The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-02-14
VALENTINES UNLIKE
THOSE OF LONG AGO,
SAY WOMEN HERE
Many of Them Tell of the
Homemade But Love-
Laden Missives of Old.

That st. Valentines is a day of tender
or of amusing memories quite num-
her of prominent Washington women
will testify, Some feminine residents OF
prominence cannot remember when
came their first valentine nor whence;
others can recall it as wildly as an
event of yesterday.
Testimony of these Opponents is
unanimous about one thing. The VAL
cntine of yesteryear was a simpler af-
fair than that of today. The FIRST
valentine received by them was no
cunning seven-color work of art, labored
over for months by a Neurembcrg ar
fist. Esthetically the store purchased
valentine of today may excel the FIRST
Valentines" but the latter meant more.
Less expensive and more significant"
sums up the case as for the old as
against the new cards of February H.
Not very strangely, small boys ap-
pear to have been the senders of these
older valentines and they made their
ing them in shop, which anyone can
do. The impression made upon the
IGoi It appears to have been the
of the handcraft of the senders and
what 1T symbolized
Mrs. Robert L. Taylor, wife of the
Senator; Mrs. Frank e. Beatty, wife
Of the commandant of the Navy Yard;
Mrs. John Miller Horton, of the D.
a. r.; Mrs. Champ Clark, the Wis
countess d'Azy, Miss Mabel Boardman
those who were found willing to
speak of their first valentine" to-
day.
Almost Forgotten.
ut came so long ago am not sure
remember all about it, said Mrs.
Robert l.. Taylor. who li5eled herself in
insisting that her first valentine came
"a long time ago."
But I remember that it was a very
wonderful affair."" continued Mrs Tay-
tor. with some very enthusiastic verses
attached. Some country school BOYS
were the authors of it, and Remember
mat my parents were not very eager
70 nave me receiving such missives, al
though 1 was only a little Girl II was
n hand made affair, and coiorcd red as
al proper valentines are. 1 can remem.
Der what the verses said. but / shan't
repeat them"
., Mrs. Frank f. Beatty parallels Mrs
Taylor somewhat in recollection Of the
first valentine received.
~ was little girl of nine years in
Elrglnia,' said Mrs. Beatty, when my
first valentine came. and it excited me
a good deal. 1t consisted OF a great
big red heart pasted on a sheet of
paper and benath there were some
verses which said quite complimentary
things"
Mrs. Beatty had a suspicion at the
time who was the sender of this valen-
tine and admits that it was a neigh
boring school boy.
Her First One.
MY first valentine was wonderful
affair; very clever and original" said
Mrs. Champ Clark, wife of the Speaker
OF the House. while / remember It
well, ] shall not describe it in detail
for I fear that world fiat, stale and
unEroftablc.' On second thought
shall save description OF 1t for my
hiographcr. Yes, it was a home made
affair. and much pretticr than the kind
now soU in shops
Tell you about my first valcntine?"
queried tho VisCountess day, wife of
tho military attaChe af the French en-
bassy, with a characteristic shrug of
her shoulders. "Ah. | wish l could.
But 1T is not my fault
Then the popular wife of the French
diplomat looked wistfully at the floor.
and the smile that had been on her
face disappeared.
why, let me tell you" she continued,
looking up again, Il never received a
valentine in my life. In France it is
different, You know. There little girl
is nothing: She is nothing, nothing,
nothing. our parents there are very
strict, you know. and until girl is
married. even If she is a grown-up girl,
she Is nothing. So even if it had been
the custom, l don't believe my father
"oHld have lot me had any valentines.
It's just school and school books for
little girls and big girls in France. We
always have a EorerncSs with us. And
don't YOU know, | didn't know there
was such a thing as Valentines Day
until came to the United States with
my husband!
1T was at party given by the Pres
ton GibSons. When we got there wo
found that it was a Valentine party.
We didn't know what it all meant. and
what it was all about, until they told
us and explained it all to us. So, YOU
about my first valentine, because 1t
hasn't come yet. Maybee it will come
this, year. Who knows"
Mrs. LoCkwood's First One.
Mrs Belva Lockwood received her
first valentine from a young man who
boasted the name of Dor. Just imag-
Inc what my name might have been"
laughed Mrs. Lockwood. "if we had
married-Eeva Dor, not so bad, either"
The valentine, in the shape of two
hearts. was slipped into her hands while
she and young Mr.. Dor were swinging
In one of those Old-fa shioned rope
swings that used to be so common IN
the country. But the real valentine, the
one that really counted with Mrs. Lock-
wood, was the one sent her a year after
ward by Uriah II. McNall, the man who
soon afterward led her to the altar.
I'm those days said Mrs. Lock
wood, valentines were not got UP in
the fashion of the present day. They
were boy and girl affairs. and quite
often they were written by hand on
hne note paper and sealed with a red
seal. Sometimes they took the shape
of those candy notices which were
so much favored of rural bellies and
SWANS; those little candy hearts that
bore inscriptions like this:
eft you love me.
AS l love you.
No knife can cut
Our love in two
cor that other delightful lold rhyme,
"'Rose is rcd,
Violet blue