Originally printed in The Bermudian February, 1947.
Whatever may be thought of St. Valentine’s Day in this age, the lovers’ saint was a real help to bashful wooers in olden days.
St. Valentine was chosen as the lovers’ saint because of a likeness of the name Galantin, a lover, a gallant. The same corruption (!) of the word occurs in gallant, or valiant.
Our picture shows a Valentine sent by Francis E. Tuzo to Sarah George, daughter of Richard W. George.
He was evidently a tardy lover, for the Valentine was dispatched on February 12th, 1885, and the marriage took place on May 12th, 1889. Was there something prophetic in the words he chose for his Valentine, for he died at sea on June 23rd, 1890.
Here is the verse contained in the Valentine:
“I must go over the Sea to other lands
It is the call of duty; but fear not
I shall return, and then our loves are sure.
Dream not of danger on the sea—one power
Protect us always, and the honest heart
Fears not the tempest
Valentine.”
