Love & Romance
The Perfect Rose Case
Technical Sergeant Valentine Browne Lawless was shot down over Linz, Austria in October 1944. He left behind a will revealing that, as his first name suggested, he had a romantic streak.He left the bulk of his small estate (worth $3600, or around $50,000 in today's money) to one of his brothers for a "special purpose." He detailed that special purpose in a separate latter. He wanted his brother to arrange to have "one perfect rose" anonymously sent every Saturday to Mildred Fitzpatrick, until the money ran out.
Valentine had worked with Mildred before the war, but the two had never dated. In fact, she barely knew who he was. He had fallen in love with her from afar, and because he was extremely shy he had never told her about his feelings. Valentine explained to his brother:
I love her very much and would like to be the type of person that could make her love me and marry me and be able to support and provide her with those things which it is such a pleasure to give to anyone you love.
But as I am not a personality that is likely to be successful socially or financially, I must make this request.
Unfortunately, Valentine's romantic gesture turned out to be in vain. A few roses were sent, but the deliveries soon stopped, for two reasons.
First, Valentine's other siblings successfully challenged the will, on the grounds that the rose deliveries were detailed in a separate letter, not in the will itself. Therefore, the will had failed to specify the "special purpose". The case became known as the "perfect rose case," and the court ended up splitting Valentine's estate between his sister, two brothers, five nephews, and a niece.
Second, Mildred didn't want the roses. She really didn't want them. She was married, with a daughter, and found the publicity deeply embarrassing. She ended up suing the Hearst Corporation for publicizing the case and for describing Valentine as her "suitor" even though she barely knew him. She lost the case, but her feelings were clear. So, no more roses.
San Francisco Examiner - June 20, 1948
click to enlarge
Winston Salem Journal - Aug 8, 1947
Posted By: Alex - Fri Feb 14, 2025 -
Comments (1)
Category: Lawsuits, Inheritance and Wills, 1940s, Love & Romance
Happy Valentine’s Day 2025!
Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 14, 2025 -
Comments (0)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Holidays, Surrealism, Love & Romance
No Harshing of the WU Mellow
Esteemed WU-vies:Alex and I noted some tiny, tiny flareups in the comments about who's being a jerk and who isn't. I refuse to believe that ANYONE in this select audience is an intentional jerk. Alex and I are extremely grateful to have you all as readers and commenters. We wouldn't be doing this blog without your support and the pleasure of your company.
Anyhow, everyone take a chill pill and stand by for more of the patented Weirdness you've come to know and love. I invoke this in the name of Saint Chuck Shepherd, long may his memory survive.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 05, 2025 -
Comments (4)
Category: Weird Universe, Love & Romance
Merry Xmas 2024!
Posted By: Paul - Wed Dec 25, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Holidays, Love & Romance
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda
Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 22, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, Eighteenth Century, Love & Romance
A search for love on the No. 94 bus
While visiting Los Angeles from Elk River, Idaho in May 1978, 33-year-old Zan Lawrence met a young woman on the No. 94 bus. They talked for about 20 minutes before she disembarked.Lawrence was smitten, but he didn't know how to contact her. Or even what her name was. So he spent the following weeks riding the same bus back and forth, hoping to meet her again. He also put up signs and placed newspaper ads.
Eventually his search came to the attention of the media, and he was featured in articles. However, the publicity didn't help him locate the young woman. He never did find her again.
Of course, maybe she didn't want to be found.
Los Angeles Times - June 10, 1978
Los Angeles Times - Aug 14, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 02, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: 1970s, Bus, Love & Romance
The Dancing Pig
Posted By: Paul - Sat May 25, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, 1900s, Dance, Love & Romance
The Belgian-Colombian War
A short essay here has a few more details.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 13, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: War, Europe, South America, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century, Love & Romance
Electric Trains and You
A song of the season. This word might come in handy: paraphilia.Paraphilia is the experience of recurring or intense sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations, fantasies, behaviors, or individuals.[1][2] It has also been defined as a sexual interest in anything other than a consenting human partner.[
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 14, 2023 -
Comments (0)
Category: Holidays, Toys, Trains and Other Vehicles on Rails, 1960s, Love & Romance
Don’t Go Near the Eskimos
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 07, 2023 -
Comments (4)
Category: Ethnic Groupings, Music, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1960s, Love & Romance
| Who We Are |
|---|
| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |