The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-08
VALENTINES ID BE
 SENT BY LADIES Leap Year Forces Them to Do
 the Buying. SEVERAL PRETTY DESIGNS Knowing That the Ladies Would Have to Do the Sending This Year Dealers Have Purchased
 Prettler Designs.
SEVERAL PRETTY DESIGNS

The ladies of Birmingham may not be aware of the fact, but this year everyone of them Is expected to send valentine to their true love. According to the rules of February II, as laid down in the minds of the oldest inhabitants, members of the fair sex must send a valentine to their devoted admirers every leap year, and this year Is double leap.
 Counting on this, and knowing that the ladies would send prettier and many more valentines to the men because they get the opportunity but once every four years. the dealers have bought just twice as many this year, and the prices range al- most twice as high as last year. Not that the same valentine costs more this year than last year. but the designs are handsomer and more costly.
 Many Already Purchased.
 Already the weaker sex can be seen pur- chasing pretty remembrances for their friends, for St. Valentine presides over next Sunday and the tokens of love will have to be bought and sent before satur- day.
 One has no idea the number of valen- tines which will be used in Birmingham this year. H. Baruch of Loveman, Jo- seph & Loeb, estimates that there will be about 900 valentines costing from $1 to s15 each, 45 gross ranging from cents to $1, and no limit to cheaper ones. In fact, he says that the stocks this year are fully 100 per cent larger than ever before.
 Originality has been sought this year in the manufacture of valentines. The Bus ter Brown hearts are very popular. The idea is taken from the series of funny pictures which have become so we'll liked have funny pictures of the people and animals which appear In Buster Brown, little verses are printed.
 Some Verses.
 On one will be found:
 "Why don't someone ask
 Someone to be someone's vaIentine?"
 And oa another sweet scented token will be read the lines:
 Your are juggling little maid,
 With my heart. I am afraid,
 But If mines the only one,
 You are welcome to your fun"
 On next Sunday morning when the fair ones wake to read the love missiles left on the previous night some one of them will be greeted with
 Don't monkey with this heart of mine" But say you'll be my valentine" There are few cheap and vulgar valen- tines this year. They have practically dropped from the remembrance of the day. It Is no longer thought exactly proper 10 send them. On the other hand the valentines are being painted in silk and satin, cellulold of all colors and in the prettiest of de- signs. Some which are to be seen are really rare specimens of hand painting. People can hardly appreciate the beau ties without a visit to a book corner where they are kept.
 Handpsinted Satin centers.
 There are many which contain the hand painted satin centers around which are built wonderful creations of ribons, silks and celluloids. Every shape and kind seems to be new
 Another new feature are the post cards which are very clever in many instances. and unique in their get up and design. Verses, wise and witty sayings and gem eral nothing" appear on them. One contains the picture of big policeman yielding a mighty club. and he is receiv- ing instructions from a fair maiden as follows:
 You'd keep the peace Were you a police; I love a brave, Bold man like you" The women are making rush for this particular valentine. as seemingly every one of them has a particular friend to whom the last two lines seem more ap- flro at ofh