Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1887 — WOMAN GOSSIP. [ARTICLE]

WOMAN GOSSIP.

Now each fond youth who e'er essayed An effort in the tinkling trade blots Resumes to-day; and writes and About true love and true-love knots. The antique loveliness of Paganism is not yet dead, for during the past week we celebrated the day sacred to the goddess whose subtle sway, immortal as her beauty, will cease only with the annihilation of the human race. The day is known to us as St. Valentine’s, the sweetheart saint’s day. Why he ever was selected to that honor we have failed to learn. To be sure, he has some reputation, as his cognomen indicates, for being a gallant; but he was chiefly remembered as kindly dispositioned, for his charity and good deeds. Excepting for his name, he has almost retired from the scenes and customs peculiar to the day. It is rather the light-winged love-god; the mischievous son of Vends, Cupid, who wields the scepter and issues the programme of joys for the day. It is his image we find stamped upon the missives fraught with heart-agitating perfume. It is a day old as the age which taught that birds sought their mates upon the 14th of February. It is the day of blushes, when maidenly cheeks wear the glow that Venus loves. It is the day when young blood sparkles with warmer, brighter hopes. The day •when yofing hearts beat faster, in fond anticipation of the results of certain love messages. It is the day of days to dream of ideal homes, as in the fantastic light of dying fires we strive to read our future fate. It is said Jove was wont to laugh at lovers’ perjuries; but then Jove is dead, and the fairest of the Olympian immortals is alone truly immortal. May that fair goddess of love grant that all honest hopes born of the day be realized and all evil wiles be frustrated.— Chicago Ledger.