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February: Valentine's Day (Illustrated London Almanack, 1849) A look back at Valentine's Day in the early part of the 19th century. St. Valentine's Day (Girl's Own Paper, 1880) When this article was written, Valentines were still popular in Victorian Britain, but just beginning to taper off... Vanishing Valentines (The Strand, 1895) By 1895, this author was confident that Valentines would soon be a thing of the past! Their popularity, still strong in 1880, was on the wane - not least, the author believed, because bloomer-clad women who smoked "in their own clubs" did not perhaps lend themselves to romantic notions! House Mottoes, Part 1 (Girl's Own Paper, 1898) No horse-leeches need apply! A look at some quaint and curious inscriptions found upon and within ancient homes. How to Make Bead Flowers (Girl's Own Paper, 1881) This lovely craft never goes out of style. Hasty Dishes (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1888) Sometimes even Victorian cooks were in a hurry; here are some hints on how to handle this common kitchen problem! Girls Who Work With Their Hands (Girl's Own Paper, 1896) Excerpts from a competition run by the Girl's Own Paper to find out, in their own worlds, a bit about the lives and work of factory girls and other women workers. Some fascinating snippets about women's working lives! Bits About Rats (Girl's Own Paper, 1881) Rats can be clever creatures, as this article shows! On the Origin and History of Muffs (Girl's Own Paper, 1896) When I was a child, I always wanted a fur muff - and in this weather, I still do! How to Make Conversation (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1888) A prize-winning essay on how to talk about something other than the weather! Different Ways of Making and Serving French Pastry and Cakes (Girl's Own Paper, 1900) This set of recipes is sure to make your mouth water! It also introduces the novel notion of measuring ingredients by quantity (e.g., cup, teaspoon, etc.) rather than weight! (Another old method was to use the price - i.e., "five-pence-worth of cream"!) A Painted and Embroidered Picture Frame; A Gauze and Lace Sofa Cushion (Girl's Own Paper, 1900) Two charming craft projects. My School Days, Part 2 (Girl's Own Paper, 1897) Get up close and personal with famous children's author E. Nesbit as she recalls her own childhood in this charming 12-part serial! Chronicles of an Anglo-Californian Ranch, Parts 2 & 3 (Girl's Own Paper, 1899) Another British family sallies forth into the New World to seek its fortune, this time in southern California, not far from the "busy and enterprising town of Los Angeles." Hard work, they find! Recipes for February (Girl's Own Paper, 1896) The recipes this month are... interesting. They include kidney & macaroni, rabbit galantine, turnip puree and haddock toast! (But the savoury puffs and everyday cheesecake sound good...) Odds and Ends (Girl's Own Paper, 1895) A fascinating round-up of news, notes and trivia from around the Victorian world. Poetry A Wish Valentines Somebody's Valentine The Plea of the Tom-Tit The Month of February