Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-02-06

INV c'SA ioi oNS SAhSS hteShS
minute. These comics have come to be an i'm
portant feature of the modern celebration of st.
Valentines day. Some people call them horrible
distortions of clodhopper humor; but that de-
ponds on the condition Of development of the
recipients funny bone. If he's ticklish, he will
most likely smile and let it 60 at that. If he
doesn't, you have found a man without a saving
sense of humor.
Watch papa when he gets his on ST. Valentines
eve. II he just grins and makes some remark TO
the effect that the manufacturer of the valentine
is certainly upto-date in placing his caricatured
figure in an aeroplane, you may be sure he's a
pretty good sort of a papa who believes in boys
wearing their stockings out at the knee. But II he
doesn't, if instead he makes a wry face and wryer
remarks anent the unwholesome influence of such
hideous atrocities upon the Juvenile mind; he
isn't-well-it might not hurt him to be reminded
of the days when he was a kid himself. The real,
good natured, beloved papa isn't apt to mind in
the least being labeled by the multicolored carica-
ture pushed under the door a Merry Nat" a
Grim Old Money Bags" or a walking Jewelry
Store" He just grins and sort Of says to himself
with a lump in his throat, Wei, I guess boys will
be boys" ~.
And Sister Lu? 1t isn't altogether a pleasant
occasion for her, the receipt of a comic portray
ing her as a vain vixen who spends most Of the
day and a good part Of the evening admiring her
self in her mirror. It's a trife trying on ones
dignity. Maidens in the popular romances Of the
day never have unpleasant experiences Of that
sort-or, at least, If they do the author forgets to
liChIioh hLOih'
But how different it is when a really, truly"
valentine arrives! Sister Lu is all smiles and eB-
element. Who could it have come from? Stop
that, you Jane, it isn't yours at all. and you have
no business opening it. My, how beautiful-how
beautiful! Violets! Um-u-m! Aren't they
fragrant"
Papa and mamma are called in 20 see what q
gorgeous valentine Lu has received. Pa makes
some remarks about being willing to venture a
guess as to the identity Of the sender, with the
added insituation that the 81 the violets cost
might help some, at least, in furnishing an apart
ment. But ma Just smiles and is pleased.
81 know who it's from! I know who it's FRONT"
cries little Jane, dancing up and down and teas
ing her sister, with one chubby little forefnger
working diligently back and forth in "Pshaw!
For shame!" fashion upon the other.
Sister Lu makes a great show Of trying to
think who in the world could have sent them.
And she appeals to mamma for her opinion in the
matter. Yes, mamma agrees, it might have been
Alfred, or it might have been VIII, or it might
have been any one of a dozen other young men
very last of all mentioned, though both she and
mamma know perfectly well the violets came
from him. Humph! Little Jane knew it was
Tom right away!
Just as this moment, perhaps, the young hope
full OF the family comes stamping in. He Is a
sight! His stockings and trousers are dirt-stain-
ed, where he evidently fell down. his hair is all