The Washington herald., 1915-02-14

day, my little bird, lay at your feet. II
you become my wife l will remain true
and perform my sacred duties, so that
good fortune, happiness and concord may
prosper we'll, and house and riches may
prosper well also, through the work that
we shall accomplish.
Thus to you, dear Sweetheart, writes
your faithful Philip, for the New Year, in
Betschdorf, in the year 1858, the 81 Decem-
ber"
Most elaborate is a Swiss valentine Of
1911. Here again are crimson and chrome
tulips, accompanying a circle of red and
yellow hearts set in a background Of green
foliage, the whole carefully cut in imita-
ton Of coarse laCework. These three
productions have their colors and conven-
tions in common, and may be considered
fine examples Of the best so-called peas
ant designs"
In 1880, thanks to the ingenuity of Ger
man and French artisans, embossed paper
enhanced the effect, and when finally lace
paper made its appearance the British val
entine reached the height of its glory
and popularity, here as well as abroad.
WeIl-known poets wrote verses, and the
artists OF the day made designs, for the
publishers. All possible emotions and sit
uations were considered and provided for
by the rimesters and engravers. The JOY
Gus and successful lover was the leading
theme, but the disappointed, and those
who loved in secret, were not forgotten.
What could be more helpful under GER
tain painful conditions tAAn the lace paper
affair that bears in its center, printed on
a scrap of white satin, the following sug-
gestion of an apology!
THE UNKIND WORD.
Alas, how light cause will move
Dissension between hearts that love!
Hearts that the world in vain hath
tried-and sorrow but more closely
tied! A something light as air-a
look, a word unkind or wrongly taken;
o Love that tempests never shook,
A breath, a touch like this hath
shakeni
Some homemade tokens of our own
country show intimate acquaintance with
the valentine traditions of other lands.
One dated 1888, made by Elisha Wight
man, of Rhode Island, was sent to Alice
Searle, whom he concealed under the
name "Elsay Sails" This suitor was not
successful, for the fair lady, although she
kept the valentine, gave her hand to an
other.
A group of three was exchanged between
two true lovers who lived to celebrate
their fifty-niQth wedding anniversary. In
1850 Benjamin l. Heager, of Barnesville,
O., courted and won the lovely Harriet
Mackall with the tenderest of verses
written on embossed paper sparingly
decorated with little Loves, hearts-ease
and the rose.
'Dearer to me one word of thine
Than all that others speak;
My heart 1 lay upon thy shrine,
Accept it ere it break"
pleads this American lover, who had the
courage of his affection.
There came back to him in copperplate
engraving upon a silvered card, now tar
nished by the years, the shy avowal:
"oh. not to love thee were sin,
For sure, if Fate's DEGREES be done,
Thou. thou art destined still to win
AS I am destined to be won"
third valentine that for good meas
ure passed between these happy lovers
declares with delicious abandon:
"Pve given all my heart can give,
Its, love and truth to thee,
Its every thought. its every prayer,
And its IdoIatry!"
and seals this early American romance.
To the Stephen of the twentieth CEN
tury is recommended The Lady's and Gen.
tlemen's Sentimental and Floral Valen-
tine Writer" of the sixties. When violetS
pail, and the rose has lost its emphasis
for the Fair, the frantic youth may call
his clever florist into consultation, and
that astute person may set within stif
frills of paper lace this floral salad with
intensive meaning: "A pomegranate open
(perhaps a Masaba melon would do If the
other were not ayailable); a hyacinth
marigold, and a twig Of cypress,
all surmounted by a fuIl-blown rose"
whereof the Interpretation is, Model Of
perfection, my heart burns for thee with
dndying constancyl Queen of my fate, oh,
take pity on my anguish, or the mournful
cypress will wave over my untimely
grave, and Broadway will know me no
more!"