Handing out cards on Valentine’s Day is no longer allowed in some schools. Cupid misfired an arrow, and it accidentally ended up hitting an errant target. Because of that one unfortunate incident—some school administrators saw fit to cancel things altogether.
I looked forward to Valentine’s Day, especially the making of a special box or sack for all of the cards to go in. Unfortunately, not all students received the same number of cards. Kids can be cruel without even knowing it.
A way around this was that a Valentine had to be given to everyone in the class, with teachers making sure this took place. That was extra work for them. It all came to an end in some schools when a few parents complained that they couldn’t afford to buy Valentine’s Day cards to begin with. Cigarettes and beer, no problem, but cards for their kids were a different story.
Psychologists soon entered the fray, claiming that Valentine’s Day was leaving a permanent mental scar on some of the lesser liked students. These experts said this was a form of bullying. There’s always someone out there to protect those whom they think need protecting.
That’s why 5-gallon buckets have warning labels on them to prevent small children from drowning. I’m sure it still happens on rare occasions. What one-year-old infant would pay attention to such a sticker to begin with? I’m surprised warning labels didn’t appear on Valentine boxes or bags years ago saying, “Caution – Could Cause Hurt Feelings.”
Thankfully, these overly protective individuals left ‘Valentine giving’ amongst teens and adults out of their concern. For Edna S. in Knoxville, Maryland, hurt feelings most likely occurred soon after she sent a card to Mr. M.H. Haupt in Middletown, Maryland.
The card is dated February 11, 1910, and was mailed from Knoxville, Maryland. Knoxville is known for its beautiful Magnolia flowers. The short message shows some concern on her part:
“I believe you have forgotten me so I thought I would send you another card.
Your friend,
Edna S.”
This colorful Valentine’s Day card with a nice message features Cupid with his bow, along with what appear to be Magnolia flowers, and a nature scene that I believe to be a growing field of flowers. “To My Valentine” appears on top.
Research shows that McClure Hamilton Haupt declined Edna’s Magnolias and picked Daisies instead. He married Daisy Gladhill on July 16, 1913. She taught in the same school as him, and they must’ve taken a liking to each other.
Some will find this sad. Perhaps it is, but I like to think that God had someone else in mind for Miss Edna. Searching through data from different sources, I couldn’t crack the egg and find what her last name was.
My guess is that it was a former classmate, yet no Frederickburg County yearbooks from the 1890s were available to me. I’ll continue searching through new resources as they become available.
The Haupt’s stayed together until he died in 1953, with her passing away at 101 years of age in 1983. Edna’s card must’ve meant something special to M.H. Haupt; otherwise, it wouldn’t have survived. Undoubtedly, it was hidden away among his special treasures!
I like to write junk... 