Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-02-23
CUSTOM
FADING
AWAY
Valentines Becoming Out of
Date and Out of Style

(Florence NJ. Hale in Tacoma Ledger. }
"A dainty little thing of lace
And ribbons, quantity fashioned;
A picture of a girlish face;
A bit of verse impassioned--
This was the tender valentine
sent my love, to show her
My wish to link her life with mine
Now as my wife all know her"
In ye olden days, when Florence.
the Italian city Of poetry and. art, was
the center of European culture and
artistic attainments, there lived in one
of the quaint, ivy grown monastaries
for which the fair cities Of Italy were
even then famous, the patron saint of
romantic youth--the beloved st. Val.
entine.
In those days the fair daughters
were guarded with the most vigilant
care from any contact whatever with
those of the opposite sex; and the only
way the picturesque and love inspir.
Ing gallant had of wooing the lady of
his choice was by sweet music. de.
liciously pronounced" while the maid
peeped coyly from the folds OF her
window hangings, not daring to ac.
knowledge his favor in any way unless
1t were to fling a rose to him as he
sat twanging the strings of his guitar
below.
It was customary at that time for
the parental ancestors to meet once
every year to discuss the merits, pros.
poets, and eligibility of the youths.
the accomplishments, dover, and
beauty Of each maiden; and marriages
were arranged according to suitability
and by contract between the respect
i've parents.
As may be supposed, such plans
were often Numerically opposed to
the noble youth and fair maid, at
tracted to each other by bright eyes
or musical voice, whom they could
thus known but as a passing fancy, and
meet freely only when the irrevocable
marriage bans had been pronounced
which bound them to another.
This good priest (perhaps himself
a victim Of the custom which had
filled many a convent and monastery
with pure, sweet souls, preferring their
dim seclusion and religious atmos-
phere to life of loveless union. hav.
Ing been deprived of the objects of
their hearts devotion). determined
so far as lay in his power to right the
wrongs OF the helpless; and on a Ger.
tain day Of each year, presumably
the 18th day Of February, a holiday at
the fiesta Of the months, any youth
or maiden could at confession deposit
with him a note or token to the loved
one. and the good saint. although
himself unseen and unknown. was
made the conhdant of all the sweet
hopes OF love, and made It his mis-.
sion to arrange for a union of the
lovers. It is not at all strange that
st. Valentine became so popular. or
that his shrine long after his demise
was covered with flowers by the
happy and grateful objects OF his
thoughtfulness.
AS time rolled on the custom held
In loving remembrance grew TO have
broader significance; and one who
thus expressed his preference was
bound TO the recipient to faithful al.
legiance and attention most courteous
for the period Of one year and the
romantic tradition has come down 10
us; and what pleasure it is TO see
the radiant, girlish face bending over
the dainty missive from her hearts
own choice, knowing full well who the
sender is, through some intangible in.
tuition which not her heart itself can
explain.
We feel a sympathy for that youth
trying to decide on the incest aggre
cation of lace paper and tinsel. whose
flights Of sentiment seem capable of
conveying his dear one all the burning
words his heart would fain express.
but which in the light OF her witch.
cries seem TO fee his mind. Who
would deny him this privilege. sane.
tilted and sealed his own by our
grand old man?" And where Is the
heart that would not throb or the
palest cheek that would not flush
when on this magic day an arrow shot
straight from the bow OF Cupid finds
his own heart pierced Herewith?
Could the little god of love wish more
effective darts than those same mis-.
siyes, bearing signet and stamp all
his own?
We send valentines 10 qaflefv an