The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-03-15
The Evolution Of The Handkerchief


gins curriculum that FIRST step which
was to insure q glorious success In
the higher art of stealing pocket
book.
There Is something Infinitely sad in
the verse which consecrates the hand
kerchief which the beloved Lesbia be-
slowed upon the poet. Drummond OF
Hawthornden. Never was a dainty bit
of broidered muslin more sacredly
cherished than was this treasured me-
mortal Of her whose death IL bewafled
ers.
II was the bloody napkin" as Shake
speare often called Ghe handkerchief.
which the faithful Orlando sent to Ros-
alind. and like the honning messenger
bird. the handkerchief has ever been a
| favorite and reliable courier.
1t was the handkerchief. which. un-
justly no doubt accomplished the death
of the Inflated Anne Boleyn. At a
tournament In which various knights
were contending she dropped her hand
kerchief from the balcony where she
was seated. Henry Norris excited by
the part he had played In the joust.
picked II up. wiped his face with IT.
and pacing II upon the point of his
lance. returned II to the smiling and
doubtless transporting queen. At the
biknt OF THIS tnCiueut, tne JEALOUS nus
band. Henry Will. on the alert for an
excuse through which he might perpe-
trate a wicked act, already determined
upon, retired from the scene abruptly
and in anger, and with an air of right
eous indignation and outraged virtue.
issued an order for the arrest of the
Queen. II none are so blind as those
who will not see. 1t Is equally true that
Those are sharp optics I ween
1T t. u
The beautiful painting by Milas.
which has been photographed all over
the country, in which the faithful lady
love seeks to protees her Huguenot
lover, whom her own party has ap-
pointed to death, by tying her handker-
chief upon his arm, Is pathetic his
tory. where fate again hangs upon the
handkerchief.
1t was handkerchief which the Due
de Guise accepted as sufficient evidence
against his unfortunate Duchesse. and
in the play entitled Conspiracy Of Ven
ice." Fiosco's suspicion Of Calagno 10
based entirely upon his having discov-
cred handkerchief wet with tears.
In Spanish literature. the handker-
chief is of course conspicuous-the
Castilian and the Moor are both too
near akin in thought to the Oriental, to
be wanting In superstition. Calderon
to the talismanic power of the hand
kerchief and the folk -songs sung by
the peasantry, with their peculiar
rhythm of syncopation, which so fasci-
mates the listener. are full of stories
and praises of these love-tokens
wrought of lace and muslin.
But the handkerchief as we know
IT, the Christian handkerchief. so to
speak. is yet unknown to the unpro-
gressiVe Chinese, With all their won
ders OF ingenious mechanism and art.
their rich possessions in curious inven-
tions, the handkerchief remains in .
comparatively crude state. The large
and handsome silk square is a comfort
er in cold weather, bat the dainty fab
RTE of lace and muslin and embroidery
Is still an unknown quantity to the
children Of the Celestial Empire. Inn
agine so dignifed a parsonage as a
Chinese Ambassador expressing aston
ishment at the number Of beautiful and
costly handkerchief possessed by the
Queen OF italy. A bundle Of fragile
papers was. in his opinion, an ample
supply for the most royal lady Of the
land.
Not earlier than the sixteenth cen
fury did persons OF rank even enjoy an
abundance of handkerchief, and we
find mention of the outlay OF money
for the handkerchief OF Edward vi.
as an unwarrantable extravagance.
Lady Bryan. who had charge of Prin-
cess Elizabeth's wardrobe. complains
heavily of the scarcity OF handker-
chiefs. and prays the authorities to
furnish more for her royal mistress,
and that right speedily. Evelyn de-
clares that not less than q dozen plain
and a dozen lace" ought to belong to
any self-respecting lady. Elizabeth. as