The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12
ST. VALENTINE GIFTS TO DATE.
YOUNG MEN BITING TRINKETS,
hooks, CANDY. FLOW ERS.
Even II Less Poetry is written. the Festival
0f Lovers Is Observed More Than Ever
Men Not Much Tempted by the
Paper NaleutIncs-Jew Hearts.

valentine = lay Is observed more tnan
ever, say those who know the signs OF the
times, From a paper festival, so to speak
il has been raised TO one of silk. satin gold,
silver and jewels
IL is no longer the fashion maybe to
consume the midnight electric light in
composing amorous verses, but, that
is solely because man has discovered
that the taste OF the girl Of the period does
not run to amateur poetry. She prefers
something more useful, more ornamental.
This year, at least, she win get her wish
II the tempting array Of goods appropriate
to the day means anything.
From many sources il is learned that the
valentines most in demand by men are, in
the order named, books boxes OF candy,
flowers, jewelry. The paper valentine
trade doesn't count seriously on men
buyers
When in doubt buy book, applies
this year TO valentines much TO the joy
Of young men whose pocketbooks find it
hard to keep pace with the warmth Of
their owners feelings.
For some reason or other-no one ever
knows who starts the fashion in such things
all the book stores. and many of the book
sections in the department stores, have
during the last few days showed to the
front an imposing stock of volumes done
up with satin ribbons tied in lovers knots,
tucked beneath which are illuminated
cards labelled "St Valentine" and bearing
sweet sentiment. These books are not
by any means all love stories. Books OF
verse and love sonnets are most plentiful.
There are books in inexpensive bindings
and editions de luxe, books tiny, Of medium
size and huge, tied with pink ribbon
! preferably.
Men aai women alike are buying these
books, the men paying anywhere from
81 to $40 and more, the majority keeping
within the s. limit.
The man whose fancy turns TO a candy
valentine must dip bit deeper into his
pocketbook than the man who chooses a
book. unless indeed he satisfies himself
with an ordinary paper box filed with in
different candy. But thc. sort il not the
valentine which appeals to an up-to-date
young woman.
The valentine box ought 10 be Of satin or
silk. hand painted or embroidered or deco
rated with artificial flowers and ribbon,
and it must be filed with the best bon-bons.
Many OF those shown in the shops just now
are works Of art calculated TO appeal to
even the smartest women for the reason
that they may afterward be used for hold
ing trinkets. ribbons, handkerchcfs and
30 on.
These boxes are in all sorts OF shapes
Some have graceful Louis XIV. curves and
embroidered ribbon bow knots TO har-
monte. There are square, oblong, round
boxes. in white, pale yellow. pink lilac,
l1t,n 49,, f,t. 10,
quisite floral designs, and they may be had
in sizes to hold from one TO ten pounds One
Of the latter. about fifteen inches square,
covered with pale pink satin, hand embrold-
cred with a dainty wreath design and
lined with pink satin. costs $40. and prices
range from that down TO about SO.
One oftthe most popular boxes with men
Is a nine inch square fat basket with
cover made Of white straw. This is orna-
mented on top with a single large pink
satin rose nesting in n bunch of satin
ribbon OF the same color. Another variety
has big pale yellow rose and yellow ribbon /
and the straw is touched with gilt, Filled
with the choicest candy, this style costs
3i5 and. as an admiring purchaser remarked /
the other day. Is cheap at the price.
Oh, yes, men are our best customers /
for the more expensive of these boxes,
said q Fifth avenue dealer, and they are |
also good BUYERS OF the fancy paper five /
pound boxes Of candy. The smallest satin
covered box though is preferred 10 a huge I
paper one for the reason that II can be kept |
as a souvenir and put TO good use, too.
We have special boxes and fancy valen-
tine cards to 90 with them to meet the de- |
rnands e the season. said a florist who |
gets lot Of st. Valentine money.
THE flower valentine ia on the whole |
more popular with older men than with |
the young fellows-that is, the older men |
leave a greater number Of orders.
"A young fellow will blow in all his sur
plus. perhaps on one girl, the older man
sends to three or four or half dozen women.
For instance one customer has left four
orders to be delivered 20 az many places |
on St Valentines Day and in each case,
II possible. the flowers are TO be white.
'One order Is positively for white lilacs.
which are anything but plentiful at this /
season. A sealed card goes with each order, 4
and Of course | have no idea what is on
that card.
Spring flowers are much in demand for
st. Valentine offerings, although the senti /
ment attaching TO red roses puts them /
In the first place in some cases.
Il remember that last year an anxious /
looking young man came in the day before /
and ordered red roses-two dozen OF |
them 10 go to a certain lady on st. VAL
getting very short on deep red roses, and
by way OF easing things up ! attracted his 4
attention TO some American Beauties. |
But no. He showed alarm right away.
L don't call those red roses, said he /
sharply. looking more anxious than ever.
i must have red roses or none at all.
"Of course he got them. We don't find
here that ST. Valentines Day has been cut
out Of the fashionable calendar. Not at
oil.
"Trinkets are more in vogue for st. VAL
entine's Day gifts now than when first
began selling jewery thirty years ago.
said a leading jeweler, picking up a. lie
spoke small gold heart set with single
turquoise in the centre. The thing was
not larger than a mans thumb nail.
These small hearts he explained. "are
attached to a bracelet or TO a chateaine (
chain along with other bangles. We are /
selling many just now and there il also a .
demand for heart shaped locketa and for b
ieweed heart shaped ornaments although .
naturally the orders for the latter arc not |
so plentiful az are orders for the others, I
on account Of their greater cost.
Young girls are particularly fond OF .
amulets Of all sorts which accounts, sup
pose. for the demand we have for them
Small gold hearts and the varieties bordered .
With small seed pearls and sprinkled with I
diamond dust are not costly enough 70 {
cause embarrns sment even supposing the
asff Il rfr1 n RI