The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-28
Two Notable Receptions Are
Events of Mr.. Swanson's In
duction to Office.
WEDDINGS, PAST AND FUTURE
Midwinter Brides No Less Beauti-
ful Than Those OF June.
Private Entertainments.
I Made a Wish.

saw tie new moon yesterulsht
iow-hanssng IN the sky,
Twas pale and thin.
And gave no light.
And Yet l lausled
To see the sight
And, laughing. wondered why.
There was no cloud against the. blue.
No housetop IN the way;
Athwart the sky
\ robin few,
Then paused TO sing,
AS robins 90.
Upon new-leaved spray.
Twas not the robins song that made
Me laugh, and gave me cheer;
Twas not the softened
Evening shade,
The hough in tender
Green arrayed,
Or spring-sweet atmosphere.
Twas Just because the moon was young
And open to my view,
As poised in distant
Space it hung,
! made wish,
And gave it tongue,
And laughed. and thought of you.
Jessie wynne, in The Designer.
Valentine Month.
The last winter month gives to hui
tnanity in its passage one of the prettiest
festivals of the year. Dull. indeed, must
be the heart in which the approach OF
Valentines Day does not awaken some
vivid touch of poetry and sentiment!
In the midst often of ice and snow. and
all the rigorous environment of Winters
rule. comes the song bird of spring into
the heart, with lit of love in its notes.
The day of the verse-valentine with
its tender little conceits, its lace edgings
and its idyllic decorations, belongs as
much to the past as does the romantic
novel. Nowadays valentines take a moro
material form. or. If expressed ilorally
are apt to be laid at milady's feet, in the
shape of American Beauties. pink sweet
peas or perhaps, If mIlady is a trihe
difficult to please in white orchids.
So the way of the world is! one looks
rather pitifully back on the little 1850
maiden with the rose-fush on her cheeks
the smile on her parted lips and her
bright eyes bent upon the page where
her lover declares that
Roses are red, violets blue
Both are sweet and-so are YOU
The lines seem the veriest doggerel TO
the twentieth century adorer, and yet
there was often an honest heart throbbins
through the homely phrases, and the
little maiden knew it. and was happy
For gilt paper, wherein loves old
sweet tale" was supposed to be told.
there are now the orchids and the royal
American Beauties. The difference lies
only in the different times and the diff
ferent fashions. Men and women, at
heart. are much as they Were centuries
agone whep in ancient Rome they as
sembled to draw lots and find their valen-
tines for the ensuing year.
Surely the gentlest of Saints and the
friend of all lovers, in all climes, and
countries, must be pleased TO know that
even in this period of the worlds age,
the recurrent approach of his anniversary
testfies to his unforgotten sway over
the feelings and emotions Of the human
heart.
February celebrates the anniversary of
Saint Valentine. 1t keeps another birth
day also, that of the great and good
George Washington. whose colors are
those of the American flag, syTnbolized
in the blue OF yiolets, the red of roses
and carnations and the white OF sweet
peas and narcissi His birthday revives
the hatchet and the cherry tree and
arouses in the minds of his stateswomen
a lively feeling OF pride and devotion.
which they never fail TO fifty emphasize
in their patriotic ;tld social organizations.
Inaugural Month.
To the SOCIAL world of Richmond the