The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-02-18
ST. VALENTINES DAY.
'Old Timer" Writes of the Origin of
the Day, Sweethearts, Etc.

Kearse, Feb. 15.-Yesterday was
a day eagerly looked for by most OF
the young folks: ST. Valentines day
How many of them have ever learn
ed of the Saint Valentine and for
what purpose this festival was placed
in the calendar. 1t is there and the
14th of February each year is put
down as a festival and the boys and
girls have great fun in sending st.
Valentine cards as we'll as valentines
of larger type to their sweethearts
as we'll as would-be ones.
Now this saint lived a long time
before America was discovered. He
lived in the times of Emperor
Claudius, and a legend has it that he
was a martyr and suffered martyrs
death, but there is nothing in his
life nor death that would give rise to
the custom of sending valentines or
sweethearts to the young man or
lady of their choice as is done now
and has been for ages. So some of
our wise ones say the custom must
have originated much earlier than
his day, and it is supposed it was
from the 18th of February, pagan
festival, when the boys and girls
wrote each others names and this
day was sacred to Juno Februata or
it may have arisen in the days
of Cain, for we are told that he went
in the land of Nod and there found
q wife.
Any way, the day is here and to
stay, perhaps, for human nature Is
very much now as it was then and
will so remain until the last in this
the boy will want something pretty
for his best girl, if not he does not
deserve one. Then, the girls like a
bit of fun, and she sends to some
good natured young man comlcal
picture with something like this in
scribed: "Nobody's Valentine" or
"Sure as the grape grows on the vine,
III be your Valentine" No account
ing for these mischief loving girls.
How much she enjoys seeing a
young man puzzled over valentine
and how he tries to guess who sent
it and the sender is 80 innocent and
helps him guess too who was the
sender. Watch her eyes sparkle
with laughter when he is convinced
that another girl sent it. Then the
young men, watch them select a
valentine. He gets usually Cupid
with his arrow or a heart with an
arrow through it and a verse very
like this: "I'm listening for the
echo, of loves old plea divine, that
I have asked you sweetheart, please
be my Valentine. Guess who.' Or
some verse to that effect. When the
young lady receives it her face is
study for she is very intent as she
looks it over, hunts the postmark,
then exclaims: "Why, it is from
Bill; no it must be from John; no,
it is Henry's handwriting; no, not
from him; oh, know, it is from old
Ben, dear boy; knew he would re-
member me-"
So it is everywhere, in city, town
and hamlet, and the postmasters,
clerks, and mail carriers have their
hands full to handle all this extra
mail and Uncle Sam smiles as he
sees his Golfers filled with the post
age paid to carry them to their des-
tination.
Yes, it is all right; let the young
have their fun in this innocent way,
keep up the day and cards and val
entines, for next to the man who
gives US meat and drink is the one
who provokes a hearty laugh or a
cheerful thought.
This brings to memory post
card certain old man received. On
one side was the picture OF a negro
man with large rattlesnake water
melon under each arm and coop OF
chickens Just in front of him and
under the picture these words: "1'se
in de predicament of me life" And
so he was. That card produced what
was intended, a hearty laugh, and
the sender deserved thanks is the
honest conviction of
OLD TIMER.