The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-02-17
TELLS STORY
ST. VALENTINE
Kenoshans Keep up Ancient
CUSTOM of Celebrating
Valentine Day.
CUPID SCORES SUCCESS

A saint or bishop by the name of
Valentino had his head cut off by or
der of Roman emperor on February
14th many, many years ago. Histor-
ians differ. 1t was either 1915 years
ago, 1850 years ago, or some other
number of years ago today.
Little is known of the life of St.
Valentine, but he underwent unspeak-
able torture and finally had his head
severed from his body.
Beyond this, history tells US little
about-well, anyway, it is an undis-
puted fact here in Kenosha that today
thousands of highly ornamental and
artistic love tokens are being carried
by postmen to young men and young
women in the city.
Are Various Sorts.
Some are plain picture post cards
with picture of pink skinned Cupid
punching a dart through scarlet
heart. Others are elaborate products
in woven silk and paper lace, with
confusing array of colored hearts, blue
birds and love scenes. And some are
simple crude pieces of fancy wall pa
per, carved out by the little hands of
a primary school child.
It is because today is February 14th.
History tells US that on this day, cen
turtles and centuries ago. the head of
| Roman saint was cut off. The saints
name was Valentine.
In many Kenosha school rooms TO-
day there was plenty of excitement as
the children planned for the Valentine
box, which is to carry the love tokens
/ of the children. They do not know
that in 271 or 306 A. D. there was a
saint in Rome who was beheaded but
each one will be bitterly disappointed
if he does not receive as many Valen-
tines as his playmates when the event
full moment arrives when the teacher
opens the Valentine box.
History Even Fails.
But then, even history cannot salts
factorily explain how it happens that
the world celebrates February 14th as
it does, but it is certain that the Gus
tom has come down through the ages.
No one has apparently been able to
connect the custom with the life story
of st. Valentine. Perhaps the celebra-
tion connected with the day, says one
source, may be a survival Of the an
cient Roman festival of the Lupercalia,
celebrated in the month of February.
At this festival it was customary to
put the names of young women in a
box to be drawn By young men, The
young men were supposed to give
presents to the young women whose
names they drew and remain faithful
to the service Of their valentines"
for the entire year. Similar customs
prevailed for centuries in England and
France, and were popular in many
European courts.
Mail Proves Heavier.
I The modern custom may have arisen,
says another course, from the old no
ton that birds began to couple on that
day. So the young men and young
women of those ages wuld choose each
other as valentines" for the ensuing
year by species of lottery and would
send love missives to each other.
A Kenosha post office official said on
Sunday night that the volume of Val
entines going through the mails is
noticeably heavier than in former
years and that the greater part of the
missives is apparently running to the
post card type. An increase in the
amount of mail handled in the post
Office began to become noticeable on
Friday night and continued throughout
/ Saturday and Sunday.