The Calumet news., 1910-02-08
CUPID, lITTlEBOY GOD,
TO HAVE AN ANNIVERSARY
st. Valentines Day is Coming, and
With II Memories That Harken
Back Into the Past, Where
the Ghosts Dwell.

Next Monday is Cupid's birthday,
and all the world is turning in to
help celebrate the occasion for the
Little Boy Who Never -Grew-Up.
In the chronology OF mortals this
anniversary is known as st. Valen-
tines day. and the learned encyclope-
dists and other delivers into the musty
and withered past, maintain that it
is named after Valentinus of Inter-
ANNA. Now this Valentinus of Inter-
ANNA was a bishop, miracle worker
and martyr, and on one occasion he
healed the deformed Chaeremon, son
OF Grafton, a Greek rhetorician, then
living in Rome. Some frivolous ones
have suggested that perhaps the story
of this incident got slightly mixed,
and that from il would-be poets take
their right to print deformed rhetoric
on this anniversary
But be that as it may, the Emperor
Claudius rudely removed the head Of
the bishop from the episcopal should
ers. Immediately Valentlnus took
rank as a martyr secured a st. (sald
st. meaning saint" and not "street")
as a prefix and started his triumphant
march through history 1t is as good
for the reputation to become a mar
tyr as 1t is bad for the bodily well
fare. And Wheatley, writing of the
late saint from Interamna. declared
him "a man of most admirable parts,
and famous for his love and charity"
So, anyhow, some of Cupids kin had
a part in the proceedings.
Some declare that on February Il
the birds select their mates. but in.
asmuch as most of the birds are win.
tering in Florida and other southern
states, this report could not be veri.
fled in the hurry OF the modern news.
paper world. ue
Still another account holds that 1t
is a survival of practice common to
the Roman feast of the ~ Lupercalia.
on those days the Roman youth. toga
clad, bathed and performed. drew from
a box the names of Roman maids, and
forthwith the youth and the maid
whose name he drew were declared
true lovers. Those sold Romans would
take more chances on q gambling
game than any of the sons Of Adam,
and if that is the way II started, no
wonder people talk about marriage
being a lottery. g
But no, matter how st. Valentines
day got into the calendar lit got there
landing halfway through the shortest
month in the year, The advance sig
nails, the valentines, are displayed now
in the store windows, and the annual
love declarations in jingle are in
order.
There are pink. fluffy valentines
that Ferdinand can send to Angelina,
whose heart nuttereth tremulously
every time she hears the postman's
shrill whistle. There are love mes
sages galore, messages that rhymstcrs
sent to editors and had the editors
send back again. Then they sold
them to the valentine makers and got
away with it,
There are pictures of ships anoat on
seas. There are paintings
of Cupid clad only i'm sunshine and
climate and carrping his bow and be-
ribboncd arrows. And under the rules
Of the games, Ferdinand must not put
his card in the package to Angelina.
All. no, it must be mystery!
Then at night he shall call upon
her, and when their loving qualities
cutstaw pa and mas chaperoning
powers they can sit close in front of
the fireplace and, If he has courage
enough let their fingers touch. And
Angelina win say II wonder who sent
me that beautiful remembrance?
And Ferdie will smile n silly smile
and say, 81 wonder. too" Then they
will look at each other and Angelina
will exclaim, You dear! You know
you sent that yourself!" Curtain.
Next scene strictly private.
Cupid, incidentally. had twin
brother "a mischievous imp, patron
saint of school boys who dislike teach
er. In his honor the comic valcn-
tine came into being. In sending out
this variety leave out your card also.
Cautions If YOU think the recipient of
this variety is as wise an Angelina.
leave town until the storm blows over.
Born to Mr. and Mrs Tap,og I,;sh..