Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-02-14

field, describing rustic manners. SAYS
they send true-love knots on Valentine
morning.
In Poor Robins Almanac. for 1876.
opposite ST. Valentines day. in Feb
ruary, is the following:
Now Andrew, Anthony, and William.
For Valentines draw
Prue, Katie. Jilian.''
Wheatley says that Saint Valentine
was "A man of most admira--e parts.
and so famous for his love and charity.
that the custom of choosing Valentines
upon his festival took its rise from
thence"
Pepys, in his diary, says that
February %, 1861, his wife went to
Sir w. Batten's and there sat a while.
he having the day before sent her
half dozen pair of gloves. and a
pair of silk stockings and carriers for
her valentines.
In 1867, on Valentines day. Mr.
Pepys says: This morning. came up
TO my bedside, being up dressing
myself little viii Mercer. to her yalen-
tine, and brought her name written
upon blue paper in gold letters, done
by himself very pretty; and we were
both we'll pleased with it,"
In the following year is the follow
ing note: This evening. my wife did
with great pleasure show me her
stock of jewels, increased by the ring
she hath made lately, as my valen-
tine gift this year a Turkey stone set
with diamonds
The earliest poetical valentines are
by Charles, duke of Orleans, who was
.aken prisoner, at the Battle of Agin.
court, in l4l5. The poems, were writ
ten chiefly in English. during his con.
finement in the Tower of England.
Lets laugh at them that choose
Their Valentines by lot.
To wear their names that use,
Whom idly they have got;
Such poor choice We refuse.
St Valentine befriend;
We thus this morn may spend.
Else, must. awake her not"
Deuce, in his Illustrations of
Shakespeare, says: 1T was the
practice in ancient Rome. during a
great part of the month of February.
to celebrate the Lupercalia, which
were feasts in honor of Pan and Juno.
whence the latter deity were named
Fc5ruata, Februalis and Februlla. On
this occasion, amidst a variety of
ceremonies, the names OF young wo-
men were put into a box, from which
they were drawn by the men, as
chance directed.
The pastors of the early Christian
church. who, by every possible means,
endeavored TO eradicate the vestiges
OF pagan superstition, and chiefly by
some combinations of their forms,
substituted, in the present instance,
the names of particular saints instead
of those Of the women; and as the
festival of the Lupercalia had com
menced about the middle of February
| they appear to have chosen ST. Valen-
tines day for celebrating the new
feast, because it occurred nearly at
| the same time.
This is, in part, the opinion of a
learned and rai cnal compiler OF the
Lives of the Saints" Rev. Alban
Butler.
at should seem. however, that it
was utterly impossible to ext.rpate al
together any ceremony to which the
common people had been mucn accus.
tomed-a fact wh.ch it were easy Ia
prove i'll tracing the origin Of various
other popular supers'itions. And
accordingly, the outline of the anc.en.
ceremonies was preserved, but modi
! fed by some adoption to the Christis ~
! system.
ut is reasonable TO suppose that the
above practice of choosing mates
would gradually become reciprocal in
the sexes, and that all persons 50
chosen would be called Valentines
from the day on which the ceremony
took place"
She must no more annoying:
! Or by rosebuds divine
! Who'll be her Valentine"
(
] r.