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Show Superstition is nearly as old as i man aud tLat it exists now quite as strong though not us wide spread as in the early ages of our woi Id, is proved prov-ed by the various rites and ceremonies ceremon-ies practiced ou certain days throughout through-out the year. Even those who ridicule ridi-cule ihem, yet participate in them "just for fun," have a lingering half suspicion iu their minds that it might ccme true ; especially is this the case when inclination paints the way. St. Valentine is the acknowledged pa-.trou pa-.trou saint of lovers ; and the peculiar costumes connected with the day were referred to by wiiters nearly 500 ; j years ago. The St. Valentine who sutTeied martyrdom on the 14th of February was one of the fifty-two saints of that name but nothing has ever been found in his life or in the lives of any of them that would give occasiou for the singular observance of the day. It has been maintained8 that it was an ancient custom among the Romans during the Lupercalia , celebrated in the mouth of February for the men and boys to draw the names of their futuie wives iu honor of their goddess Februata Juno, and th-it the Christian clergy finding it absolutely impossible to abolish this heathen custom changed it to a religious re-ligious ceremony by writing on the slips of paper instead of the names of women those of particular saiuts whom they were to follow and imitate curing the year. |