DAR members enjoy fan presentation

The club was treated to a delicious apricot dessert made by Martha Walker, and coffee prior to the meeting. Members present were MA Higgs, the DAR Chapter Regent; Livy Hoover, treasurer; Betty Lively, Chaplain; Rachel Killebrew, recording secretary; Cynthia Campen, Vice Regent; Jean Marsh, Janie Bragg, Bettye Myers, Shirley Douglas, Gayle Roberts, Elizabeth Hoover, Lynn Davis, Kelly Hutchins, Eulalia Jones, Charlotte Boyd, Annis Hill and Pat Brown. Violet Mason, Cheryl Mingle and Sally Shelton were welcomed visitors to the chapter meeting.

The business portion of the meeting proceeded with the Call to Order by the Regent Higgs, and the DAR Ritual, which includes a prayer from the Chaplain, the Pledge of Allegiance, American?s Creed, the One Minute Constitution report, the National Defense Report and finally the officers reports.

The local Lt. James Sheppard DAR Chapter is continuing to collect favorite recipes that have been handed down from friends and ancestors. Jean Marsh was asked to add the Apricot Dessert served at the meeting to the favorite recipes.

The DAR was then presented with a very interesting program by Kelly Hutchins on the history and preservation of antique fans. She began with a history of fans, which date back to ancient China, Japan and the Middle East. Fans were even found in King Tut?s tomb. Fans became popular as a fashion accessory in the mid 16th century when Catherine de Medici came to Paris from Italy in 1549 to marry King Henri II and brought her collection of fans with her in her trousseau. The 18th and 19th centuries are considered “The Grand Age” of the Fan. Fans fell out of fashion after WWI when the cocktail party became popular. Fans were discarded so that ladies could hold a cocktail in one hand and a purse or cigarette in the other. Fans were used to send messages as early as 1711, when an English periodical published an article about women speaking through their fans. Fan collecting became popular around the mid to late 19th century. Kelly began collecting fans when she was in college. Over the years, she has collected thirty fans, which she has framed, and sixty more unique fans that are not framed. Fans are very fragile and require special care and appreciation. If anyone is fortunate enough to have any fans from their ancestors, Kelly suggest the following pointers to preserve your fans:

? Fans should be handled as little as possible.

? Store fans individually wrapped in white acid-free tissue.

? If you choose to frame your fan, do not hang it in direct sunlight or near a heat source.

? Protect fans from damp conditions.

? Do not attempt to clean fans yourself because fans are very fragile and can be damaged easily.

Throughout the history of fans, a unique “language” developed, which Kelly recalled:

? Carrying an open fan in the left hand ? Come and talk to me.

? Carrying a fan in right hand in front of face ? Follow me.

? Covering the left ear with an open fan ? Do not betray our secret.

? Drawing the fan through the hand ? I hate you.

? Drawing the fan across the cheek ? I love you.

? Drawing the fan across the eyes ? I am sorry.

? Dropping the fan ? We will only be friends.

? Fanning slowly ? I am married.

? Fanning quickly ? I am engaged.

? Letting fan rest on the right cheek ? Yes.

? Letting fan rest on the left cheek ? No.

? Shutting an open fan slowly ? I promise to marry you.

? Twirling fan in the left hand ? I love another.

? Holding fan with the handle to the lips ? Kiss me.