CHAPTER XLII._How to amuse yourself and others

Saint Valentine’s Day.

Did it never occur to any of you to wonder who Saint Valentine was,

and why we should commemorate his day by sending cards or letters

containing all sorts of nonsense, like true-lovers’ knots, hearts

pierced with arrows, etc.?

It is easy enough to tell you about the saint, but what he had to do

with the popular observances of the day dedicated to him is a matter

for conjecture.

Saint Valentine, they say, was a grave and earnest bishop, who was put

to death in Rome on the fourteenth day of February, about the year 270

A.D., for his too zealous efforts in converting the heathen. When he

was canonized, the day of the month on which he died was dedicated to

him.

The customs of Saint Valentine’s Day are, no doubt, derived from those

practised at some of the Pagan festivals, for they are of very ancient

origin. In olden times, in England, it was kept as a great gala day,

and all the houses were decked with evergreen in honor of it. Ben

Jonson says:

“Get some fresh hay, then, to lay under foot,

Some holly and ivy to make fine the posts;

Is’t not Saint Valentine’s Day?”

The principal feature of the ceremonies was always the choice of a

valentine for the ensuing year. The cavalier was expected to wait upon

his lady, execute all of her commands, and act as her escort at all

social gatherings.

The choice of a valentine was generally left to chance, one of the

methods being that the first unmarried member of the opposite sex a

person saw on Saint Valentine’s morning should be his or her valentine.

Of course you have all had some experience in sending and receiving

valentines, and perhaps consider that the only way of celebrating the

day; but don’t you think it would be a good idea to invite some friends

to your house and have a

=Valentine-Party?=

We will give several suggestions upon what to do at a valentine-party,

that you may have some idea how the affair should be conducted.

In the first place, let each guest, upon his or her arrival, deposit

a valentine in a large bag placed in the hall for that purpose. The

valentines must be addressed to no particular person, but the girls

should write on theirs, “To my cavalier,” and the boys address the

ones they send, “To my lady.” On one corner of each valentine (not the

envelope) the sender’s name must be written.

When all the guests have assembled, someone disguised as Saint

Valentine, in a skull-cap, long white beard, made of cotton or wool,

and long cloak, should enter the parlor, carrying on his back the sack

of valentines. He must stand in the centre of the room and auction off

each valentine as he takes it from his pack.

All sorts of bids can be made, such as the promise of a dance, a

necktie, her share of ice-cream at supper, by a girl. A compliment,

the first favor asked of him, a paper of bonbons, by a boy. To make fun

the bids should be as ridiculous as possible. Saint Valentine is to be

at liberty to accept whatever bid he chooses. The payment of the debt

must be rigidly exacted by the sender of a valentine, whose identity is

revealed when the valentine is opened.

[Illustration: Fig. 379.—Cupid’s Bow and Arrow.]

If unable to comply immediately with the demand, the debtor must give

the creditor a card or slip of paper on which is written “I O U a

favor,” or whatever it may be that is owed. This I O U entitles the

creditor to claim payment of the debt at any time during the year.

Another feature of the party should be Cupid’s bow and arrow, which

must be suspended from the chandelier or placed in some prominent

position. The device is to be used for delivering such valentines as

may be addressed to particular persons. The valentine must be stuck

onto the point of the arrow, and no one may remove it save the person

to whom it is addressed. At any time during the evening the arrow may

be found to bear a missive, and we would advise the hostess to provide

a valentine, to be delivered in this way, for each of her guests, that

none may feel neglected. The rest of the party can, to be sure, send as

many valentines as they like.

[Illustration: Fig. 380.—Notch in End of Feather.]

Make Cupid’s bow and arrow of heavy pasteboard, like Fig. 379. Let the

bow measure about sixteen inches from tip to tip. Make the arrow twelve

inches long, with a point or head three inches, and the feathers two

inches, in length on the outside edge. Cut a notch in the feathered

end, as shown in Fig. 380. Strengthen the arrow by gluing a thin stick

of wood along it to within one inch of the point. Gild both the bow and

arrow, tie a silk cord to the tips of the bow, leaving it slack, and

force the head of a worsted-needle into the point of the arrow (Fig.

