From the archives: How romantics in the Valley celebrated Valentine’s Day through the years
By Emily D’Gyves and Michael Rodriguez | Staff Writers
Love is timeless.
Its boundless influence can bring down civilizations and soften the hardest hearts, and it can be expressed in poetry and prose, or with red roses and wine. But its lifecycle is forever, and its impact … divine.
It’s the mushy time of year again where rhymes and limericks like such suddenly bear romantic fruit. But just how much has our method of expressing love changed over the years?
Nearly 130 years of The Monitor, the Valley Morning Star and The Brownsville Herald publishing newspapers lends evidence to the fact that Valentine’s Day has always been celebrated with sweet sentiments, just as much now as it was then. What’s considered sweet has merely changed over time, be it furniture or flowers, it can all whisper “I love you.”
You’ll see it here in our pages going back generations, beginning with the following poem published 128 years ago.
1898
My Valentine
I send my heart in rhyme to you,
With love in every line,
And should it come in time to you
To be your valentine,
Then listen how it beats for you,
And should you chance to guess
The question it repeats to you—
Say yes, Sweetheart, say yes!
Oh, send young Cupid back to me,
Nor let him know a tear;
And may the world not lack to me
I long so much to hear;
Without it all is dumb for me
And life is loneliness,
Then let your answer come for me!
Say yes, Sweetheart, say yes!
Frank Dempster Sherman
This poem appeared in The Brownsville Herald’s Feb. 14, 1898 edition. Written by American poet Frank Dempster Sherman, the Herald reprinted the poem that initially appeared in Ladies Home Journal that year.
Ironically, a century later, a Monitor entertainment writer curated a top 10 list of romance films for Valley residents after Brownsville ranked dead last in LHJ’s 1998 survey in the romantic atmosphere category.
Beyond poetry, Sherman was also an architect, genealogist and mathematician. He published six collections of poetry during his lifetime, according to the Academy of American Poets.
1912
“She likes her Valentine. Girls are looking for husbands who have Bank accounts; so are their parents.
“Young man, the most valuable asset that you can have if you are thinking of getting married is A BANK ACCOUNT. No girl or no girl’s parents want a poor man. Later on the poor man won’t want himself: because being poor when he might have been comfortable, is no fun. Start your love affair and your business affairs with some MONEY IN THE BANK. It will be YOUR BEST FRIEND. Ask the man who knows.
“Do YOUR banking with US.
“We pay 4 per cent interest on savings”
“Dear Amy:
John has given me already a new dresser for my valentine. I am writing this to put you wise. You strike Bob for a new dresser too. Tell him how nice the small top drawers will be for his collars.
My dresser is such a beauty; the mirror hasn’t a single flaw in it. I’m going to make John give me furniture for presents right along until our home is “spick and span” from parlor to kitchen.
Always your friend,
Lou
p.s. It doesn’t cost a fortune to furnish every room in the house if you buy your furniture from Howse Furniture Co.”
1932
“Even folk of the movie world catch the spirit of St. Valentine’s Day. Ruth Hall, pretty and petite, murmurs ‘Pardon me for breaking your heart!’”
This message appeared in the Valley Morning Star’s Feb. 14, 1932 edition.
Born Ruth Gloria Blasco Ibáñez, Hall was at one point “Hollywood’s latest Cinderella girl,” according to archival coverage from the Akron Beacon Journal, which also noted Hall was the great-niece of Spanish author Vicente Blasco Ibanez. The journal continued to say Hall chose her mother’s name so her career wouldn’t be “the result of a celebrated name.”
Nevertheless, Hall appeared in a little over 30 films, most notably in the Marx Brothers’ 1931 feature “Monkey Business” and alongside John Wayne in the 1933 adaptation of the eponymous novel, “The Three Musketeers.”
1952
“Happy Hunting: Valentine-minded Cupid has a heart—a very graceful one formed by Donna Steen, left, and Kathy Darlyn, two curvesome misses whose beauty usually graces the beach at Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Fla.”
“Threat of rain didn’t bother Mrs. Lucy Bache, McAllen artist, (above) who was the only one to show up in Archer Park Thursday (Feb. 14, 1952) for the Upper Rio Grande Valley Art League Show.
“Mrs. Bache didn’t hear the radio announcement calling off the show because of threatening skies. The artist worked on one of her unfinished paintings as many passersby stopped to watch.”
1972
“Valentine Queen: Elizabeth Fuentes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Fuentes, was crowned queen of the Valentine Dance sponsored by Accion Catolica of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, McAllen. Miss Fuentes represented St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church where she is a member of the CYO and youth choir and Bible class teachers for first graders. Shown with her is Mrs. David Santos, president of Accion Catolica.”
“Nobody says no to flowers.”
1992
“Ivana Garcia, 7, a student at Austin Elementary, jumps ‘double dutch’ with Mary Bethea, left, turning on one end while Mary Ruth Holland, not pictured, turns the other at McAllen Memorial Stadium Friday afternoon (Feb. 14, 1992).
“About 1,700 McAllen Elementary students turned out to jump rope to raise money for the American Heart Association in this fourth annual event.”
“After four years of dialysis, Fidencio Alvarado (right) was given a new chance at life when his wife, Guadalupe (left), gave him one of her kidneys. He was once so despondent he contemplated suicide. His wife helped him find the will to live.”
Valentine’s wishes
The Monitor would run Valentine’s cards from our readers to their loved ones. It was a custom the newspaper would do for some time, but for now, here are the ones that appeared in 1992.
Here are some other excerpts:
A Valentine to my dear wife Elva Robertson
“I thank God that in this whole wide world where I had no one I have had the privilege of knowing and loving a beautiful lady like you. I will be eternally grateful for all the things you have done and continue to do for me. You gave me a reason to LIVE again. You have never failed me and I could never fail you. I pray you will be my one and only Valentine as long as we both shall live.
Your husband Gene Robertson
To Norma Z.
If you’re not sure, remember this, to know love is all there is, is all there is to know! From someone who loves you, adores you, and worships the ground you walk on!
A.R.
DAY TO DAY
Always and forever
Very much in love
I will be with
David Arredondo
Happy Valentine’s Day
With love from Chris
TO: FRED REIOS
WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE AS “I LOVE YOU”, IT CAN NEVER BE SAID ENOUGH. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
Your Wife, PEARL
TO ARCENIA
I love you with all my heart. Muchote! Love Marcos.
MI AMOR…
Jamas te dejaria
Olvidarte menos
Seguir siempre contigo
Es mi mayor ilusion
TU REINA
TO FRANK
Always Ready
Romantic a lover, you’re ever in my dreams. Nights are splendid desserts. Ecstasy and whipped cream.
I LOVE YOU
PAM
DORIN
Express my love in a few lines – How can I do it ever? For space I need the universe and I need time – forever!
MANDOLIN
ADAN, I love you only, may we grow old together thru eternity. Love SAMANTHA
SONNY The distance separates us but we will always be close. CRIS
GEORGE FLORES
Babe I didn’t know what life was all about until you came into my life. Happy Valentine’s Day. Eternally yours, ODETTE
CINDY,
Hi Honey, Eleven years of Bliss and thanks for being a wonderful mother to our kids. We love you
HOMER, LYRA, AARON
Happy Valentine’s Day
Enrique Palacios
“ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE, JUST WANT TO SAY ‘I LOVE YOU’”
Your Wife,
ELISA
JoAnna Martinez
Happy Valentine’s Day Sweetie
I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH because your Extra special to me.
Love, Mom
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