A historian of Valentine's Day cards determines that the historical role of the valentine is to distance the sender from emotional intimacy.
Shank described valentines sent by a college linguistics instructor in the 19th century.
To "Susan" in 1849, the instructor handwrote, "While passions sigh and cupid's dart around us fly from heart to heart tell me, dear one, will love like mine be welcomed in a Valentine?"
Four years later, the instructor sent the exact same lines to another woman, "Catherine."
In 1850, he varied his passage for yet another woman. "This day let me on you impress how fond, my love, and true and ever will to you incline say shall I be your Valentine?"
(via Fark)
