VALENTINE'S CARDS

Valentine's card

The first Valentine's cards were sent in the 18th century, initially these were handmade; lovers decorated paper with romantic symbols (flowers, love knots, puzzles and lines of poetry). These cards were slipped secretly under a door. Perhaps the oldest surviving example dates from 1797, it was decorated with flowers and images of Cupid.  With the industrialization in the 19th century, it became easier produce Valentine's cards. But not all Victorian Valentine's cards were romantic. There were some cards designed to insult. One example that survives features a cartoon of a woman with a large nose with the title ''Miss Nosey''.  

Victorian Valentine's card

''Miss Nosey''

THE UNGRATEFUL LION!

In a dense forest, lived a fierce lion. He was very cruel. One day the lion was caught in a hunter's trap. One by one animals passed by. ''Please help me!'' pleaded the lion. But none of the animals listened to his plea. After a while, a man happened to come into the forest. He saw the lion. The lion said, ''I will die of hunger and suffocation. Please help me out, oh kind man!'' The man was thoughtful. ''I assure you I will never harm you. Please help me now. The hunter will be anytime now'' said the lion. The man felt sorry for the lion and set the beast free. As soon as the lion was free, he let out a fierce roar. ''I have been trapped in the cage for a long time. I am hungry. I will have to eat you'' said the lion, looking at the man. ''But you promised me that you would not harm me'', said the man, in a meek tone. “Yes, I said that. But only to convince you to free me. Now, I am terribly hungry," said the lion.  The terrified man thought quickly. He said, ''Alright, you can eat me. But let a judge decide if you are right in eating the person who has rescued you."  The lion agreed. He was sure that no animal would speak against him. Just then a jackal came that way and the lion asked the jackal to be the judge. He addressed the lion, ''Sir, would you please show me how it all happened?" The lion was only too willing. He entered the cage and closed the cage door. The jackal immediately bolted the cage from outside.  ''Now the lion is trapped again. Run away, you foolish man! And never offer help to anyone without thinking" said the jackal. The frightened man ran for his life. And the ungrateful lion was trapped in the cage again. The hunter came and took the lion away to his circus.