381). Adjust the arrow by fitting the cord in the notch and pulling it

back until the cord is taut; then fasten it to the bow by taking a few

stitches with yellow silk through the bow and over the arrow. Fig. 382

shows how it should appear when in place.

[Illustration: Fig. 381.—Manner of fastening Needle in Arrow-head.]

To determine how the guests shall be paired off for supper, place the

names of all the girls, written on slips of paper, in a bag; then let

each boy in turn take out a slip, and the girl whose name it bears he

shall escort to the supper-room and serve like a true cavalier.

At a valentine-party the valentines should, if possible, all be

original, or at least contain appropriate quotations. The more absurd

the rhyme, the more fun it will create, and when one is unable to make

a rhyme a bit of prose can be made to serve. As funny as you please let

the valentines be, but remember to omit anything that is in the least

rude, or calculated to hurt another’s feelings.

[Illustration: Fig. 382.—Cupid’s Bow with Arrow in Position.]

With Saint Valentine’s Day ends our vacation-calendar and with it we

also bring this book to a close, for a whole year of holidays, sports,

and entertainments are now contained within its covers. If we may hope

that our work has not been without profit, as well as entertainment,

if we have been successful in opening any new avenues of enterprise and

enjoyment for you, we are satisfied. If we have done more, and with any

of our suggestions have prompted the thought of adding to the comfort

and happiness of others, we have achieved a success, and the mission of

the AMERICAN GIRL’S HANDY BOOK is accomplished.

[Illustration]

INDEX.

Album, an, 400

All-Hallow-Eve; see Halloween

Appliqué designs, 391

April, first of, 3;

April-fool’s Day party, 5;

games, 6 et seq.

Back-stitching, 383

Ball, soft, 327

Balls, lawn-tennis, 69

Basket, May, 74;

birch-bark, ib.;

cardboard, ib.;

crab-net, 97

Basting, 382

Bedstead, 444

Beech-nuts, 220

Biographical nonsense, 339

Bladder telephone, 227

Blind, taught modelling, 257

Blind-man’s singing-school, 155

Blind-man’s stocking, 321

Bombs, 115

Bonbon box, 49

Bookcase, 439

Book-covers, home-made, 401

Book-mark, 324

Book-shelves, marine, 94

Booths at a fair, 413;

tables for, ib.;

flowers for, 417;

arrangement of, 420

Botany as applied to art, 139;

conventionalizing plant forms, ib.;

the peony-leaf, 140;

a bunch of turnips, 142;

decorative lines, 143;

cross-section plant designs, 144;

flower-sprays, 146;

changing color and form, 147;

burs, ib.;

water-lily conventionalized, 148;

fern-leaf, 85

Bouquets, to preserve fresh, 25

Brackets, 214

Bradford, Governor William, 302

Bran pie, 321

Brushes for oil-colors, 250;

for china painting, 270

Bubble-blowing, 335

Buckeye Portière, 204

“Bunching eggs,” 37

Burgoos, 132

Butter-Scotch, 459

Butter-nuts, 220

Button, how to sew on a, 386

Button-holes, 383

Bureau transformed into a bookcase, 441

Candlestick, marine, 103

Candy, home-made, 458

Canvas for painting, 251

Cards, Easter, 50

Cards, living Christmas, 342

Chair, 441;

how to reseat, 442

Chestnuts, 218

China-painting, 272;

materials, 273;

China, 278;

monochrome painting, ib.;

tinting, 273;

new method of decorating china, 279;

tracing, 280;

mottled ground, 281;

snow landscape, ib.;

head-painting, 284;

sea-weed, fish, etc., 287;

mixing colors, 289;

painting royal Worcester ware, 290

Chocolate-caramels, 461

Chocolate-creams, 459

Christmas festivities, 317;

customs, 318

Clay, for modelling, 259;

how to manage, 261;

how to preserve, 262

Clover, four-leaved, 23

Color painting, 241, 244, 246

Conventionalized plant forms, 141

Court, for lawn-tennis, 62

Cross-section plant designs, 144

Crystallizing flowers, 21

Curtain fixtures, marine, 92

Dancers, fairy, 330

Darning and mending, 384

Declaration of Independence, 117

Decoration, sea-side cottage, 92

Decorations, natural, 201;

