SECOND SECTION
Fflaturt m Editorial
Th titers Comics
Radio
Medford
Tribune
Second Section
MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1950
Pages 1-8
VALENTINE'S DAY
THROUGH YEARS;
TRADITION TRACED
BE PREPARED MEN
Sentiments Range Widely;
Dan Cupid Comeback Seen
Comes Tuesday, it'i Valentine's day.
It's not anything to joke about, either, brother. We know a
guy who got married the following day.
And according to the Press Information Service of the Na
tional Association of Greeting Card Publishers "Cupid has staged
& dramatic comeback as a symbol of tender romance."
As a warning 10 romamicany
inclined but reluctant swains, it
is only fair to warn that this
Valentine's day business has
been going on for a long, long
time. And, since the so-called
eentler sex is undoubtedly deter
mined to keep it going on for
another long, long time, it might
be just as well for you to be pre
pared with some vital statistics.
Actually (acain thanks to the
Press Information Service of the
NAGCP) Cupid began enchant
ing lovers 2,000 years before the
first romantic valentine appear
ed According to Roman legend,
he was the son of Venus, god
dess of love, and Mars, god of
war. Back in the fourth century,
B. C, Praxiteles carved the old
est known statue of Cupid. It
showed him as a beautiful little
boy with wings, carrying a bow
and arrow.
Younq Priest Starts It
The first valentine wasn't
penned until 270 A.D., by St. Val
ntine. at that time a young Ro.
man priest (also according to the
PI section of the NAGCP). On
the eve of his execution for re
fusing to renounce (Jnristianny,
he sent a note of cheer to his
jailer's blind daughter, signing
it "From Your Valentine.
Valentines remained strictly
messages of friendship for the
next thousand years, cut v-upiu
started changing them into lov
ers' missives during the middle
ages. To elude vigilant fathers,
the billets-doux were hidden In
hollow trees that served as
trysting places.
Frenchmen Allies
Cupid's staunchest allies were
Frenchmen. The Duke of Or
leans was captured by the Eng
lish at the battle of Agincourt
in 1415. Imprisoned in the Tow
er of London, he composed the
oldest existing valentine, and
bribed a guard to smuggle'ilout.
Valentines reached a peak of
size and elegance in the royal
court of Louis XIV. Cupid ap
peared in the designs for the
first time, surrounded by cutout
hearts, paper fountains, tiny
birds and flower reproductions
circled by expensive Venetian
lace.
"Dan" was an ancient title of
honor, so Shakespeare christened
the winged cherub "Dan Cupid"
in his Dlavs. Lesser Doets. busy
composing amorous verses that
tongue-tied lovers might copy,
gratefully incorporated the name
into their rhymes. One such
handbook for amateur valentine
writers was frankly titled "The
Quiver of Love."
Popularity Peak
Cupid reached his all-time
popularity peak in the frilly,
fussy valentines of the Victorian
era. But public taste was already
swinging toward the comic. John
McLaughlin, a Scotsman with
a book and printing business in
New York City, introduced
"Vinegar Valentines" in 1858.
Bv 1890. the sarcastic verses and
crude, insulting drawings were
outselling sentimental valentines.
Valentines with clever illus
, trations and whimsical verses
caught the public fancy in the
early 1920's. In the reaction
against Victorian traditions,
"Vinegar Valentines" and ex
tremeiy sentimental missives
Doth went out of style. Cupid
began his long descent into
oblivion.
Tenderness Returns
Last year, however, tender
verses started climbing in popu
larity again. (We're still quoting
the PI section of the NAGCP.)
This year's valentines are as lacy
and sentimental as any grand
mother ever sent. And Dan Cu
pil, diminutive god of love, is
back on his famed pedestal, tak
ing careful aim at unguarded
hearts on February 14.
So says the Press Information
Section.
Now let's take a quick glance
at some of the cards available
from the clients of the Press In
formation boys.
There's one which, when open
ed, has two cardboard lips leap
out on a spring to kiss your
startled lady love. (Isn't that re
volting?) Another pops a tiny
figure skyward with the nota
tion "you hit me like something
ATOMIC." (If you think that's
bad, read on.)
Faintly suggestive messages
also are allowed to appear.
