The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-20
ODD Uses FOR HANDKERCHIEFs.
To Disse minate knowiedge-As q Journal
and . Dance Programme.

White pocket handkerchief whereon are
printed full instructions for such emergencies
az are likely to occur. together with hints on
first aid. have be- N issued to the non-com-
missioned officers Of the First Herts Volunteer
Battalion. These handkerchief are the
property Of the regiment, and must be given
up on their temporary possessors quitting
the service.
This is not the first time that handkerchief
have been used for the dissemination OF
knowledge. As far back as the reign Of Queen
Anne, says London Td-Bds. we find this
useful article employed for scattering broad
cast her Majesty's speech to Parliament
on April s. ITO. among her faithful subj ects.
This practice was continued throughout
her reign. and among other events thus
were the Treaty Of Utrecht
and Marlborough 3 victories over the French.
Some time since there was published in
Madrid a journal which was printed on linen.
not with the printers ink usually employed.
but with q composition that easily dissolved
in water. The article thus served Q double
purpose, for no sooner had you skimmed
through its contents than you could dip II into
one OF the many public fountains and draw
forth a clean white handkerchief.
After the rebellion Of I7&S the portraits
and descriptions OF certain OF the young
pretenders adherents who had made good
their escape were printed on handkerchiefs,
which were circulated broadcast with a view
to facilitating the fugitives' capture. To
this the champions Of the Stuart cause retorted
by issuing among their faction others whereon
the portrait Of King George was put to ignoble
use.
When. in the eighties. the influenza scare
was at it's height in London. a gentleman
named Wilcox gave q dance at which. as a
humorous concession to the prevailing cpl
demic. each guest was provided with a novel
dance programme consisting Of a handker-
chief on which were printed the Terpsiohorean
selections for the evening. a list OF nostrums
against the universal malady. and a faoetious
hint that, in the circumstances, 1t was per-
missible to adapt the programme to It's normal
purpose.
At the commencement of the last century a
London firm commemorate the stirring
events that were then taking place by a num-
Der Of illustrated handkerchief. whereof
the large sale was increased by interspersing
among the pictorial souvenirs a limited num-
Der OF linen squares wherein the firm prom
ised to procure a husband for the holder.
Some two score Of these were issued. and In
every case was the promise duly honored.
Somewhat similar In conception was the
offer OF marriage which @ small Birmingham
| shopkeeper had printed on Q number OF hand
kerchiefs which he sent around to all his GUS
toners, who we're mostly OF the poorer class.
The majority regarded the matter as q Joke,
but some half dozen treated his proposal
seriously and closed with his offer. Fro m
this embarrassment he extrioated himself
by means of a wedding ring and Ave compen-
satory guineas.
A friend Of one OF Louis XV.'s courtiers
had been condemned to death for q crime
Of which he was innocent. Entreaty and
prayer failed to move the obdurate monarch.
and the death penalty would have undoubtedly
been exacted had not the condem ned mans
innocence been incontestably established by
the confession OF the real criminal Even
then his fate hung in the balance. for the date
Of his execution was fixed for the morrow.
and it was uncertain whether the Kings
pardon could be procured In time.
Application was at once made to his infu-
entail friend, who promised to do mis- utmost
In Justices cause. The King CHANGED to be
away on a hunting expedition. but by sparing
neither self nor horse the gentleman came
upon the Royal hunter just as a fine stag had
been laid low. He promptly explained the
reason OF his intrusion, which the King
forgave and granted his urgent duplication.
But in what form was the reprieve to be con-
veyed, for no writing materials were at hand?
or a sudden a brilliant idea struck Louis.
He dipped his hunting knife in the blood Of
the fallen quarry. and or his handkerchief
scrawled in crimson his Royal pardon.