[Editor: This letter, regarding Valentine’s Day, was published in the “Our notebook” section of The Saturday Journal (Adelaide, SA), 17 February 1923.]
St. Valentine’s Day.
Last Wednesday was St. Valentine’s Day, and although the observances for years have been obsolete, it has still the power to call up many old recollections from memory’s crowded store (writes “Heath.”) I well remember the time when, as a callow youth, I eagerly looked out for that day, and felt keenly disappointed if I were not the recipient of several valentines.
The sending of these missives was a quaint custom, and survived for many years. Originally it was introduced as a purely complimentary exchange between sentimental lovers, or as a tribute to a much-admired friend of the opposite sex, but several factors served to sound the deathknell of the custom.
The “ugly” valentine made its undesirable appearance, and was as often as not of a highly objectionable character, with grotesque caricatures and offensive verses. These were frequently sent, not in harmless jest, but with the intention of wounding the susceptibilities of the receiver. Often the verses were supplemented with objectionable sentences added by the sender. The recipient making a perhaps erroneous guess at the sender, would dispatch something equally objectionable, and thus was stimulated that detestable bane — the anonymous letter. Some shopkeepers noting this, declined eventually to do any trade in the ugly variety, and patrons were sometimes annoyed in consequence. All this served to make the valentine less popular; then came the picture postcard craze, which finally displaced the valentine, and even to a large extent the Christmas card, and now in its own turn has almost run its course.
But there is a better side too. I have before me, as I write, the first valentine I ever received. It is of chaste filagree design with bold embossing, on a lace-like foundation, with dainty floral work inside, and tiny scent satchel concealed in the folds — a type much in vogue one time. As I gaze in reverence at this treasured relic of the past, my memory travels back through the years to the time when I was a youngster ill in bed, with some childish ailment. Between several spells of deliriousness I heard that it was Valentine’s Day, and several elder brothers and sisters showed me the gay little packages they had received. Child-like, I was bitterly disappointed that I had not got any. However, the very next postal delivery brought to me the pretty valentine I have described. I did not know, of course, who sent it, nor did I care. But as I now trace my name in the faded ink written nearly 50 years ago, I recognised the cherished handwriting of the best and truest friend I ever had — my mother.
Source:
The Saturday Journal (Adelaide, SA), 17 February 1923, p. 12 (Night Edition)
Editor’s notes:
filagree = an alternative spelling of “filigree”: delicate, fine, and intricate ornamental works made from metal wire (usually gold or silver), with the wire being twisted into designs, patterns, or shapes; to decorate an object with delicate, fine, and intricate ornamentation made from twisted metal wire; a design which resembles such ornamental works
gay = happy, joyous, carefree; well-decorated, bright, attractive (in modern times it may especially refer to a homosexual, especially a male homosexual; can also refer to something which is no good, pathetic, useless)
valentine = a Valentine’s Day card; a greeting card, gift, message, or token (anonymous or signed) which expresses affection, attraction, or love, which is sent to a lover, sweetheart, or the object of one’s affection on the occasion of Saint Valentine’s Day (14th February); someone who is the recipient or sender of a Valentine’s Day card, gift, message, or token; one’s lover or sweetheart
[Editor: Changed “obselete” to “obsolete”.]
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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