of autumn wild flowers, 202;

buckeye portière, 204;

of horse-chestnuts, ib.;

of corn, 209;

ornamental gourds, 210

Decorative language, 365;

how to make a design in, 371

Dolls, corn-husk, 169;

with crab-apple heads, 173;

flower, 175

Drapery of small scraps, 431

Draw, how to, 229

Drawing plant forms, 141

Drawn work, 389

Dressing-table, 444

Easel, 250

Easter, 33;

how celebrated in England, ib.;

in Russia, ib.;

in Ireland, 34;

in Germany, 35;

in Washington, D. C, ib.

Easter cards, 50

Easter eggs, 33;

games with, 36;

dolls made of, 39;

toys formed of, 42;

maple wax eggs, 49;

bonbon box, ib.

Enchanted girl, pantomime of, 348

Exercising, best time for, 353;

balancing weights on the head, 356;

broom-handle exercise, 357

Fairy dancers, 330

Fan, how to make a, 177;

butterfly fan, 178;

Mikado fan, 180;

daisy fan, 182;

card-board fan, 183

Felling, 383

Ferns for decoration, 19

Fid, 57, 161

Five minutes’ conversation, 154

Fish-painting on china, 286

Floral vocabulary, 377

Flowers, wild, 14;

transplanting, ib.;

how to keep cut, 15;

sending by mail, 16;

preserving, in sand, 16;

pressed, 18;

herbariums of, 19;

for decoration, ib.;

color of, changed, ib.;

waxed, 20;

to freshen cut, ib.;

crystallized, 21;

frosted, ib.;

perfume of, preserved, ib.;

spring flowers in winter, 23;

preserving, in alcohol, 24;

in an empty bottle, ib.;

under glass, ib.;

to keep bouquets fresh, 25;

to keep flowers or fruit fresh for a year, ib.;

painting, in water-colors, 239

Fortune-telling, by melted lead, 190;

by nutshell boats, 192;

by “three luggies,” 193;

by roasting nuts, ib.;

Kaling, 194;

by the magic mirror, ib.;

by three tin cups, by the ring cake, 195

Fortune’s wheel, 88, 426

“Fore-shortening,” 231

Fourth of July, celebration, interior decoration for, 107;

indoor illumination, 108;

out-door decoration and illumination, 109;

fireworks for girls, 111;

parachute, 112;

thunderbolts, ib.;

whirls, 113;

winged fancies, ib.;

pin-wheels, 114;

bombs, 115;

lawn party, 117;

declaration of independence, ib.;

game of toss, 118;

jackstraws, 119;

progressive mining, ib.

Frames for pictures, 295;

designs for, 296;

decorated, 297;

cork frame, 299

Furniture, old and new, 438

Game of headless turkey, 312

Game and fish stew, 133

Games, quiet, for hot weather, 151;

door-step party, 152;

five minutes’ conversation, 153;

blind-man’s singing-school, 155;

game of noted men, ib.;

what will you take to the picnic? 156;

assumed characters, 157;

shadow verbs, ib.;

Halloween games, 196 et seq.

Games for Christmas holidays, bubble-bowling, 335;

biographical nonsense, 339;

comic historical tableaux, 341;

living Christmas cards, 342

Gathering, 382

Glass, stained, imitated, 435

Glove pen-wiper, 323

Glove, to mend a kid, 386

Gold, mat, 276;

pure, ib.

Gourds, ornamental, 210

Grab-bags, 423

Ground glass, imitation of, 436

Gymnasium, home, 353

Hall seat, 447

Halloween, 187;

origin of, ib.;

party, 189;

fortune-telling on, 190 et seq.;

games, 196 et seq.

