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Show -..... Vvw ...... ... M . First Painted Valentine. seated in a bower, with a church in the distance, and a few lines descriptive descrip-tive of the tender sentiments of the persons forwarding the same. The designers of these amatory billets seem to nave eatertained rather singular singu-lar notions respecting the proper attitude at-titude of the ladies and gentlemen of whose feelings they sought to be come the interpreters. The lady was invariably dressed in a scarlet gown, with a blue or green shawl; the gentleman gen-tleman was attired in lavender trousers, trous-ers, yellow waistcoat, blue surtout, and green or crimson, cravat The effect ef-fect thus obtained was, as might be imagined, somewhat striking; but our fathers and mothers were apparently satisfied with these quaint pre iuc-tions. iuc-tions. The introduction of the c?4eap postage of today laid the foundation of the present trade in valentines, the manufacture of which now constitutes consti-tutes an important branch of industrial indus-trial activity, furnishing, directly or indirectly, employment to several thousand persons of both sexes. Cheap postage is also responsible for the introduction of the comic valentine, val-entine, that hideous bit of vulgarity sold for a cent in the United States and in Great Britain for a penny or a half-penny, which still remains one of the tribulations of the day. But side by side with this monstrosity grew up the pretty and fanciful cards whose use in a modified form has been extended also to Christmas and to New Year's. |