The state herald., 1914-02-06

at this season Of the year with exam
that should please every sort Of taste in
regard to valentines. There Is n day
or two OF fun and merry chatter when
the tokens are received, or OF even
more boisterous mirth II the valen-
tines are "comic;" here and there a
valentine party is given by the young
people. then the celebrating ceases
and is forgotten.
Not so a couple OF centuries ago.
Then the festivities were much more
in the character OF observance and
ceremonies. The origin OF st. Valen-
tines day is credited to different Incl
dents. One writer Of ancient social
customs says that 1t originated with
Nine. Royale. daughter OF Henry ".
of France. The lady. having built a
splendid palace near Turin, desired to
name II for some good saint, and final-
ly chose st. Valentine. Thus the ed
ifice was called The Valentine" and
at the initial entertainment given In
the great drawing rooms, Nine. Roy
ale conceived the idea OF causing her
guests to pair on by means Of n lot.
terry.
Ladies' Drew From Lot.
The names OF the men were writ.
ten on slips OF paper and folded. The
ladies' then drew from the list, and
whoever each one drew was to be her
valentine" for the space OF one year
At the various balls which this gay
spirited young princess gave during
the season II was Understood that each
lady should receive n bouquet from
her chosen lover, and that at every
tournament the trappings OF a knights
horse should be furnished by his allot'
ted lady. with this provisio-that the
lady eventually receive whatever prize
he might win. Nine. Royale. however,
would not herself enter into this lot
terry, but reserved the privilege OF
choosing her valentine" independent
ly
Doubtless II is true that this lady
did originate this costume at her pal
ace In Turin. but II is also quite as
true that this was not the real origin
of ST. Valentines day, for II Ia alluded
TO by English poets before her time
Lydgate. n monk. who died In the
year itio. and who has been described
as 'the poet OF his monastery" wrote
n poem In praise OF Queen Catherine
consort OF Henry ". OF England. In
which he mentioned tho Observance Of
81. Valentines day and the custom oi
drawing lots"
Indeed. this custom seems TO have
been n very ancient one. and oontin
ued TO comparatively modern times.
An equal number OF young men and
women would meet together on the
eve st Valentines day and hold lot
terry, In which the names Of both men
and women were drawn: thus each
maid and bachelor would have two
valentines" who wcre required Ia
make mutual gifts, This. OF course,
oocasioncd any amount OF mlrth and
some funny situations.
Other supsrsutlons.
w" huP'ihiNon Nhlen n'in Eoou
until quite recent times was that the
fira, young man or young woman on.
chanced TO meet on tho mdrning OF
Valentines day would be ones yaicn.
tine. Other rupcrstltions Included
mystic rites, particularly In Scotland.
which enabled mAidcns TO learn who
would bo their future husbands. Abou,
tho middle OF the eighteenth century
one young according TO the
historian OF social customs OF that
,ime-wrote as follows;
Last Friday was Valentines day,
and III toll you what did the night
before. got Hye bay leaves. pinned
four OF them TO the four corners OF my
pillo. and the NTH to the middle. for.