Here's one:
"Wish you'd stop teasin' and
listen to reason, because it's
more pleasin' to get in some
squeezin',"
And for pure corn, check this
one:
There's a picture of a bathing
suited girl, under the title "If
you want me for your valentine
. . ." Inside is a two-tone whis
tlecapable, the manufacturers
say, of being heard for four
blocks.
Newest Thing
Newest thing, it is said, is a
series of 20 nursery rhyme greet
ings portraying Little Jack Hor
ner, the Queen of Hearts, and
other Mother Goose characters.
The cards run from a nickel
up to several dollars. The more
expensive ones brim with ribbons
and lace, and are ornamented
with strings of pearls, simulated
orchids, ruby lockets, rhinestone
lapel pins or detachable corsages
of artificial violets.
Wonder what St. Valentine
would think if he could see what
he started. E. A. ,
iWimUni Or 'i'nfc, GUI) i,upid used to oe a god. He sun nad some of the appurtenances
of godhood in 1850, but by 1900, he'd become a tailor. In 1950, he's an iceman yet. The illustra
tions above show minor twinges in the trend which valentine cards have taken in the last century.
It is estimated that about 300 million such cards will be exchanged in American alone this week.
Medford Firemen To Start Tours of
Familiarization In Downtown Area
Medford fire department will
soon embark on a system of pre
fire planning surveys or familiar,
ization tours aimed at acquiring
vital information on buildings,
according to Acting Fire Chief
Leo Weidner.
He said these surveys will
prove helpful by providing added
inspections and information es
sential for fighting fires. They
should assist in securing and
maintaining a low rate on fire
insurance, Weidner declared. The
surveys may begin late this
week.
Building Each Day
Each day, according to Weid
ner, a building will be selected.
The firemen on duty that day
will have a brief discussion about
the structure to be toured, using
maps or whatever other informa
tion they have concerning it.
They will look up technical or
related data that will be helpful.
Weather permitting, all but
two men will leave the station
about 1 p. m. for the objective.
On the tour one man will be
left with the apparatus to tend
the radio and give the alarm if
a fire occurs. Firemen will have
an inspection form to fill out
which will require two hours on
the average building. On ex
tremely large plants a second
visit may be necessary.
Will Study Structure
Upon return to the station,
Weidner said, the crew by use
of a blackboard and sketches,
will prepare a general plan for
fighting a blaze in the structure
surveyed. An action card will be
compiled and placed in a file in
the chief's car where it will be
quickly available.
This or similar Dlans have been
adopted in several cities with
SDlendid results. Weidner report
ed. "We think," he said, "this
plan will produce the fire facts
concerning our city, tne proD
lems confronting us, the recom
mendations necessary, the solu
tions to some of our problems
and the action to be pursued in
case of fire. t
This plan can be put into ef
fect with verv little added ex
pense to Medford, adding to the
plans attractiveness, he pointed
out.
He stressed that objective of
the tours is familiarization for
the men who must fight the fires
and for those responsible for tne
protection of the city against
fires.
The survey, Weidner stated,
Hnes not reolace regular fire
orevention inspection- by a reg
ular inspector and no citations
will be issued for violation of
state or local laws except lor
imminent life hazards.
Weidner brought out that
many lives are lost and much
damage caused by fire each year
and that in many instances Dis
asters could have been prevented
by elimination of fire hazards,
public education regarding fire
safetv and good laws relative to
carelessness and negligence.
FOR RESIDENTIAL OR
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Use the Besf Materials
Obtainable
Select Builder's Supply
Light Weight
Pumice Blocks
and Bricks
Saving in Labor Cost!
Highest Fire Rating!
Excellent Sound and Heat
Insulation!
Low Maintenance!
INQUIRE ABOUT
Pumice
Chimney Blocks
BUILDER'S
SUPPLY CO.
727 W. McAndrews
Phone 2-4107
"Be Safe and Buy
from Builder's Supply"
"WE REFUSE
TO BE
UNDERSOLD"
You
Actually
SAVE
on the
purchases
you save at
McLAIN'S
All drugs, cosmetics and sundries at minimum fair
trade prices Compare.
You also save when you ask for Coast-to-Coast
Trading Stamps, a stamp for each dime you spend.
Ask for your FREE stamp book, when filled each
book means $2.00 in cash or $2.65 in merchandise
(Fair Trade Items Excepted)
Park in any Geo. Goodman park
ing lot while you shop here we
pay for your parking.
