The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1910-02-12

H letters. done by himself
~ Very pretty We we're both
well pleased with it. But
am also this year my
wife's valentine. and It will cost me
five pounds; but that must have laid
out II we had not been valentines"
Two days later Pepys says: Il find
that Mrs. Pierce's little girl is my val.
entine, she having draw me, which !
am sorry for. It easing me OF some
thing more that must have given to
others. But do first observe the
fashion OF drawing notices rs well
as names. so that PiCrcr, who drew
my wife. did also draw n motto, and
his girl drew another for me. What
mine was. forget, but my wlfe's was
Most courteous and most fair which.
as 1t may be used as an engagement
upon each name. might be very pref
tv"
But fully as Interest," and much
more strange were the St Valentines
customs among the common people
Many of the observanCcs were singu.
larry like those of Halloween. They
were not so grewsome, but the resem-
blance Is unmistakable For instance,
pert miss. who liv.d IN the l75O's.
writes: Last Friday was Valentines
day and the night before l got five
| bay leaves and pinned four OF them to
the four corners Of my pillow and the
fifth to the middle. aud then II /
dreamt OF my swcethcart. Betty said
We should be married before the year
was out But to make il more sure
! boiled an egg hard and took out the
yolk and filled II with salt and ate It
shell and all without speaking or
drinking after It. We also wrote our
lovers names upon Bit OF paper and
rolled them up In clay and put them
into water and the first that same to
the surface was to be our valentine"
There have been endless devices for
valentines. but perhaps the queerest
on record Is that described in the fol.
lowing little story. One ST. Va!en.
tines morning an English gentleman
remarked to his pretty daughter that
on that day 100000 more letters than
the average passed through the Lon.
don twopenny post.
why. papa" replied the girl, that's
Just the number OF young folks tina,
must be in love with each other
that's the way to reckon"
At that moment bachelor friend
OF the family came In and learning the
subject Of their talk. drew q small
package from his pocket.
Here's my valentine" he exclaimed
and presented 1t to the young woman.
1t contained n small rib. carved OF
ivory and covered with white satin
ana ornamented with true lovers
knots. There were also some verses.
OF which this is one:
TIL Adam had n partner given.
Much ms fair Eden doomed like Heaven.
His bliss was Incomplete.
No social friend those joys to share
Gave the gay scene vncant mir.
She came-'twus all replcte.
well. now. | call that capital"
cried the lively lass. After such a
valentine you must take the hint, my
dear sir It's settled. you must &c,
married"
"will you marry mc?" he asked.
7 Il marry YOU No. You nre toe
old. But there are many women OF
your nge. Why don't you ask one OF
them?"
He had TO be contented with this
sorry consolation. though he deserved
a better fate for tho ingenuity OF his
valentine.
st. Valentines day has always been
a favoritc with the poets. II Is men
toned by Chauccr. Shakespeare. Goe
the, Dome. Gay, Lydgate and others
and many nrst.class versiners have
written valentines. OF these mono II
more remarkable Than Macauiay. Tha,
renowned scholar and historian never
missed giving a St Valentines tribute
TO his fnvori,c nlcccs and his valen
tine to the Countess Bcauchnmp
daughter OF the earl OF Stanhopc
ranks with the most admirable OF hi,
compositions.
II Is n pity tina, the flnc old fcstiva
Of st. Valentines day II not made
moro OF by this generation. Some
thing should be done to bring back e
IL the charm. the romance. tho poetrJ
Of other times,
Happily. In the last fow years III,
comic valentines have been more hu
morous and less vulgnr.-The Sunday
Magazine.