Evening star., 1961-02-12
OLD LAcE-NO ARSENIC
LoveIs sFinein '61VoIentine
By MYRA MACPHERSON
star stan writer

would be first in line for the
"Sick" valentine If he were
around today.
He's the Roman rake who did
away with Mr.. Valentine in the
year 270. It seems Claudius
didn't like Mr.. Valentine
preaching to the fun-loving
Romans such sentiments as
Like a horse and chariot, love
and marriage go together, yet"
After Claudius' dramatic ac-
ton. Mr.. Valentine became a
saint and card makers in
vented the word mine" to go
with Valentine" (Also thine,
fine, entwine and the more
contemporary additions: swine
brine, Stein).
February IL was celebrated
in comparative secrecy until
the 18th century. when some
body started selling greeting
cards. Now people even send
valentines to their plumbers.
The one new thing about this
years valentine after the era
Of the fashionable insult, is
that Sentimentality has crept
back into the card rack.
While there are still such
endearmentS as 81 can't kick
the habit, I love you," the most
mid-Victorian heirloom lace
and cupid-encrusted valentines
this year are defiantly being
manufactured AND bought.
Gushing and GOOey'
by young and old alike
oh. just the most gushy,
gooey, sentimental Ones" bur-
bled q saleslady, picking out
q pink, blue and gold flower
bedecked Model T driven by a
flaxen-haired cupid.
They're the kind Great
Grandma used to make and
the Library Of Congress saved.
In their files the library has
such wonders as Love to and
fro in his hammock may
swing, but my love to you is
o steadfast thing"
And there's a Cupid ship
labeled Hearts Delight" and
q man and woman incoming
in q bed Of flowers with the
words, Loves Halcyon Land"
floating gently overhead.
During World War I. patri-
otic cards came out and even
a sneaky "A Valentine to
someone else's wife" At this
time the relative cards were
invented and today, added to
mother, father, brother. sis
ter, etc., we have to my
Mana"
A hip grandparent can send
ITO my grandson" q valentine
he can make into a rocket, or
he can send an appropriately
bratty Dennis the Menace.
Avante Garde Cupid
An expensive Valentine 90
popular with the Georgetown
set that q Wisconsin avenue
store had to recorder twice is
a hand-painted avante garde
cupid with simple love phrases,
done in New Yorkish purples
and pinkS.
While Mort Sahl no doubt
would like to think he inspired
the sick card, it's been around
since the mid-1s00s. One ITO
a Drunkard," goes "Oh! Hor-
rid, frightful, stupid drunkard.
receptacle Of gin and beer, If
e'er you poster me with nom
sense, my answer shall be
simply, clear"
They're getting away from
the very insulting slam cards."
said one saleslady, producing
as a sample a golden mouse
saying kiss me, kiss me. kiss
me-" and inside, nothing
makes me sick"
Most popular contemporaries
are engaging ones such as a
grinning man wearing a Ma
poleon hat and saying. Maybe
now you'll believe me-" It
opens into half dozen cut-out
dolls and the words, I'm crazy
about you"
A coy Guess what I want
for Valentines Day?" ends
with. "A train. I didn't get one
for Christmas"
And This sentimental VAL
entine guaranteed to bring a
lump to your throat" opens to
the directions, "Wad card, chew
26 times and swallow"
"The young girls just love
these contemporary cards." said
one saleslady. II must say
everybody's buying cards this
year and most buy a half dozen
at a time," she said, surrounded
by people clutching little pieces
Of pasteboard and dollar bills.
"The men, although they al
ways come at the last minute,
are getting a lot better about
sending Valentines. And they
send so many. I even had one
x-ho houohf fbroo ITo NV Iuifo1