Hammock, how to make a, 159;

materials required, 161;

barrel hammock, 165

Hat-rack, sea-side, 98

Hazel-nuts, 220

Headless turkey, game of, 312

Hemming, 381

Heraldry, 366;

field of, 266;

the points, ib.;

divisions, 267

Herbariums, 19

Herring-bone stitch, 384

Hickory-nuts, 219

Historical tableaux, 341

Home gymnasium, 353

Home-made candy, 458

Horseshoe crab-bag, 101

“Huli Fool,” 4

Impression album, how to make an, 123;

tools required, 125;

printing from leaves, 126;

from flowers, 127;

landscapes, 128;

other uses for botanical impressions, 129

Jackstraws, Fourth of July, 119

Julklapp, 319

Kaling, 194

Key-rack, 412

Lace, 393

Lady of the Lake, 425

Landscape painting in water-colors, 241

Language, a decorative, 364

Lantern, 408

Lawn, painting on, 434

Lawn party, 117

Lawn-tennis, 55;

lawn-tennis suits, 56;

how to make a lawn-tennis net, 57;

materials for, ib.;

court, 62;

rules for the game, 63

Leap-year party, 351

Leaves and ferns for decoration, 19

Light, 252

Mailing parcels, directions for, 16

Mantle-cloth, 454

Mantle-piece, 451

Maple-wax Easter eggs, 49

Marsh-mallow paste, 460;

toasted, 461

Mat colors, 277

May Day, 71;

sports, 72;

May baskets, 74;

May-pole, 77;

May-pole dance, 79

Midsummer Eve, 83;

the games of, 85 et seq.

Mirror tableau, 6

Mirror, the, 404

Model, arrangement of, in water-color painting, 240

Modelling in clay and wax, 257;

value of, 259;

much can be learned without a teacher, ib.;

materials, ib.;

clay, 260;

general directions, 261

Modelling wax, 263

Modelling stand, 260

Molasses candy, 459

Monochrome painting, 278

Music-roll, a, 410

Nancy, Miss, 326

Nature’s types, 125

Needle, hammock, 58; 161

Needle-work, 380

Net, lawn-tennis, 57

New Year’s Day, 347;

New Year’s parties, 348

Noah’s ark peep-show, 8

Nutting parties, 218;

rules for, 221

Overhanding, 380

Oil-cups, 251

Oils for china-painting, 275

Overcasting, 380

Paint-box, 251

Painting in water-colors, 238;

materials for, ib.;

flower-painting, 239;

model, 240;

landscapes, 241;

general directions, 242;

painting from notes, 244

Painting in oil-colors, 249;

materials, ib.;

the light, 252;

setting the palette, 253

Painting on lawn, 434

Painting window-panes, 432

Paints, for china-painting, 274

Palette, 250;

setting the, 253

Palette-knife, 250;

of horn, 273

Panel decorations, 205, 209, 270

Panel of field-corn, 209

Pantomime of an enchanted girl, 348

Paper-weight, 412

Parachute, 112

Party, First of April, 5;

Fourth of July, 117;

door-step, 151;

Halloween, 189;

nutting, 218

Paste, how to make, 402

Patch, how to, 386

Peanut-candy, 458

Peanuts, 223

Perfumes, to prepare from flowers, 21

Picnics, burgoos and corn-roasts, 131;

how to make a burgoo stew, 133;

a corn-roast, 134

Picture-frames, 295

Pilgrims, landing of, tableau, 305 et seq.

Pin-wheels, 114

Plain sewing, 380;

overhanding, ib.;

overcasting, 381;

hemming, ib.;

running, 382;

basting, ib.;

gathering, ib.;

stitching, 383;

back-stitching, ib.;

felling, ib.;

button-holes, ib.;

herringbone, or cat’s-tooth stitch, 384

Plantain test, 86

Plaster casts, 268;

to harden, 270;

to color, ib.

