Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A quick read for you from Godey himself...

Godey's Lady's Book, February 1849

"WHAT a beautiful Valentine !" exclaimed Miss Selina Simpkins, as she eagerly scanned the splendidly embossed and ornamented sheet that Miss Eveleth had just received. "See, it is half smothered with 'doves and loves,' and all manner of beautiful devices; and, I declare, there is a sweet little looking-glass here in the centre! how beautiful!"

"And the sentiment printed, you, perceive— like cutler's poetry, 'love me and leave me not.' A miserable compliment, I think it," replied Miss Eveleth.

"But then it is very beautiful, and must have cost at least fifty dollars," persisted Miss Simpkins.

"And that is the most absurd part of the matter," replied the other. "No gentleman of talents would send a Valentine that he did not write, and none but a vain fool would send such an expensive toy, that is not of the least worth either for use or ornament Probably the dunce who sent it has not paid his tailor's bill for the year."

"You don't think much of Valentines , you have so many."

"No, because they are not worth a thought after the day is over. I wish we could have a new fashion of Valentines , something that would be worth treasuring and remembering— presents that would make the day hallowed, as it was in the olden time."

Such was the substance of a conversation on last Valentine' s day, and we determined to improve the opportunity of the return of the season to suggest a new fashion. But first, we will show why this is now necessary.

In the olden times, the term Valentine meant a true love, chosen on the fourteenth of February, hence called St. Valentine' s Day. Later, the name was given to little poems, generally devoted to the tender passion, written by the person who sent the Valentine , and addressed to the chosen favorite.

Now the title is bestowed on printed doggerel, bought in market and distributed through the penny-post, with no more of sentiment to consecrate the offering than though these Valentines were patented recipes for colds, or notices of a new milliner's shop.

The greater portion of these printed articles are of foreign manufacture— the fancy dealers of Paris and London sending out an inundation of their most ridiculous and expensive Valentines for the American market. Some of these, to be sure, are very beautifully designed, and form curious and costly presents; but the mass are uncouth daubs, the versification in the Mother Goose style, and some of the caricatures are so gross and disgusting that it would seem only savages or brutes could have prepared them.

Yet the fashion of sending these missives has now become quite a rage, and as most of those who wish to present a token of regard on this day have not leisure to write an original Valentine , thousands of these stereotyped, miserable things are purchased and sent.

The change we propose is this: instead of sending one of these designs, which are often costly and utterly valueless when the day is over, send a book or periodical, marking in the work sent the particular poem or character you desire to have considered appropriate or expressive of your own sentiments.

Should a young gentleman wish to express devotion to his lady-love, what better made than to send her on Valentine' s Day the Lady's Book, and continue it through the year? This would cost but three dollars, and every month would bring the memento of his homage. Should he wish to be incognito, and thus keep her curiosity and interest alive through the whole year, this can easily be done. We have named the "Lady's Book" first, because it is the only work prepared expressly and wholly for ladies; but there is a variety of excellent periodicals to choose from— "The Union Magazine," "Graham's" and the "Columbian"— each would be a beautiful and appropriate Valentine, and all would not cost half the money paid for one of the imported trumpery affairs, that are of no real value, and can rarely become of any sentimental interest.

Then for books, there is now a legion of works suitable for Valentine presents. We will enumerate a few. Either of the three new works entitled "Female Poets of America;" "Mrs. Sigourney's Poems;" the two works, "Women of the Bible" and "Women of the Scriptures;" "The Female Poets of England," and Mrs. Ellet's excellent work, "Women of the American Revolution"— any of these would be beautiful and appropriate Valentines . So also the works of our gentlemen poets— Bryant, Longfellow, Halleck, Willis, Percival, Hoffman, Simms, Morris, Sargent, Street, Holmes, and others whose poetical works form rich ornaments for' the parlor and boudoir. Select a Valentine from among these beautiful books, and your true love or friend will prize the gift certainly, and commend the good taste of the giver. The fourteenth of February will then become a day sacred to the Muses as well as to Lovers, a day when Genius will hallow sentiment and make the heart a shrine worthy of worship in the sense of the olden time, when the term Valentine was synonymous with true love.

We request the good offices of the great corps of American editors to help on the good work. Let us have this new fashion for Valentines tried fairly, and then let it be judged by its merits. And may the Valentine Day, 1849, be a day rich in good works to all who approve the plan we have thus hastily sketched.

LOL! SKIP VALENTINES

BUY A BOOK!

I tried my hand at a little valentine. I printed and cut out the image from this article in Godey's and created a punch paper border around it. My coloring skills are subpar at best, but at least it's cute.  

I hope you enjoy your day with someone you love!

~Kristen