The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-02-13

tousled-and his hands and face are uanswer-
able testimony to the fact that the rising genera
ton occasionally gets back to Mother Earth even
in the private city streets, pessimsts to the con-
trary, notwithstanding He has been having
great time. st. Valentines night is almost as
much fun as Halloween Valentines? Sure, he's
been giving valentnes-but they aren't exactly
the kind Sister Lu or even little Jane received.
He's presented the almondeyed Celestial down
at the corner with most touching reminder Of
how he looks when he irons a shirt-and he's had
thrilling, hair-breadh escape from the aforesaid
washee-washee, who couldn't see 1t as Joke at
all. Pshaw, Chinaman never could run anyway
Then there was old Peanut Caruse who kept the
fruit stand on the opposite corner. Poor, ex-
citable old Dago! II there hadn't have been quite
so many little American devils in the gang he
might have run one Of them down and gotten his
revenge. But, II he did what would become Of
his peanuts and his smooth sleekly-polished ap-
pies in the meantime, with all those other little
pests swarming around and yelling like Comanche
Indians?
And grandma and grandpa. They sit quietly
by in their big armchairs and smile complacently
at the enthusiasm Of the youngsters, In their
hearts are memories Of other st. Valentines
eves-'way back in other days, In the dim and dis
tant past when they both we're young and the
fever of love heat strong in their breasts. There
valentines for them now, for they are old
and gray and their course OF life is almost run,
and, somehow, St. Valentine day is a day for the
young. But wait What is that on grandmas
lap? Can It be? Yes-it is-ts a valentlne
Grandpa has remembered 1t is not one of those
gaudily- painted modern ones of elaborate manu-
facture; no. but an old-fashloned one of many
layers of carved and curly-cued paper, framing
tiny picture of the Madonna and bearing the
simple message: "Be my valentine" It is the
kind grandma knew and learned to love long
years ago when grandpa, then as fine young
dandy as was to be found in all the country
round came sparkling her She smiles happily
and mods across at the old man. who understands
all that she feels-and remembers
In the morning the mail man comes loaded
down with more valentines. Indeed, 1t seems just
like another Christmas TO little Jane, when she
beholds his pouch full to overlooking. But he
can't see It In that light at ALL or in any other
light except that he has been Juggling that blamed
old pouch for ten squares, leaving something at
almost every door, and the darned old thing 10
heavier than when he first started out with 1t.
Christmas is bad enough. and the people who
made these fool holiday stunts ought to be salts
fed with pagueing mail men once year; but
instead they don't give him time to recover from
the Christmas avalanche Of mail before they jam
all this crazy Valentine foolishness down his
throat. After that pouch has gotten to a re-
spectacle, convenient size-so that 1t feels more
ike mall pouch ana less ike ton OF coal
the mail man may appreciate the sentimental side
of the day. He may recall the flushed eager
faces that fairly hurled themselves almost
through the door In their eagerness to snatch the
mysterious letters from his hands. He may re-
call his own boyhood when he himself both gave
and received valentines with childish glee and
couldn't understand why in the world, on this OF
all mornings the mail man was so late II so he
smiles good naturally and remembers that every
fogIr hOxy NAV ha hao tfa
ward when viewed IL the right light.
Watch your awspapers on st. Valentines day
for one particular news tem-elopng couples
who chose the day because is especially Cupld's.
Some years they are maK number, and some
times but few and far beN n. But there is al
ways half-dozen at least Cupid sees to that
himself. And to the lovers themselves 1t is
day Of all days. for each gives Himself to the other
as really truly valentine Tor life