Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-13
ST. VALENTINES LORE
EARLY HISTORY OF THE DAYS
CELEBRATION.
DR.. J. o. Skinner Talks Of Festal oc-
casions in Early Periods Of His
tory-Religious Exercises.

eft seems strange indeed, that there
should be such an increasing disposition
among us to forget or neglect to celebrate
ST. Valentines day, dedicated to one of the
most beautiful and attractive inspirations
OF a happy Hfe,'' said DR.. J. o. Skinner to
Star reporter today.
Even among the heather, and no doubt
in prehistoric time, there were regular
festal occasions where youths and mafdens
congregated. and in various ways enjoyed
festival of their emotions. This practice
became SO popular and general that the
church. as early as the fifth century, de-
cided to recognize it by an ecclesiastical
edict. with a view. probably. of abolishing
certain extravaganza revelry which threat
ened it's proper observance. Pope Gaislus
set aside February IA for this purpose, ana
also to commemorate the sad death OF
Bishop St Valentine one of the unfortu-
nate victims of the Emperor Claudius who
caused him to be first beaten with clubs
and then beheaded, for having healed the
blind daughter of his jaiior Asterius, sent
by Claudius to convert him back to Idol
airy, and by this miracle making Asterius
with all his house converts to Christianity.
Previous to this, the feast of Lupercalia
was observed. February 49, In honor OF the
god Pan, and was first instituted by the
Romans as testimonial to the She
wolf which sucked Romulus and Remus.'
SacT1uceS ana 0pOTIS.
con these occasions sacrifices and sports
of various kinds were conducted for the
amusement and enjoyment of those par
ticipating In changing the date of this
festival to February IA. and attempting to
prescribe Them and again In the sixteenth
century some of the ways in which Cupid
should amuse himself, the church was I'M
able, as might have been expected. to con-
troll the tastes and traditions OF love and
youth which prevailed then. as now. among
all people, pagan and Christian Such an
inspiration being one of natures laws could
not be regulated by church ordinance!
Valentines in various forms. as glfts
flowers, books, appropriate sonnets, etc,
have been messengers Of favor and fidelity,
and although frequent attempts are made
to conceal the identity of the donor. 1t is
usually determined by circumstantial evil
dence.
BY many and for a long time. one or
more original verses were considered the
most elegant and expressive 'missive sent
to a sweetheart from another sweetheart,
and the manufactured valentine, the COM
mercial article. was not on the market. 1t
Is only about 100 years old. In the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries substantial gifts
took the place of anonymous verses. and
married as we'll as single persons observed
ST. Valentines day.
Pretty English Custom.
s'There is pretty custom prevailing in
some English villages, where children go
from house to house singing their valentine
greetings and receiving little tokens in re-
turn. The practice of exchanging valen-
tines among dear friends and lovers is pecu-
liar to English-speaking people and should
not be discountenanced or discouraged.
Such delicate and worthy sentiment
should be cherished by every one and
general expression Of it on this particular
day, consecrated by custom and consent,
to the sweets and puritfeS OF nfe-be ap-
proved and adopted. There are few, II any,
gardens without one or more favorfte
flowers to be remembered Nay. more,
would 1t not be suitable tonic for the de-
bilitated morality of modern ideas, and as
sist in retarding the growth and develop
ment of the all-practical doctrine being SO
generally followed and taught?
Policy and Commercialism.
stShall policy and commercialism be &C
cepted as our guide and god and allowed
to strangle and supersede, without re-
monstrance and resistance, all principle and
sentiment, and plant upon their graves in
the field of impulse and endeavor the noxi-
Gus weeds of stocism skepticism and ego
ism, in place of the fragrant flowers Of
love, faith and charity? Does any one
believe that an eXaltation of the practical
altogether-this Unsuitable desire for wealth,
position and power, the success-at-any
sion or extinction of all benevOlence and
idealism will develop the best and purest
in the nature and better qualify one
TO live that when thy summons comes TO
join
80 The innumerable caravan that moves
To that mysterious realm where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death.
Thou go not like the quarry slave at night
'' 'Scourged to his dungeon; but sustained and
soOthed
BY an unfaltering trust approach thy grave
II Ike one that draws the drapery OF his couch
90 About him and lies down to pleasant dreams