New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-14

Observance AZ the feasts O: I.upercala were cele-
ed IN the middle Of February. the 18Th OF Feb
ruary was se~c ed the day % honor FOR ~ Val
entne. on these saints days TIE outlines of some
Of the pagau ceremonies were preserved which I'm
a modified form were adopted hoy the Christian
world for centuries.
An old writer saws: st. Valentine man OF
most admirable parts and so famous for his love
and charity the Valentine festival took ~ rise
from that" Mission. who ga l698 published travels
In England" wrote; "On tho eve Of 81 Valentine
Day the young FOLKS in England and Scotland. ny
"a very ancient custom. celebrate little festival.
An equal number or maids and bachelors writo
their true or feint nam" upon separate hhIet''
which they roll up and draw by way Of lots, the
maids taking tho mems biIlsts and men the maids
50 that each Of tho young men lights upon NouiS
airl that ne calls his valentine and eacn "t the
Young girls upon a Young man that she calls neiS-
~. This means each has two valentines, but the
man cnFs 10 the valentine that has fallen 10 us
lot rather than the one who calls him hers fo'I-
une having thus divided the company into $" many
couples the valentines give balls and treats, wear
;heir bHlc;s several days upon their sleeve anu
this little sport often ends IA love"
To cast lots for valentine rs described was
ractce followed until the eighteenth century by inc
eentry OF ENGLAND. It became obligatory upon the
~, 80 remain the devoted attendant Of his en-
SLAYER through the ensuing year and a present was
to ne given at 10 the choosing party rs l'l's
necessity OF devotion and Cift making was oI''l
oaro,is particularly - both Of the parties
were married e became III" custom 10 hesto" Il
handsome gift which released the valentine from
obligatory attentions. In 'PCpys's DIARY me lo'-
lowing account concerning the subject may he
found: valentines Day. 1655.-This morning came
mn "a my v-ifc,s bedside little VIII Mercer TO he
her valentine and brought her name written IN gold
letters upon blue paper. done by himself. very
pretty: and we both we'll pleased Nith H. But
I am also nv wffe's valentine. and II VIII cost me
f5 but that ! have laid cut II we had NOT
been valentines
on the 18Th he writes. I ind that Mrs Pierce
little girl IS my valentine she having drawn me-
which was sorry for; it easing me OF some
thing more that must have given TO others. II IS
also the fashion draw notices we'll rs names
SO chat Pierce. who drew my wife. did draw also =
motto and the little girl drew for me. What
mine forgot: but my vifes was Most cour-
teous and most fair
who became the Duchess Of Richmond: The Duke
CT York, being her valentine. ala give her q
3ewei Of about eight hundred pounds; and my Lord
Vaudeville her valentine this year. ring OF about
three hundred pounds" Pepys neglects 20 men
ton his present 20 Mrs Pierce's little girl though
he enlarges upon the gifts his wife received: This
evening my wife did. with great pleasure show me
her stock OF Jewels increased by the ring she hath
made lately as my valentines gift this year. a
Turkcy-stone set with diamonds. With this and
what she had. she reckons that she hath above one
hundred and fifty pounds worth OF Jewels 81 one
kind or other and 1 am glad Of IT, Tor il IL q; the
wretch should have something 10 content herself
with The word wretch" then used. does not
Imply that Mrs. Pepys wretched woman. but
was rather term OF ende2rme1t
Shakespeare. well as Chsucer, Dome. Drayton-
Lsdsate and other poets 0t the sixteenth aad ssF-