INCIDENTS OF VALENTINE'S DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 112, 14 May 1877, Page 4

INCIDENTS OF VALENTINE'S DAY.

' Tha Home correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writes: — •. If anything, the valentine season Bppearod to be o little slacker than usual this year, probably because people had less mouey to throw away upon inanities. Nevertheless, the number sent was very large, and necessitated tho employment, as in former yeare, of a considerable number of additional sorters and lettercarriers by the Post Ofiica In Manchester, it is alleged, 26o,ooo valentines puesed through tbe Poet Office on the eventful 14th, though it is not stated how the character of tha missives was ascertained. In Stirling, an incident, probably unique in the history of St Valentine's Duy, occurred. Some local whgs procured one of the valeutines which summon the recipient to attend at tLe "Court of Hymen," &c., and persuaded a good-humoured policeman ro deliver it to Lachlan Cameron, a Highland bumpkin, employed at the Royal Hotel stables. On receiving the document Cameron manifested lively perturbation, and asked if he really must attend the Court. The policeman gravely assured bim tbat he must doso, nnd walked off, gulping down a very unofficial guffaw. Cameron shortly afterwards proceeded to the Police Court, and presented his " summons " to the officer in charge asking him what he was to do. The officer was at first inclined to laugh iv hi. face, but something about the man's features seemel to' strike hira as familiar, so he desired Cameron to wait a few minutes while he esquired into the matter. A little search among official documents disclosed the fact that Cameron was "■wanted" on a charge of passing. a bad half-sovereign at Banaockburn some time previous. The officer accordingly requested Cameron td step " ben tha hoose," and in a trice had tbe silly fellow locked up in a cell. I have not ascertained his subsequent fate. Reverting to valentines generally, I may add that no less than four tons' weight of" tbem were this year returned to the Dead Letter Office in London. This is not surprising when among them were such articles as a lady' wig, a baby's powder puff, a carrot, a pair of boots, a sausage, and a pig's tail! Some people's ideas of affection and fun are equally dull.