Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-14
COMICS FADE AWAY
St. Valentine Custom Under
going Decided Revolution.
"MUSHY" STUFF OMITTED
People Prefer Novelties as Offerings,
and Celluloid and Lace Slowly
Disappear.
'.MUsHY" STUFF OMITTED

Cupid. the little god who wears little
more than a culver full of arrows and a
smile. usually walks abroad at this sea-
son of the year distributing proclamations
of undying love. writ in slushy weather
style and rainbow-colored type, was not
feeling as "chipper" today as he has in
old friend st. Valentine is reported to be
growing feeble.
st. Valentine. the long bewhiskered gent
wonderful connections Of sweetened
words, old lace, celluloid and quaint pic
lures: who has given the love-sick swain
an opportunity to declare his answering,
undying, unfaltering and other varieties
OF devotion without laying himself liable
to a breach of promise suit, is fading
away. The report was given out today
by dealers in the dainty little epistles.
Decadence of Custom.
Eyes, sir" averred one dealer, .'Valen-
tines day is dying. OF course. there are
some people who still stick to the old
time valentine. out they are comparative
~ few. Postal cards are more popular
than the old-time favorites, and candy
every year. We have sold many boxes
OF paper for valentines this year and also
handkerchief boxes.
Another said the custom of the day
had undergone decided change No
more musny stuff, 1t was SAID, was
bought, but people like something with a
snap and prefer novelties. 'Celiuloid and
lace are dying out, but hand-painted cards
and other novelties are popular"
Twas SAID a moment ago that St. VAL
enfjna hlJt rk,{%b fra
dence in hand it looks as though Dame
Fashion might be beating him to death.
Comics No Longer Popular.
And then, of course. the so-caIled
comic" valentine must not be forgotten
the missive bearing the ill-conceived cari-
cature and unhappy but unmistakabl bly,
doggerel. These, too, seem to be disap-
pearing, and it is likely their funeral pro-
cession will display gala attire and flee
led by a triumphant band
Letter boxes were placed i'm hundreds
of rooms III the graded public schools of
the District today for the children to put
valentines in for their classmates In
connection with the day the children have
learned the part played by Uncle Sans
post office, this forming part of their in
structon in civcs.
Numerous auxiliary carriers and auXil-
larry clerks had to be put on duty at the
city post office in order to take care of
the thousands of valentines and post
cards sent through the mails today
Cupid's Assistant Remembered.
Dan Cupid is so pleased with the efforts
OF William A. Knoll, his able assistant at
the city hall, that he sent him a valen-
tine this morning, which consists Of a
white heart superimposed on a large
heart of red. The inscription on the
valentine reads: License Court Will issue
marriage licenses at any time, any day.
any hour. Come early and avoid the
rush. st. Valentines license bureau"
Mr.. Knoll has issued over 400 licenses
since last Valentine day. He is quite
pleased at the receipt of the remem-
brance from his superior officer. The Ii
cepse clerk gives the little god credit
as he does not recognize the writine on
the enveiope cor. aining the love missive
as beins the chirography of any Of his
many friends.