Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1905-02-09
MERRY ST. VALENTINE.
The Lovers Own Day Comes Again
with Its Happy obser-
vances.

particularly familiar terms. The care
full judgment OF centuries has not
shown any evidence that the old priest
matters OF love. Nevertheless. Valen-
tine has for centuries been known as
the patron saint OF sweethearts. He
was bishop OF Rome during the third
century. and is said TO have achieved
great success in converting the pagan
Romans TO Christianity. The wrath
of the emperor. Marcus Aurelius
Claudius, was for th's reason visited
upon him and he was ordered 10 be
beaten outside the city. and later To be
brought within and beheaded. The
day of his death was February IA, 20
A. d. When the saint came to be
placed In the calendar his name was
given to the day OF h:E death, and thus
was created a festival which Offset
that of the Lupercaii2. which was OBJ
served the 10Th of tie same month.
Now the feast OF the Lupercalia was
an ancient Romaa celebration in
honor OF Pan and Juno. Among the
numerous ceremonies known to have
taken place at this time was that OF
placing in q box slips on which were
written names Of lie young women
present These were drawn out by
the young men, and each youth had TO
offer gift to the naid who fell TO
his lot, and to become her partner
while the merriment lasted. AS the
Lupercalian feast enc ST. Valentines
day were so nearly coincideu they
came in time to be observed on the
same day. And as has so often hap
pened with pagan feasts and modern
days of special meaning or interest.
the significance as well as the tina
of these two gradually merg ed nto
one.
In due time England took Up with
much zest the celebi stion Of this low
ers' holiday. II found its way also
into Scotland and france, and later, OF
course, into America. An early Eng
lish writer says: oh the ev OF the
14th of February. S. Valentir e's day.
the young folks in England al d Scot
land, by very ancient custo n. cele-
brate q little festival. An equal num-
Der of maids and bachelors get to-
gether. Each write their true or some
feigned name upon seperate biilets.
which they roll up, end draw by way
of lots, the maids taking the mems
billets and the men the maids; SO
that each of the young men lights
upon q girl that he calls his valen-
tine, and each of the girls upon
young man which size calls hers. BY
this means each has two valentines.
but the man sticks raster to the val
entine that is fallen to him than TO
the valentine to whom he is fallen.
Fortune having thus divided the COM
pany into SO many couples, the val
entines give balls ana treats to their
mistresses. and veal their billets
several days upon their bosoms or
sleeves, and this little sport often ends
in love-"
or course there were various SUI
perstitions connected with the day.
In q letter written about the year
1854 by a young English girl we have
a glimpse OF some OF the earlier ones.
She says: Last Friday was Valen-
tines day, and the night before got
five bay leaves and pinned four or
them TO the four corners OF my pill
low. and the fifth to the middle And
then, If l dreamt OF my sweetheart,
BETTY said we should be married be-
fore the year was oct. But to make
IL more sure, | boiled an egg hard and
took out the yolk aLd filled II with
salt. When | went TO bed l ate IT,
shell and all, without speaking or
drinking after it. We also wrote our
lovers names upon bits of paper and
rolled them up in Clay and put them
into water. The FIRST that rose up
was 10 be our valentine Would you
believe it?-Mr. Blossom was my
man! | lay abed AMI shut my eyes all
the morning till he. came to .'ur
house. For ! would not have seen
another man before him Tor all the
world"
In those days one sent to ones
sweetheart-or wou,l-be sweetheart
secret love missives in the form OF
verses which we're sometimes written
on plain paper in = disguised hand
sometimes printed and hidden In the
depths of paper lace and impossible
Cupids. And for this most part-if we
are to believe the historians and poets
the expressions were sincere and
honest, and offered a somewhat more
substantial proof OF regard than the
degenerate epistle VI modern times.
The youths and maIdsns evidently be-
lieved that 1T Is In love as In deer
stalking: one of the most important
elements of success may be to conceal
oneself. Detroit Flee Press.
-, HaafxxlNaco