“Poisson d’Avril,” 4

Pop-corn balls, 462

Portières, designs for, 391;

buckeye, 204

Postal regulations for packages, 16

Progressive mining, 119

Rag-balls, 427

Ribbon embroideries, 393

Ribbon curtain, 430

Rooster, a lively, 327

Rose-water, recipe for, 26

Rubbish, what to do with, 403

Running, 382

Sachet, 323

Saint Valentine’s Day, 464

Scrap-bag, 324

Scrap drapery, 431

Scrap-book, 395

Screen, marine, 99;

Louis Quinze, 206

Settee, 442

Shells, how to polish, 104

Shelves around chimney, 456

Siccatif Courtray, 253

“Silly mackerel,” 4

Spring flowers in winter, 23

“Squirrel, little brown,” 218, 221, 222

Stained glass, imitation of, 435

Starfish, candlestick made of, 102;

ornaments of, 103;

how to dry, 104

Stitches, fancy, 387

Stitching, 383

T-square, 234

Table, a bric-à-brac, 406;

at a fair, 413

Tableau, mirror, 6

Tableaux, burlesque, 304;

historical, 341

Tar paste, 275

Telephone, how to make a, 224

Tent, illuminated, 111

Thanksgiving, celebration of, 302

Thunderbolts, 112

Tiles, painted on marble mantle, 453

Tin telephone, 225

Tints in water-color painting, 242

Toss, 118

Tracing, 280

Transformation scrap-book, 398

Urchin, sea, vase made of, 102

Valentine party, 465

Vase, marine, 102

Walking Club, the, 27;

membership of, 30;

length of walks, ib.;

rules to be observed, 31

Walnuts, 220

Walnut creams, 459;

glacé, 460

Walnut-shell turtle, 325

Washstand, 446

Water-colors, 238

Wax-modelling, home-made, 263

Wedding decorations, wild flowers for, 202

Whirls, 113

Wild flowers, 13

Window decorations, 92

Window-panes, decoration of, 432

Window-seat, 448

Winged fancies, 113

Work-basket, crab-net, 97

Work-basket, 411

Worcester, royal, ware, 290

CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

A NEW BOOK BY KIRK MUNROE

THE WHITE CONQUERORS OF MEXICO

By KIRK MUNROE. With 8 full-page illustrations by W. S. STACEY. 12mo,

$1.25.

A powerful and fascinating historical story, the scene of which is laid

in Mexico when Cortez made his famous conquests. The story possesses

a peculiar interest in that it is related from the stand-point of

the native races, the hero, Huetzin, being not one of the “White

Conquerors,” but a native, the son of Tlahuicol, a Toltec, and a war

chief of the Tlascalan race. In warring against Montezuma, King of

the Aztecs, Tlahuicol is captured, and after a long imprisonment,

is cruelly put to death. His son is also ordered to be killed, but

effects a miraculous escape, and makes his way to the army of Cortez,

which is advancing against Montezuma. Animated by a Toltec’s hatred

for the Aztecs, who have murdered his father, he effects an alliance

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ROBERT GRANT’S

TWO BOOKS FOR BOYS

JACK HALL;

OR, THE SCHOOL DAYS OF AN AMERICAN BOY. BY ROBERT GRANT. Illustrated by

FRANCES G. ATTWOOD. 12mo., $1.25.

“A better book for boys has never been written. It is pure, clean, and

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JACK IN THE BUSH;

OR, A SUMMER ON A SALMON RIVER. BY ROBERT GRANT. Illustrated by F. T.

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“A clever book for boys. It is the story of the camp life of a lot of

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“An ideal story of out-door life and genuine experiences.”—_Boston

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NEW BOOKS BY G. A. HENTY

For the season of 1893-94 Mr. Henty adds to his list of fascinating

stories of adventure three new books—THROUGH THE SIKH WAR, A TALE OF

THE CONQUEST OF THE PUNJAUB; A JACOBITE EXILE, BEING THE ADVENTURES OF

A YOUNG ENGLISHMAN IN THE SERVICE OF CHARLES XII OF SWEDEN; and ST.

BARTHOLOMEW’S EVE, A TALE OF THE HUGUENOT WARS.

_“No country nor epoch of history is there which Mr. Henty does not

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of this method of composition.”_—NEW YORK TIMES.

=THROUGH THE SIKH WAR.= A TALE OF THE CONQUEST OF THE PUNJAUB. By G. A.

HENTY. With 12 full-page illustrations by HAL HURST, and a map. Crown

8vo, handsomely bound, olivine edges, $1.50.

