Weddings of Yore

Memories of a skinned knee

by Laura Bartlett

posted 6/1/2002

Since Victorian-era ladies could not in all decency approach men, they used their fans to broadcast coded messages. According to the Museum on Main Street's Weddings of Yore exhibit, frenzied fanning meant that one was single, whereas slow meant "engaged." Held in the appropriate position, a fan might communicate "Leave me," "Come

Arts and Entertainment reviews and news.