Show vy FEBRUARY s sf 1 f r rv v j r rt 1 t S M LL Valentines More MOl e Popular I Than Ever Elver EverN ElverN N THE latter part of or the eighteenth century the I valentine those valentine those ornate creations of lace paper silver and gilt artificial flowers scrap pictures and j sentimental verse which verse which we know grew from the thet t t simplest processes by natural natural nat nat- I ural degrees of tion Before valentines became became be be- came a recognized article of or merchandise lovers were constrained to construct their own A quill pen a sheet of writing paper and ability to write doggerel was the required equipment Soon there appeared obliging little chapbooks chapbooks chap- chap books called the New Valentine Writer Cupids Annual Charter The School of Love and the Ladles Ladies Polite Valentine Writer There re also was a valentine writer for and one for the joker called the Quizzing Valentine Writ Writ- Writer er These valentine writers were little littie lit lit- littie tie tle six-penny six pamphlets containing choice specimens of doggerel for almost almost al al- most all degrees of love and senti went ment Here are a few samples Round is the ring that has no end So Is my love to you my friend You arc are witty you are pretty You arc are single What a pity I II I am single for your sake What a handsome couple we wo shall make In the Valentine Writer valentines for almost every trade and profession were provided Here is one for the pawnbroker I pledge my word for thee I live And am sincere when honor calls v Oh then my my dear an answer give You know where to to-at to at tho the three balls balts The grocers grocer's was as follows Your breath Is spice all I declare And youre you're so neat and handy That youre you're as sweet I think my fair As plums or sugar cand candy Be favorable I r implore These verses kindly weigh And i If you will my heart restore Ill I'll treat you OU to some tea This was the maids maid's scornful answer answer an an- Your letter Ive I've weighed Am truly afraid Many pounds youre you're deficient In weight And so Mr l Grocer Id I'd haVe hare you to know Sir I r e care re not a fig for your our treat t Oftentimes these made home-made valen- valen times were of the cut and torn paper variety beautiful designs being worked out by cutting or tearing the paper pape About the year 1800 the manufactured manufactured j article began to steal away the early charm of St. St Valentines Valentine's day Transformation scenes were a conceit of the German manufacturers A lone bachelor sits and bemoans his fate of solitariness until a shifting scene reveals reveals reveals re re- re- re to him what wha bliss life Ufe would be with her of his dreams The more elaborate of these man manufactured valentines valentines valentines val val- entines were wonderful examples of ot human Ingenuity and handicraft and some were very expensive The manufacturer of valentines 50 years ago gave remunerative employment employment employ employ- ment meat to an army of women to whom the work of construction was ed Germany furnished most of the material In bulk for valentines but the beautifully made artificial cambric roses reses each no longer than a pea were made In French convents by women to whom valentines were never ne sent and who were vowed rowed to celibacy and single life The be anonymity of the remembrance Is Its charm as in the case caso of tho the young artist of Charles Lambs Lamb's acquaintance ac ac- ac who expended hours and his best work on a valentine for his neighbor a young girl with whom he had never spoken but hut whose radiant girlhood had given him Joy to behold be be- hold To her surprised eyes came his exquisite testimonial And like pleasure pleas pleas- ure tire shared our grandmothers when Inthe In Inthe inthe the good old days folded sheets with lace edges and most delicately handwrItten handwritten handwritten hand hand- written verses beneath crudely sentimental sentimental senti mental sketches found their insidious way under their front door Iff m jo l t i I |