Percy Groves, a plucky, high spirited boy, the son of an English

officer, loses his parents at an early age, and joins his uncle

residing on his estate in India, situated in the very center of the

troubles that developed later into the Sikh war. The hero and his uncle

become involved in the dangers and intrigues that surround them, and

take active part in the war, passing through many thrilling experiences

and adventures during the two notable campaigns that resulted in the

conquest of the Punjaub. It is one of Mr. Henty’s most interesting and

powerful stories.

=ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S EVE.= A TALE OF THE HUGUENOT WARS. By G. A. HENTY.

With 12 full-page illustrations by H. J. DRAPER, and a map. Crown 8vo,

handsomely bound, olivine edges, $1.50.

A story of a lad of English birth but Huguenot parentage, who visits

relatives in France at the time when the feeling between the Catholics

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No boy could resist the fascination of this strong, vivid narrative. It

is intense and absorbing, while presenting a true picture of the times,

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=A JACOBITE EXILE.= Being the Adventures of a young Englishman in the

service of Charles XII of Sweden. By G. A. HENTY. With 8 full-page

illustrations by PAUL HARDY, and a map. Crown 8vo, handsomely bound,

olivine edges, $1.50.

The events of the present story take place during the reign of William

of Orange. The father of the hero is a Jacobite gentleman who, to

avoid arrest, is compelled to flee to Sweden. Here the hero, Charlie

Carstairs, and a young companion, engage in the service of Charles

XII, taking part in the wars between Sweden and Poland. The hero,

acting as a scout, falls into the hands of Polish bandits. After

numerous exciting adventures and hair-breadth escapes, he finally

secures his release and returns to Sweden. Then he serves for a time

under Marlborough in France, and distinguishes himself signally. A

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satisfactory close to a story remarkable for its thrilling adventures,

its varied scenery, and its interesting historical pictures.

=BERIC THE BRITON:= A STORY OF THE ROMAN INVASION. By G. A. HENTY. With

12 full-page illustrations by W. PARKINSON. Crown 8vo, $1.50.

“It is a powerful and fascinating romance founded on the Roman invasion

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=IN GREEK WATERS:= A STORY OF THE GRECIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

(1821-1827). By G. A. HENTY. With 12 full page illustrations by W. S.

STACEY, and a map. Crown 8vo, $1.50.

“It reproduces the spirit and describes many of the events of the Greek

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=CONDEMNED AS A NIHILIST:= A STORY OF ESCAPE FROM SIBERIA . By G. A.

HENTY. With 8 full-page illustrations by WALTER PAGET. Crown, 8vo,

$1.50.

“Godfrey Bullen, the young hero, suspected of Nihilism, is sent with

convicts to Siberia. His final escape from prison life, after many

exciting adventures, affords material for a narrative absorbing and

thrilling. The scenes of Siberian prison life give the book a peculiar

value.”—_Christian Advocate._

=REDSKIN AND COWBOY.= A TALE OF THE WESTERN PLAINS. By G. A. HENTY.

With 12 full-page illustrations by ALFRED PEARSE. Crown 8vo, $1.50.

“This book is said to be founded on the experiences of a young English

friend of the author, and though it is full of hair-breadth escapes

none of the incidents are improbable. It is needless to say that the

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=THE DASH FOR KHARTOUM.= A TALE OF THE NILE EXPEDITION. By G. A. HENTY.

With 10 full-page illustrations by JOHN SCHÖNBERG and J. NASH, and 4

plans. Crown 8vo, $1.50.

“The author has provided a stirring book for young readers, and

the episodes of battle, capture, rescue, deeds of daring, and

other exciting features in which boys delight, are in great

abundance.”—_Boston Saturday Evening Gazette._

=HELD FAST FOR ENGLAND.= A TALE OF THE SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. By G. A.

HENTY. With 8 full-page illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Crown 8vo,

$1.50.

“It is an historical novel, the siege of Gibraltar by the combined

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century, being the foundation on which Mr. Henty’s clever fiction

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*** _The above are Mr. Henty’s latest books. A full descriptive list

containing all of Mr. Henty’s books—now 41 in number—will be sent to

any address on application. They are all attractively illustrated and

handsomely bound._