Escort Cards

Here you go @Cavalry Charger! Lily Graison, an historical romance author who lives in Hickory, NC , shared "The Language of the Fan." Don't you just love it? I could totally get into this!

To hold the fan with the right hand in front of the face - Follow me.

To hold it in the left ear - I want you to leave me alone.

To let slide it on the forehead - You have changed.

To move it with the left hand - They are watching us.

To change it to the right hand - You are imprudent.

To throw the fan - I hate you.

To move it with the right hand - I love another.

To let slide it on the cheek - I want you.

To hold it closed - Do you love me?

To let it slide on the eyes - Go away, please.

To touch the edge of the hand fan with the fingers - I want to talk to you.

To hold it on the right cheek - Yes.

To hold it on the left cheek - No.

To open and close it - You are cruel.

To leave it hanging - We will continue being friends.

To fan slowly - I am married.

To fan quickly - I am engaged.

To hold the fan against the lips - Kiss me.

To open it slowly - Wait for me.

To open the hand fan with the left hand - Come and talk to me.

To strike it, closed, on the left hand - Write me.

To semi-close it in the right and on the left - I can't.

To hold it opened, covering the mouth - I am single.

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Are these different from calling cards that were used when ladies visited others' homes? Other than switching the sender/receiver?

Great question! In the 19th century, gentlemen used calling cards to formally introduce themselves to new acquaintances and to call upon friends and relatives in a dignified way.

The escort card was another type of card used when a gentleman wanted to get the ball rolling with a lady who caught his eye in a more casual way. According to The Encyclopedia of Ephemera, the escort card was, “A novelty variant of the calling card of the 1870s and 1880s used by the less formal male in approaches to the less formal female. It commonly carried a brief message and a simple illustration….Flirtatious and fun, the acquaintance card brought levity to what otherwise might have seemed a more formal proposal. A common means of introduction, it was never taken too seriously.”
 
@donna, @Cavalry Charger, @Gladys Hodge Sherrer, @dlavin - Did you know calling cards have been reincarnated in certain circles in the South? They’re referred to as social calling cards. Folks carry these and exchange them at class reunions, parties and events where folks gather to network. They are less formal than business cards and more appropriate for a social setting. Some are really creative and cute. Of course, they have your Facebook name, Twitter and email information included. Of course, you know Eleanor Rose would never do such a thing!

cute card.jpeg
 
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I know we had calling cards when in I was in High School. I went to private girl's school in Louisville, Ky. We had these made. Just had are name on them. You always left one when you called on some one or went to social event. There was always a tray to leave them in.

If you gave the social event, you would send thank you to all who came by noting who left cards. .

I don't known if others used them or not but they were popular in Louisville at the time.
 
Here you go @Cavalry Charger! Lily Graison, an historical romance author who lives in Hickory, NC , shared "The Language of the Fan." Don't you just love it? I could totally get into this!

To hold the fan with the right hand in front of the face - Follow me.

To hold it in the left ear - I want you to leave me alone.

To let slide it on the forehead - You have changed.

To move it with the left hand - They are watching us.

To change it to the right hand - You are imprudent.

To throw the fan - I hate you.

To move it with the right hand - I love another.

To let slide it on the cheek - I want you.

To hold it closed - Do you love me?

To let it slide on the eyes - Go away, please.

To touch the edge of the hand fan with the fingers - I want to talk to you.

To hold it on the right cheek - Yes.

To hold it on the left cheek - No.

To open and close it - You are cruel.

To leave it hanging - We will continue being friends.

To fan slowly - I am married.

To fan quickly - I am engaged.

To hold the fan against the lips - Kiss me.

To open it slowly - Wait for me.

To open the hand fan with the left hand - Come and talk to me.

To strike it, closed, on the left hand - Write me.

To semi-close it in the right and on the left - I cant.

To hold it opened, covering the mouth - I am single.

View attachment 144784
Now how is a fella supposed to remember all that! "Ooh she wants me .... no she doesn't ... she wants me talk to her ... no no ... she hates me ... ". Where's the bar?
 
Now how is a fella supposed to remember all that! "Ooh she wants me .... no she doesn't ... she wants me talk to her ... no no ... she hates me ... ". Where's the bar?[/QUOTE]

Haha...one of the first things I thought, too :tongue: Poor men :frown: I wonder who tutored them in the language of love?? :unsure:
Still, if they were keen, I'm guessing they picked up on it pretty quick! :cool: There were also some who probably just gave up :frown: and some who just felt like this :banghead:
 
@donna, @Cavalry Charger, @Gladys Hodge Sherrer, @dlavin - Did you know calling cards have been reincarnated in certain circles in the South? They’re referred to as social calling cards. Folks carry these and exchange them at class reunions, parties and events where folks gather to network. They are less formal than business cards and more appropriate for a social setting. Some are really creative and cute. Of course, they have your Facebook name, Twitter and email information included. Of course, you know Eleanor Rose would never do such a thing!

View attachment 144797

My sister and I call those things "selfie cards"...for obvious reasons. :giggle:
 

I was just the first one to hear the call for volunteers - wait till the smart people with access to more than Microsoft Paint have arrived. :wink:

Maybe the more humorous cards, be it escort or valentine or whatever, would deserve a thread on their own. There are lots of attributes, quotes, anecdotes or name puns available to be turned into that format ...
 
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