The secret language of fans

A genteel looking hand fan will keep a southern bell from sweating, 

if used properly they will only glisten.

...so they say...

I love a hand held fan, and I have quite a few of them but I usually forget to carry them with me. Which is a shame cause I really need one as I just get so darn hot.all.the.time.

 And when you don't have one you either resort to sticking it out in the heat wondering if your mascara is running down your face like Tammy Faye Baker  or grabbing a newspaper or magazine to fan yourself...and really, 

where is the charm in that? 

So one of my fans is a touristy fan, nothing special or even pretty about it and I decided to re-paint it. I wish I had taken a picture of it before to show you of it's "before" state but I forgot. 

Anyway, here it is with some black and pink distress paint on the front.

And the back which I simply painted black. Both sides have a protective spray of varnish and it turned out real well.

Now I carry mine just for the sake of cooling myself off a bit but did you that once upon a time there were "codes" or a secret language for fans?

The fan placed near the heart:  “You have won my love.”
Resting the fan on the heart.  “My love for you is breaking my heart.”
A closed fan touched to the right eye:  “When may I be allowed to see you?”
Letting the fan rest on the right cheek:  “Yes.”
Letting the fan rest on the left cheek:  “No.”
Fan held over left ear:  “I wish to get rid of you.”
Covering the left ear with an open fan:  “Do not betray our secret.”
Fan opened wide:  “Wait for me.”
Touching the finger to the tip of the fan:  “I wish to speak with you.”
Half-opened fan pressed to the lips:  “You may kiss me.”
Putting the fan handle to the lips:  “Kiss me.”
Resting the fan on her lips:  “I don’t trust you.”
Opening and closing the fan rapidly:  “You are cruel”
Quickly and impetuously closing the fan:  “I’m jealous.”
Drawing the fan through the hand:  “I hate you!”
Fanning slowly:  “I am married.”
Fanning quickly.  “I am engaged.”
Hands clasped together holding an open fan:  “Forgive me.”
Hiding the eyes behind an open fan:  “I love you.”
Drawing the fan across the cheek:  “I love you.”
Hitting her hand’s palm:  “Love me.”
Hitting any object:  “I’m impatient.”
Dropping the fan:  “We will be friends.”
Dropping the fan:  “I belong to you.”
Half-opening the fan over the face:  “We are being watched.”
Twirling the fan in the left hand:  “We are being watched.”
Twirling the fan in the right hand:  “I love another.”
Passing the fan from hand to hand:  “I see that you are looking at another woman.”