Frer Delivery in City "
Compare Quality, Selection, Cour
teous Service and you'll agree "in
Postal Committee
Receives New Bill
Washington, Feb. 11 (U.R)
The senate post office commit
tee had a double-barreled re
minder today that President
Truman wants more postal
revenues.
The committee received a new
postal rate bill from the house
and filed it with a similar sen
ate measure already pending on
its calendar.
Chairman Olin D. Johnston
(P., S. C), said the committee
will consider them when it meets
again on regular business. But
ne said no meeting will be call
ed until republicans return from
tnelr Lincoln day engagements,
Mrs. Max Peirce
Reelected to
Committee Post
Mrs. Max Peirce of Medford
was again named vice chairman
of the state sponsoring commit
tee for social hygiene education
at the annual conference held in
Portland last week. Mrs. Peirce s
selection for the office is in rec
ognition for the work done by
the social hygiene committee of
the Jackson County Public
Health association during the
past, four years. The Rev. Wil
liam H. Genne of Pacific univer
sity was again named chairman,
and presided at the meeting,
which was attended by approx
imately 200 representatives from
health associations, teachers,
school leaders, doctors and law
enforcement agencies.
Attending the conference from
Medford were Mrs. Peirce, Mrs.
Frank Conner, vice-chairman of
the local committee, Dr. A. E.
Merkel, county health officer.
and Mrs. Chester Guches, pub
licity chairman for the Health
association.
Agencies Cooperate
Cooperating with the Oregon
Tuberculosis and Health associa
tlon in the conference were the
Oregon state board of health, the
Mental Health association, the
American Social Hygiene asso
ciation and the E. C. Brown
trust. Dr. Ralph G. Eckert, psy
chiatric consultant for the Calif
ornia state board of education,
was principal speaker, and Fred
G. Scherer, Portland, was in
charge of arrangements.
Local residents will be inter
ested to learn that Mrs. Sadie
Orr Dunbar, president of the
Oregon Tuberculosis and Health
association for the past 35 years
was awarded an honorary life
membership in the American
Social Hygiene society in recog
nition of her accomplishments
in this field. Presentation of the
award was made at the opening
luncheon by Mrs. Walter W. F.
May, Oregon City.
Purpose of the conference was
to form a coordinated program
through parental education,
schools, the medical profession
and law enforcement agencies
in the state of Oregon.
MOTORMEN END STRIKE
Hong Kong, Feb. 11 (U.R)
Two thousand motormen and
conductors returned to their jobs
on Hong Kong street cars today
ending a seven-weeks strike.
!!" v
(Acme Telephat)
REAL SHARP CHRISTIAN Actress Colleen Townsend (left) Ungs
"Id rather have Jesus" from the pulpit of the Punxsutawney, Pa.
First Presbyterian Church. She told Jam-packed church congrega
tion the inside story of how she became "a real sharp Christian an
gave up a 750-a-week movie contract and a chance at stardom.
Services Planned
In Advance of Need . . .
give deeper satisfaction because
arrangements, price, and selection
can be fully considered.
Chapel Mortuary
Frank Morgan - - Harold Snodgrast
Funeral Directors
Across from the Courthouse
PHONE 2-8030
PRSf.RIPII0NSQ
I DRUG CtMRc J
V FIRST 17
Medford it's McLAIN'S."
PHONE 2-7113
1 i
A REAL Fiesta! .feiL,
W ctmem rich, luscious ja
3 NUTRITIOUS M;
I 1
m Xw ice Jr
CREAM M
X$h Tuesday it VALENTINE'S DAY , . . and that calif JrT 1
CTjiak and don't forget . that new special milk nutrient . NTX
FIESTA ICE CREAM . . . positively the most pal
S? ijK. ate-pleasing, health-building dessert you can pos- ?uf
illy choose. To make YOUR Valentine's party Aivl,J'
" vertible Fie,, e"' FIESTA ICE CREAM!
4Sie ; J GET FIESTA In the gay, new, colorful package J
v r, on t '0,9er ,na Bew P'al nu"ent J t 1
V N ' NUTRIMIX has been added to make it the finest 3
VVeVy lee cream you've ever tasted! V
i v
J V
At Your Grocer or Favorite Fountain