Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-13
ST. VALENTINES DAY.
How Custom Of Celebrating Feb. Il
Disqualification Observed. Today.

SuSta stores where valentines are sold
nave been decorated with these Little mis-
sires some OF them pretty and some 9TH
erwise. and the school children have been
saving up their spare pennies to lurchaS.
some little token for their particular
chums just as their parents and grandpa
rents hd III pursuance OF the good old
custom OF observing Saint Valentines
DAY Which will fall on Tuesday. Feb. A.
lie custom is time Worn. but il has gain
ca such place Of prominence that giving
Nale!.tnes en- Saint Valentine : day would
as soon be forgotten almost as the giving
OF gifts at Christmas
SAINT Valentine WAS according to some
ecclesiastical writers. a bishop who was
hth"adcd at Rome i'll the reign Of Emper-
or laudiuS and WAS early ranoniZed. st.
Valentine is said To have had great power
III making love affairs run smoothly and
IN strengthening out .i,larreis When ne
WAS overcome by misfortune the Young
mo'rned him. and met secretly each wear
/" nay homage TO his memory. On these
occasions they presented to each other.
ilttle tokens which they called ST. Nalpn-
llhe offerings ana from this custom Of eel
chrhtns February 18th has reached its
present popularity.
DINER reasons are given for the found
ing OF this custom Some trace the ab-
SerNlnce to the habits OF the birds. which
We're supposed to select their mates on
this day; other from Il practice prevalent
III ancient Rome at the festival of the
l-hpcrc;tlia, during the month OF February,
When, among other ceremonies the ma mes
OF Young women Were placed in a box
from which they were taken by Young
men as chance directed. The pastors of
the carly church being unable to tXtirpat.
This pagan ceremony, changed its form.
ii was the custom Oh the exc of Feb H.
81; Valentines day. TO have the names of
select number OF one sex mt into some
Vessel by an equal number Of the other,
and theleupon everyone drew 1t name.
which for the time beng was called his
| or her valclrjne
Whatever The origin of the custom Of
sending valentines Oh the 14th of FehIll-
any ii is faithfully followed by the bows
ana girls OF the 10Th century. The first
81 February always finds the stores stock
td with thousands of the pretty little af-
FANS of paper lace. and mis- siveS OF all
Kinds from the hidcouS comic" designed
| I" he presented to the school teacher on
| pinned 70 the coattails OF The Sumnoient
| roliceman, 10 the beautiful Contraptiun Of
| salZe and iinscl which the love-lorn
NUun2Ster sends to his sweetheart
The makers Of valentines are ALWAYS
seeking for new and Pleasing effects in
then wares and the latest on the mark ct
are much mettier and much NOR unique
in the ideas they convey than those
/ which have b.n
made ont on telegraphc forms. with :,
| tender little mesSaSe-short but sweet
and a little yellow envelope such as tele-
siams are received in. The larger valen-
tines are more elaborate than ever in their
artlsuc beauty of color and design. The
comics" are as hideous as ever and are
wen calculated to reduce the bump of
esotism supposed to exist on the Uranium
OF any person receiving them
Valentines night is the time looked
forward to with pleasure by The bows
and girls who are OF the age which revels
| in Innocent fun. The day comes at the
time OF Year when the days are beginning
t" steal few hours from darkness and
the twilight is lengthenins. giving those
who cannot be out after dark an oppor-
iUilty 10 visit the houses of their friends
ana deliver their love tokens but il is
after dark that those who deliver the liz
Tie missivcs have the greatest fan.
Then The older boys and girls sally out.
usually in parties. and laden with their.
tender messages. Some Of lhes,. may ba
well meant if the recipient is popular and
the vale milne is pushed under the door
ever so softly and the messenger eteaIs
quietly away. unmindful of the bright
eyes Of the little watcher who has been
expecting visitors and is hidden behind
the window shades. This custom is most
~ confined TO the girls. for the bows have
othrr ideas of sport.
Most OF us can remember the time when
We hailed forth after dark and met the
gang at the corner of the street and
planned out the wicked work of the night
IN" house III each ogre in the nci.hbor-
mood was spotted, and tucked away in
some fellows pocket was tie mos. hideous
comic that could be found illus. ;,ting
the disaGrceahle qualities of the person
When the SaaS was all gathered a sor-
tie was made on the house. of the victim
and one lad chosen to slide the hidcorrs
reminder under the door. when the bell
was rung with i viSor which threatened
its wire and the gang scattered like
frightened rabbits. only to gather at some
prearringed corner and plan another visit
at the same sort.
The Daughters of the American Rev
olution will meet at 4 o'clock. this af-
ternoon. at the home of Mrs. II. l..
Sherburne. Chapel street. A paper de-
Scribing the events of 1875 ana III will
he given by Mrs. a. G. Andrews. ana
Miss Josephine Ward will read an ar
ticle on Lafayette and Steuben.
Seth Williams Post G. A. r.. Of this