Fan-flirting

"Fan-llhting," whicli we so lightly lost, was an art whicli the British dame only"acquiredafter assiduous practice. For long af ter the roguish ladies of the Peninsular liad made line play 'with scarfs and fans and doublé charge of bravery," their Euglish sisters hardly knewany other use for the newimplement except lo cool themeelves. Gay's Flavia was, however, an adept at the adroit manipulation of the fan and ; even if it proved "an engine of small f orce in love," it served admirably to conceal the blush which suffused her cheeks wheu Squire Western broke one of his favorito jokes, or Tony Lumpkin, disguised in liquor, pressed his suit a trifle too obtrusivey. Delamira resigned her fan when sho married, declaring that tongue could not teil the conquesta she had won with that tiny implement, though, of course, now that her years of probation wcre over she no longer required the "modest fan," since "she could smile at what she blushed before." In good Queen Annie's time it was one of the elements of polite education to be able to "flirt," "handle," "ground," "discharge," and "flutter" the fan, and Addison suggests in one of his playful essays that ladies ought to go through a fan dril], just as truinbands learu to handle the piko and musket effectively. Fau-play survived as a liberal art iu soaie old-fashioned country towns long after it had perished in the capital. Jieaiis selected their partners by the fan, all tho ladies' fans belng placed in a hat before a dance began, and each gentleman being compelled to take whatever the fortune of the lottery might gi ve. But, of course, there was plenty of connivance, and what tho Frencli know as tupercherie, so tl.at it was entirely Strephon's own blame if lie did nol draw Chloo for the quadrille. Thore were fans for the oporn, with tiny telescopes neatly ütted into tho handles and looking-glass concealed in the folds, which could uot OBly serve as an Impromptu toilet instrument for the ownor, butenabled her to attract attention and signa] a la hcliograpJie for the private delectation of herself and some favored mortal. When did the delectable art die out? In an inventivo ages, to whom shall history assign the glory of revlving it?- London World. Satinette and Turkey red parasols of lustrous cotton are more appropriate than silk ones with tho cotton dressea worn in the country. They have brilliant grounds strewn with large detached flowers, or with large balls or polka dots. A bow of the same material is tied around the natural wood handle. Chicoree or pinked ruches of heavy silk trim the foot of the caahmere dresses thaf. are made for seaside resorts. Embroidery of the sanie color and ïlounces of silk lace are added by way of f urther garniture, and there is then nothing in the whole costume that will shrink in the moist atmosphere.