Sugary Sayings

In 1902, candymaker Daniel Chase thought of writing words on candy hearts, and Valentine's Day has never been the same. The New England Confectionary Company, which still makes the candies, tries to keep its 125 sayings up to date. Acceptable phrases are short and sweet, never naughty. NECCO vice president Walter Marshall's rule is that they "have to be able to sit on Mother Teresa's desk."

New sayings for the 1990s:

E-MAIL ME

PAGE ME

AWESOME

EXCUSE ME

HELLO

I DON'T THINK SO

Retired sayings:

BUZZ OFF

STOP

TRY ME

BAD BOY

HOT STUFF

SAY YES

Timeless favorites:

BE MINE

BE GOOD

BE TRUE

MY MAN

KISS ME

SWEET TALK

If you have ideas for sayings, write: Walter Marshall, NECCO, 134 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA. 02141. Small hearts have room for two words of four letters. The bigger hearts can fit two six-letter words.