Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-02-14
ST. VALENTINES DAY.

ST. VALENTINES DAY.
Observance q Long Time Custom-Ori-
gin Unknown-Common i'm Shakes
peare's Day.
st. Valentines Day, February IA. has
been honored by general observance as a
festival for such long time that It's ORR
gin appears to have been lost with the
ages. Saintdom has canonized. according
to records. no less than fifty-two valen-
tines Of whom two are commemorated on
February IA. OF the two. Valentinus,
presbyter and martyr. is believed to have
been the parsonage honored by the custom
Of sending. on February II. tokens Of a
sentimental character to those we lovc
or admire
This Valcntinus was a prominent ex-
ponent Of the doctrine Of Christianity dur
ing the reign Of Claudius, Marcus Aure-
Illus, in the second half Of the third GEN.
fury. Efforts to induce him to return TO
the worship of the gods Of his fathers
proving futile, he was seized and thrown
into chains, beaten continuously. and
finally beheaded, on February IA. Pos
sessed of influence over a large following
his return to the idolatrous faith of the
was handed over to Caliphurnius, whose
! duty it was to effect the change. Cali
phurnius employed one Asterius to bring
this about, but Valentinus miraculously
healed the blind daughter Of Asturius,
who became converted to the Christian
faith and with all his house, was bap-
tized.
But there is nothing in this story to
suggest the custom SO popular to-day.
| That 1t has always been a custom in great
favor is evident through its long obser-
vance. being to-day a festival honored
in no less degree than 1t was in Shakes
peare's time, the poet himself frequently
abiding to 1t in his works as an i'm
portant day Of ceremonies.
Among young people 1t is most impor-
tant festival The love-lorn, often in an
anonymous way. salute those whose af-
fections they seek with gifts carrying the
message of love. which is the sentiment
of the day. shared by both sexes alike.
In Shakespeare's time these gifts, or
tokens, were homemade illusions, more
or less poetic. written on perfumed paper.
gaudily decorated with hand-painted de-
signs: or they were "poseys" tastefully
ARRANGED. and composed of flowers SYM
bolic of various sentiments. The wags
looks advantage Of the day to send to
persons whom they desired to ridicule
Ieffusons that were anything but models
of poetic elegance, and thus was intro
duced the "comic valentine" which later
was perpetuated in the penny valentine,
still a feature of the trade productions
for use on this day. Later came the
fiimsy lace and embroidery limitations In
paper. bearing various designs in color
ribbon bows. dried flowers and other or.
namentation. with ready-made verse. gen.
orally Of a maudlin character. But
flowers. either real. artificial. or repres'
ented pictorially predominated in st. Val
entine's Day tokens. Love sonnets and
verse without flowers were as a cart with
out wheels. they would not reach theil
purpose. And these tokens came to bt
called Of themselves valentines"
With the passing of time the paper
article has given way to the floral valen
tine. and st. Valentines Day is recognized
as floral festival No self-respectne
swain will nowadays send a paper valen
tine to the object of his affections in
; stead, he HES to the florist and selects
flowers. generally Of a variety he know!
will please the fair lady. and his senti
ment is embodied in the flowers rather
than in hackneyed verse. and. generally
especially IL his affections are centred up
one one object. his card is boldly enclosed
with the flowers he takes no chance upor
: the possibility Of his gift being credited t.
, someone else. perhaps a rival.
Red Is considered to be the real valen
tine color. the heart tint, supposedly ex
> pressive of fervor. Consequently roses
y carnations, sweet peas. and tulips in tn
= red shades. flowers commonly availabl
. at this season, are in great demand on 81
Valentines Day. Violets. symbolic o
love. pansies to convey the messag
d Think Of me-" and the humble forget
!: me-not, significant of true love. are othe
. favorites. The symbolic meanings Of tn
flowers available in February arc to b
: found in the following list:
= Rose, dark red Admiration: white, ar
worthy Of you; yellow. Let us forget
:. moss. Confession of love.
Carnation, pink, Woman's love; red. Al
dent love: varieSatsd. Refusal: Whit
l. fascination.
: Snapdragon. Presumption.
Calendula. Cruelty in love-
. Daisy. Innocence.
/, Forget-nle-not. True love.
|. Gardenia. Refinement.
Hyacinth, white, Modest loneliness; blu
Conspiracy. purple. Jealousy.
:; Iris. My compliments.
WHVc, CeHCc, puEpl
First love.
Lilly. white, Purity and sweetness.
y Lily of the Valley. Perfect purity.
Mignonette. Your qualities exceed YOU
>. character.
u Narcissus, Egotism.
Danodil Unrequited love.
'r Pansy. Think of me.
% Orchid, You fiatter me.
8. Tulip. red. Declaration Of love; yello,
Hopeless love.
~ Sweet Pea. False modesty.
70 Wallhower. Fidelity In misfortune.
Id Violet, blue. love; white. Modesty.
al The sending of valentines by wire
now common proceeding. Advantage
" taken OF system of interchange of O
%. ders. established by reputable florists,
a. effect delivery of flowers at distant point
;. and the system Is SO perfect that a De
80 son In New York can. at an hour or two
re- notice. have a valentine Of fresh fiowe
or delivered In San Francisco. or other eli
Il. or town. as easily as in his or her ov