FOR THE GIRLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 40, 16 February 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOR THE GIRLS.

ST. VALENTINE'S DAY.

A QUAINT OLD CUSTOM REVIVED. My Dear Girls, — I don't suppose any of you bad even the tiniest thrill when yon peengJ into the post box last Thursday, February 14. It was just the same toroa as any other old day. But how different in grandmama's day! It was the magic date far II maidens then, when good St. Valentine's Day dawned. On that date it the charming custom for all shy swains to let the maid of his heart bum the words his lips were afraid to utter. And to-day, as we say pretty thi»«. with flowers, so grandmama's swain said it with a valentine. In London, a February 14, when the population was much smaller than it is now neati. delivered over 200,000 valentines! ' pMt * The origin of the festival of this jolly old saint is rather obscure, bat •» is supposed he was a Roman bishop, and that he was martyred under tha Emperor Claudius about 276, and was remarkable for his benevolen and his name was taken as a patron saint for shy lovers. There was a custom upon St. Valentine's Eve among the younr folk to get together and select an equal number of names of boys and zirls. » them in a hat, then everyone drew a name, which was called th«/ Valentine, and was looked upon as a good omen that the two would fuull marry. ' Quite recently, in England, an effort has been made to revive th* quaint old festival, and modern valentines were seen in the London sho 1 have one before me now. It is much like a Christmas card, is printed upon delicate paper with pink fringe round the edges. A high vase filled with blue forget-me-nots stands proudly in the centre. A«T beribboned kewpie climbs up the stem, with the motto, "A Little Mascot and Miss Forget-Me-Not," and underneath, "To My Love." So, girls if thk pretty custom is revived, and reaches as far as New Zealand,' there' will h, no end of fun to be had, and, just to go on with, I will end with this littla verse, which I want you to show to gran, and ask her if she remembers Ska will smile, I know, and her eyes will twinkle and grow young. Sec if tfcT? don't! Apollo has peeped through the shutter, And awakened the witty and fair; • The boarding school belle's in a flutter oLaJL^^^ The twopenny post's in despair; a > * %XS\^2r^ The breath of the morning is flinging, M IjE-r'^^^^^ A magic on blossom and spray; The larks and the sparrows are singing, In chorus on Valentine's Day.