Cincinnati Magazine
February 9, 2021
Mrs. Cecil Cramer of Cincinnati was having an unhappy Valentineâs Day on February 14, 1908. She was newly divorced from her husband on grounds of failure to provide for her and their child. The postman arrived that day spouting effusive apologies. Because the address and postage were correct, he was obliged to deliver to her an offensive âvalentineâ from her ex-husband in the form of a plump, juicy, sarcastic lemon.
Fresh citrus was an uncommon medium for correspondence back then, but sarcasm was abundant. In 1908, every woman dreaded the prospect of receiving a âcomicâ valentine.
Even little boys dreaded the arrival of a sarcastic âcomicâ valentine. Young women refused to admit they ever received a âcomic.â