THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602090200
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
The declaration of love is on a simple piece of blue-lined notebook paper, cut into the shape of a heart.
While the handwritten words are fading, the message in this 1879 valentine (see text) is reaching far more people than the writer ever could have imagined.
Visitors to the Isle of Wight County Museum can see this love letter, the oldest displayed in the museum's antique valentine exhibit. The special display runs through Feb. 29. The museum is downtown, at Church and Main streets.
The exhibit features more than 25 valentines, most given to women and children who lived in Isle of Wight and Surry counties between 1879 and 1940.
Except for one loaned by antique dealer Jim Abicht, all the valentines were donated to the museum in recent years.
The valentines reflect the times in which they were given, said Pat Hall, curator of the museum.
The celebration of Valentine's Day was at its height during and after the Civil War. Usually, men would celebrate the holiday by presenting a handmade card - often unsigned - to a woman.
By the early 1800s, with the creation of the U.S. Postal Service and the opening of more and more post offices, Valentine's Day became more of a family holiday. It became common for parents to give valentines to their children and for children to exchange them with their siblings.
Several valentines featured in the exhibit date to late 1800s and early 1900s, the end of the ornate Victorian era. Those cards are fancy and elaborate, adorned with flowers, lace and the like.
Another Valentine featured in the display was given by a man to his wife. To find out her true love's identity, the woman first had to work a small, wooden puzzle with the sender's name and message. MEMO: The Isle of Wight County Museum, at 103 Main St., Smithfield, is open
from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and
Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. 357-7459.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Isle of Wight County Museum Director Pat Hall carefully handles an
old valentine that will be on display at the museum through Feb.
29.
Most of the cards in the exhibit are handmade and many show
influence of the Victorian period.
AN 1879 VALENTINE
A valentine with this text, with its unusual spellings and
grammar, is exhibited at the Isle of Wight County Museum. Museum
Director Pat Hall believes the last name to be Bass, a historically
significant name in Isle of Wight.
Farewell shadows gather round my darling
And the Stars pale in the sky.
All the world seems sad and silent
Now that I must say goodby.
Fate decrees that I must leave thee
And the hour is drawing nigh
When the sad hour must be spoken
that I have come to say good by
Fate decrees that I must leave the
Until fortunes smiles are mine.
Would to God when leaving Darling
I could leave misgivings too.
But My poor heart will not sorrow
If assured thou will be true.
Oh, the pain it gives me to leave the
Words can never tell.
If thou lovest, come and kiss me
Kiss me when I say farewell.
Kiss me when and assure me darling
Thou wilt true faithful be.
And if others come to woo the
Tell them thou art loved by me.
When I am gone and thou art lonely
If thy dear heart long for me
Do not forget I will love the only
And will soon return to the
Thou will true and be faithful
Promise that you will love no other
My darling answer I will.
This is February 15th 1879
When this you see, Remember me.
Good bless this name,
Suvanor A. Ba-s
by CNB