The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-06
VALENTINES IN WINDOWS
OF THE DOWNTOWN SHOPS
Since This Is Leap Year St. Val
entine's Day Will Be Utilized
by Many Women.
NEW THINGS ARE SHOWN

Bookshop windows are full of valentines
so full indeed. that one is moved to wonder
why the pretty cards of greeting are shown
In such profusion this year. For many and
many season the valentine habit has pre-
vailed only among school children and the
shops have made such lavish displays
for the small customers, who have been for
long time almost the only ones.
The bookstore man has an answer to the
''Why?" with which he is greeted. The an
swer is Leap year" The bookstore intui-
ton recognizes that the sending of valen-
tine is easy and pretty way of expressing
the permissible but sometimes difficult leap
year preference. And that's why the win
6ows blossom with all kinds of pretty cards
covered with sweet and tender sentiments.
They aren't all intended for leap year mis-
sives, though. The man who wants 10 fol-
low the lOng-fOregone custom and send his
lady love a dainty anonymous message on
st. Valentines day will find plenty of the
cards with messages designed to be read by
the fair ones
The valentines this year are very different
from those with which maids OF an earlier
generation were beguiled. Instead of the
much fine paper lace, cupids, doves and
sugary sentiments, there are the most ar
water color-hand-work almost invariably
and with two or three lines of charming
greeting containing nothing of the mawkish
Sentiment which was the invariable mark
OF the earlier valentine. The big squares
of water-colOr paper, with flowers scattered
here and there and tied by bows of satin
ribbon, are artistic enough 10 frame and
take their place among the Illuminated
verses and texts which are always charm
ing on the walls.
Something absolutely new In the way of
valentines is "a big envelope with a painted
cupid the outside and q scarlet heart
with square in the center, on which to
r,1c of mole =
The big envelope unfolds and inside one
reads a quaint little verse which has the
true valentine flavor. together with much
The comic valentines. too. have taken on
a new form this year-with much advan-
tage. il must be admitted To be sure Won
of "mashers. "old maids" common
scolds' and ali the other train of comic val
entine figures with their accompanying
verses of somewhat doubtful elegance and
wit-that is. If you want them. But unless
you are of that happy age when the only
proper way to send a valentine seems to be
10 poke IL under the door, ring the bell and
then scamper the original comic valentine
probably does not appeal TO you. The new
comics. however. are entirely different from
the earlier two-for-a-cent kind. Among
them are a line Of decorated post cards with
quaint designs that are very amusing. even
If they have little of the valentine sugges-
ton about them. Even more attractive are
the little water-color drawings on oblOng
cards-for instance. a small. weary-looking
car conductor in blue, with the accompanv-
ing lines:
Punch. punch. punch with care.
But punch my heart sir II you dare.
a little bakers boy. with a heavily-loaded
basket, is implorcd 10
BE baker for my sake.
Then you'll always take the cake
The little cards are full OF fun and are
things that one really likes to keep; and
after a glimpse through the array of valen-
tines. lovely and comic which are offered
this year for young and old. one is inclined
10 believe that the bookstore mans predic-
ton OF much valentine buying will be full
filed. for. even If one had not thought of
sending valentines, the quaint and pretty
things Will themselves suggest il.