Actions Speak Louder Than Words...
Did you know that, in 18th and 19th century England, a woman could flirt entirely without words, using items such as a fan, her gloves, parasol, or handkerchief instead? Indeed, an entire flirtation could take place in silence with subtle gestures and motions which could be easily hidden from prying eyes. Here's a sampling:
The Fan
Carrying it in the right hand in front of face = Follow Me
Drawing across forehead = We are watched
Placing handle across lips = Kiss me
Drawing in across cheek = I love you
Fanning quickly = I am engagnedFanning slowly = I am married
Resting against right cheek = Yes
Resting against left cheek = No
The Glove
Biting tips = I wish to be rid of you
Dropping one = Yes
Dropping both = I love you
Thumb exposed on left hand = Kiss me
Smoothing them out = I am displeased
Striking them over shoulder = Follow me
The Parasol
Carrying it elevated in left hand = I desire to make your acquaintance
Carrying it elevated in right hand = You are too forward
Carrying it over the right shoulder = You can speak to me
Carrying it over the left shoulder = You are cruel
Dropping it = I love you
Tapping the chin = I am in love with another
Touching handle to lips = Kiss me
The Handkerchief
Drawing it across the cheek = I love you
Drawing it through the hands = I hate you
Folding it = I wish to speak with you
Twisting it in the left hand = I wish to be rid of you
Twisting it in the right hand = I love another
Drawing it across forehead = We are watched
I'd like to know how ladies could keep all this 'body language' straight--can you imagine having to memorize all these nuances, else you might convey the wrong message to someone, even if by accident? "Hmmm, I want to tell him 'yes' with my fan--but it is my left cheek I touch, or my right?!" And what if you were simply a klutz, prone to dropping things?! Better hope you only accidentally drop one glove--indicating 'yes'--rather than both, indicating "I love you"! Think of the trouble in which you might find yourself if you had a habit of touching things to your lips without thought!
I can't even think of any modern parallels--can you?
posted by Kristi Cook | 6:35 PM
6 Comments:
I can't even think of any modern parallels--can you?
Text message abbreviations! LOL
Cool post, Kristina! Where on earth did you find this? Source(s) please!
Comparable actions today--flipping hair behind shoulder (flirting?); leaning forward to speak (I am interested in what you say, think?). . .
I dunno. I've been married a while now and sometimes I swear I don't have to so much a lift an eyebrow and my husband gets it. ;-)
And sometimes he is clueless ...
These are fun, Kristina! In my novel Scandal's Daughter, I have the hero making these coded messages to the heroine using a hand of playing cards instead of a fan.
modern parallels?
The handkerchief codes that were so popular with gay men a few years ago. A lot was communicated by what color hanky stuck out of which back pocket of a pair of Levi's 501s.
Here's a list of them -- I have no idea how accurate. Some are really raunchy, some funny, some so highly coded I don't know what they mean. Like "tearoom top (pours)"???? I gotta go email a friend, who is sure to know.
I was thinking the same thing, Kristina. What if you forgot which cheek it was? Or what if you really did just drop your gloves?
Like Pam, I was thinking of the signals to let people know your orientation--which ear is pierced, for example. But I never could keep those straight (oops! a pun!).
Ack--forgot to cite my post! I got most of it from "The Ladies of London"--a wonderful, spiral-bound 'reference guide' extravaganza by Kristine Hughes. I bought it one year at RWA, at the 'book sale' room (whatever they call it!) and it is probably my all-time favorite reference book.
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