| Show It tt began in the century SP SIP Van Horn Staff Writer England celebrated ed Valentines Valentine's s Day in the we know it a as ear early y t he r Some historians tra trace e the custom of sending verses verses-on this day to a French Frenchman an named Charles Duke of Or Or- leans Charles was captured c p red redby by the English during a battle in in 1415 He was taken to o England and put in fn prison On Valentines Day he sent his wife a rhymed love letter from his cell in the Tower of London Other experts experts ex ex- ex- ex believe the custom sprang fr from m Saint Sain Valentine notes of affection through the bars of his cell from children who missed him In older times women would write mens men's name on bits of paper roll them into pieces of clay and drop them in the water The first name to rise to the surface was believed to be the womans woman's true love Another old custom was writing women's names on slips of papers papery and drawing them from Jar jar The name drawn became thet mans man's v valentine and lentine-and and he paid special attention to her and sent gifts During the groups of f friends met to draw names nam For several everal days each man had his v valentines valentine's name embroidered on his sleeve The saying Wearing his heart on his sleeve may have come from this practice In the late ate and early romantic messages messages messages mes mes- sages gradually replaced gi gifts s. s Many stores sold har handbooks called calle Valentine Writers Included Included In In- in were these verses to copy and nd various suggestions about writing Valentines The first commercial valentine was also made made- in inthe Inthe inthe the early In the mid to early many people sent a comic valentine called a a penny dreadful These sold for a penny and contained satiric insulting verses The following is an example all in v vain in your simpering looks Yo You never can incline With all your bustles s stays and curls To find a Valentine |
