Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-01
FEBRUARY, A MONTH OF BENEFICENCE
1t Has Had an Unfortunate History, But Its Interesting Associations
and Gifts to Mankind Raise 1t to a Position of Proud
Distinction in the Calendar

somewhat different from ours, 1t Is neverthe-
less an engaging picture that he gives;
Then came old February, sitting
In an old wagon, for he could not ride,
Drawn by two fishes for the season fitting,
Which through the flood before did softly slide
And swim away; yet had he by his side
His plough and harness Mt to till the ground
And tools to prune the trees, before the pride
OF hasting prime did make them bourgeon wide
1t is true that the poets have somewhat
sighted this courageous month, but thelr
neglect is compensated for by the praise Of
winter, which you shall find in one of Low
ellis most exhilarating essays and in q chap
ter of walden Which reminds you that
some of the winter poets, even If they did
not mention February by name, are appro-
pirate reading for the month that begins to.
day. IS
Grounding Day Tomorrow
How much of the winter is left you will
know tomorrow. The grounding, known 70
the New Highlander as the woodchuck, will
come out of his hole, and If he casts A
shadow, a return of wintry weather may
be expected. Foul weather tomorrow Is
a good omen. The superstition is not con-
fined to this country. Germany's barometer
is the badger. He peeps out of his hole on
Candlemas Day, and when he finds snow,
walks abroad. but If he finds the sun shining
he withdraws into his house. A German
proverb runs thus: The shepherd would
rather see the wolf enter his stable on
Candlemas than the sun"
Grounding Day pales into insignifcance
beside the festival of ST. Valentine. which
some pessimists think has so degenerate
that it no longer deserves the name of festi-
val. However that may be, the observance
of the occasion Is not what 1t was 200 and
300 years ago. A writer of the 18th century
describes the principal ceremonial as fol-
lows:
"The Lottery of Love"
"on the eve of st. Valentines Day the
young folks OF England and Scotland, by 8
very ancient custom, celebrate a little festl.
val. An equal number of maids and baehe-
Tors get together; each writes their true or
some feigned name upon separate billets
which they roll up, and draw by way of lots
the maids taking the mems billets, and The
men the maids; so that each of the young
men lights upon a girl that he calls his val
entine, and each of the girls upon a man
whom she calls hers, By this means each
has two valentines; but the man sticks faster
TO the valentine that has fallen to him thar
to the valentine to whom he is fallen. For
tune having thus divided the company int
so many couples, the valentines give balls
" NlSAA AllolASs5N5r MtaA AA
billets several days upon their bosoms o.
sleeves. and this little sport often ends IN
love"
The history of st. Valentines Day began
away back with the Lupercalia. The prin-
cipal custom, at the very beginning, was ~
the nature of a lottery.
Two Birthday Anniversaries
February is so rich in days of peculiar in'
terest and significance that it is hard to do =
justice.
FEBRUARY gave us the savior OF the Union
10 whom Lowell paid splendid tribute;
The kindly-earnest, brave. foreseeing man.
sasaclous, patient, dreadlng praise. not blAne
New birth OF our new soil. the hrst American
And this Is what VIM Carleton caiS
Washington Months:
February-February-
How your moods and actions vary
Or 10 seek or Ehunl
NOW q smile OF sunlight lifting,
Now In chilly snowhakes drifting.
Now with icy shuttles creeping
Silver webs are spun
Now with leaden torrents 1eaping.
OceanwaTd you run,
Nov with bells you bhtheiy sing
Meath the stars or SUM-
Nov s blade OF hUrdOck bring
70 the sum ring one;
Many blessings rest above You
4Qa one day faHd 80 We love yea
Gave W Naahtnsloas