Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-02-14
VALENTINE DAY
LONG IN FAVOR
Centuries Have Failed TO Dim the
Memory Of the Good Old
Saint.
DISPUTE AS TO HIS IDENTITY
At Least Two Bishops OF Ancient
Times Have Been Credited With
the Honor Of Being the Founder
Of the Day conseeratsd
to Cupid.

NT. VALENTINE OF blessed mem.
ory, whose natal day falls upon
the 14th OF February, seems to
be the saint OF this particular
season. His customs, which have sur.
vived the lapse of centuries, are as.
ISOLATED in our minds with the send.
ing Of various amatory epistles, and
the rather more agreeable gifts and
presents, which are occasionally sent
in the shape OF flowers and candles
by the young men and maidens. one
to another.
New York and New Workers. still
retain memories Of the saint, who
seems TO have been like his associate,
the good st, Nicholas, a patron saint
Of the Netherlands. and In this con
nection we. perhaps on account OF our
Dutch ancestry, celebrate his festival
with kettledrum. says the New York
Times. Far back in the mi9ts OF an.
tiqulty lies the origin OF the custom
Of sending letters, or valentines, on
the saints day, while the original 81.
Valentine would appear to be gifted
with as many lives as the proverbial
cat. or reincarnations under the same
title. for we find two bishops OF the
name. Virgin martyr. and a Tyro.
lean saint, all OF whom have authentic
records OF their lives and deaths pre-
served In history. and none OF whom
would seem TO be In any way con
nected with the valentines of today.
However. II is always possible to
reconcile the two or three. and there
ls sufficient evidence to show that st.
Valentine. bishop Of Rome, who died
In 27s A. d., was born on the 14th of
February, and he Ii 30 set down I'm
the Roman and Anglican calendars
He was q martyr to his faith, and
when cast into prison by his enemies
he cured his keepers daughter of
blindness. for which miracle he was
beaten with clubs and then beheaded.
and his remains repose In the Church
St. Praxades. at Rome. while a gate
now known as the Porto PoDolo was
formerly called by the name Of ST
Valentine. or Porto Valentino.
Another Valentine. also a Bishop.
claims a share In the day, and hts
claimsto saintship rests upon the cure
OF the son Of Grafton. the Rhetorician.
His death was caused by choking on
a flshbons, whether OF his own choos-
Ing or administered by his enemies
the legend does not state. but in Italy
and Greece they pray to this saint 70
cure them from epilepsy
The ST. Valentine Of TyroI who
seems to have been born q little later,
and who died In the fourth century.
has , church conscrated to his mem
DRY In South Tyrol. at Meran, where
he is supposed to have preached
Christianity to the heather Lombards
In the legend he appears as a beautf-
full youth attired IN the dress OF Ro-
man soldier bearing q cross on his
sword hilt. and coming over the noun.
taina from Italy; entering Meran. In
what is now known a. Tyrol. he en-
counters the heather priest Of the
temple, and after . long argument
with him. he calls npcn his gods 20
destroy the temple
The heather and the priest are all |
struck dumb by his threats, and when !
with one blow he pushes down the |
pillars of the temple. like Samson. /
they rush forth in horror. expecting /
him TO be destroyed under the fall. /
Ing walls. Instead Of which ST. Val. /
enfine kneels unhurt. with a'seraphlc |
look upon his face. while the wrath |
OF their god is not shown by the /
fierce wind and tempest which they /
expect. and quantities Of doves and +
birds alight upon the neighboring +
trees IN peaceful fiocka. st. vaien.
tine Immediately after this miracle /
marries the first heather couple and |
performs the first marriage ceremony