Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-09-03
THE BLACK PATCH VOGUE
Renewed Favor for a Quaint
Fashion of a Century Ago.

With the revival of quaint and pic
turesque fashions, rumors of court patch
es are in the air. The days when women
of fashion wore powdered wigs and fancy
black patches ON their cheeks, chin or
forhead are in fair way to be revived.
and, although wigs are unlikely never
never to return-for which many thanks
should be given-yet these attractive
little finishes to make up are already
being seen at Newport and French
watering places.
There is a good deal of fascination
about these thing. if women only did
but know it. Not only does the dead
black give an extra whiteness to a pretty
skin. says the Ner York Telegram. but
there is also prescribed code of mean
ing attached to them. different places
OH the face indicating different things.
ORIGIN IN SEVENTH CENTURY.
They were originated by the Saxon
Queen Etheldra, who was canonized
after her death. which took place near
the end of the seventh century.
This Queen led life of great dissipa-
ton until the death of her second hus-
band. to whom she was greatly attached;
she saw the folly of her ways. forsook
the world aud entered convent. where
she was chosen abbess. She gave her
self up to the most severe practice of
religion, which at that time meant a
great neglect of soap and water.
This, together with long fasting,
many penances and other voluntary
hardships. caused her pretty face to
break out i'm pimples and blotches. Evil
IDENTIFY the Queen $ religious life had not
subdued her pride in her appearance. for
she covered the disfguring spots with
patches. All her followers. even though
they did not have pimples. adopted the
patches as being evidences of a really
religious life.
The style originated in convent was
later adopted by court.
REVIVED IN THE DAYS OF THE GEORGES.
In the days of the Georges in England
the fashions was revived after having
been long unseen. At this time the
patches grew to most elaborate proper
lions and some were made to an inch
long and cut carefully to simulate
a coach and four. Stars, crescents and
circle were the most common forms EN-
ployed and it was rare that belle did
not have at least two upon her face.
FRENCH CODE.
Here are some of the regular rules of
a reliable French authority:
If a woman wore patch at the
corner of her right eye she was head
over heels in love with somebody, for
that was the passionate patch.
The patch of devotion was worn in
the middle of the left cheek. When
worn on the right cheek it could be
construed as sign of disappointment.
A patch on the lip was translated
"coquette." aud needed no explanatory
marginal notes. A patch in the middle
of the chin meant pity.
The shapes were also significant. The
round patch was called The assassin"
This was pretty strong term. and it in
dictated the wearer's determination TO
make things lively.
The square patch was less belligerent,
but not more cheerful, for "remorse"
was the meaning read into it. The
triangular patch denoted pity and the
heart-shaped devotion.
These old rules make interesting
reading; but no one supposes that our
American girls would be so lacking i'm
common sense as to adopt them.