And Its Historical Importance Through Decades "New handkerchiefs are grown into men's sine."
So reads the Jatest. fashion. hulleti pertaining to the small square. of fabric which has always retain despite its practical uses, a romantic importance.
A glance through history will reveal this romantic quality iZ anyone has doubts on the subject. The new mode shows that the handkerchief is returning to. its origins "grown to men's sizes" strikes an interesting note. For, was not the "kerchief" of olden days a generous square of cloth serving innumerable There was "the pond kerchief of the court," which, to finish Dryden's too as regards one's handkerehie: without impairing the accepted formula of simplicity as the basis of good taste, Squares of chiffon and coloured voiles have taken their place in the pretty sachets of modern women without a glance of disapproval being sent in their direction, and this was only a start towards still further fancies as regards the Himerhonoured and poetical Ker-quotation, "Shall rest. Well satia def what they love the best And the melancholy sentiment of Bryan is well illustrated in the poignant fluttering of these same handkerchiefs at a quay-side.
"The waving kerchiefs the crowd that urge The mute adieu to those who stem Then, too, one remembers that the kerchief was formerly something one wore upon the head, that it framed, one does not hesitate to say, many a dainty face in a past decade. provides the imagination with charming visions, caught as it formerly was beneath a pretty chin. Or in the words of Browning a trice-captivating heroine had "Her black hair strained away To a scarlet kerchief caught beneath her chin."
Evening wear handkerchiefs, which a fet seasons back, were small as it seemed possible for square to be and still retain its ob-Jective, are this season to be the size of men's handkerchiefs. They are in chiffon, and have cither a monogram, several rows of handstitching, or are printed in a bright modern design.
When one dances, one tucks one of these big, graceful kerchiefs inside a ying which one may be wea one's tittle finger or twists it round the palm of the right hand with a small knot so that the ends may be free to flutter away in graceful folds as the wearer moves. One is reminded of that other kerchief in the past as the handkerchief flutters in the dance, "Some phantom, fashionably thin," which milady knew how to use in other ages. with as much artistry as she did her fan.
'One no Tonger wears the kerchief aught beneath the chin, but the charming possibilities of the hand-Kershief have remained the same, A dainty. square of lace, if, ove Judges from Victorian tales, was' potent if fragile factor in many a mild affair clu cacur, taking its place. in fact, in these matters witha very, very unmodern size of glove, the unusable mate of which ts owner sighed over in a sweetly resigned, if partially suspecting: way.
Hanikevehiefs have always strained away from the image of the pure-utility article to's more coy contation. One can be as imaginative tone likes in the present wae Still other pretty and decorative fancies, Paris gaily declares, will be the use of the handkerchief—on the Vodize of the dress, to provide the only trimming anda gay touch of colour on a simply sports frock. A Bochmian touch is given and effective rusticity which goes well with sports wear. It may, too, match the material of one's printed chiffon frock. But, however much it may be simply a modern accessory Cleverly pressed into use by the dictators of fashion, the handkerchief will continue to be the disti gushing daintiness of a lady. even though present day pouts make scant reference to either.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.