dainty sachets, besides all sorts OF
pretty conceits which are cut out Of
pasteboard, virtually the successors of
the lace paper affairs, and quite as
elaborate with ornament and rhymes.
The quaintest novelties of the season
are utilized by young people as SOU
venirs at their card parties and other
functions. For such purposes some of
the prettieSt are the love lockets of
pasteboard, hung on ribbon. This
contrivance which is wonderfully
rigsed for only a dime, opens to show
a tiny heart with a motto One of the
little lockets is styled loves compass"
and is encrusted with a suitable design
and cherubs. Within are the words:
Change as ye list, ye winds. My heart
shall be
The faithful compass that still points to
thee.
There are mostly the same old
"grinds" which appear from year to
year in different guise, and there are
always the same foolish jibes at bach
elordom. The most elaborate devices
are seen of the pawnticket variety, and
card which has the words,
With all my wealth I'll thee bestow.
Ii YOU my sweetheart will be now,
has for wealth a match, chip and a
ten-spot.
In miniature a yoke such as oxen
wear. has the loops labelled, Taken
by my valentine and ITO let" It's
message is:
It's not a joke;
L send this yoke.
OF you l fondly dream;
If you will mate,
It's not too late,
AND we will make a team
The mechanical valentine never goes
out of date. and, although the lace ones
are not so much seen nowadays, there
sign, which open and show a group Of
lovely Cupids surrounding a woman's
face.
Tags are one of the novelties, and in
vite the sarcastic legend, you've been
tagging after me long enough
Cupid acts also as a fisherman, and
catches in his golden net unwary
hearts. The maid, as, the hub of the
universe, is the sentiment of a design,
with forget-me- and hearts en-
tangled among heaspokesowhich radi-
ate about milady's picture.
The valentine spoons make an at
tractive set of souvenirs appropriate to
the occasion There are plenty of
hearts strung upon the handle, and
Cupid, with his quiver, is triumphant,
poised among forget -me-nots Flower
faces are also used with a rose, a pam
sy Or nasturtium Since flowers have 1
become SO much a. feature of St. Yalen-
tine, dainty novelty introduces them
in artificial form and scented "A spray |
of roses, a handsome ornament for the |
corsage or hair has these lines:
A ROSE FOR YOU. MY VALENTINE. |
'Tis sweet rose, and so l ask
If you will take it for your own,
And bring to it tender thought
OF sunny hours we two have known.
G. d. B.
Really choice love verses have lately |
appeared among the best of valentines, |
and of these the well known Shakes
peare sonnet, II would not to the mar
riage of true love admit impediments, "
has been richly Illuminated for this |
use. There are also some collections of |
favorite love verses which thes book |
stores offer as valentines. |