The Time Machine

Women are armed with fans as men with swords, and sometimes do more execution with them. To the end therefore that ladies may be entire mistresses of the weapon which they bear, I have erected an academy for the training up of young women in the Exercise of the Fan, according to the most fashionable airs and motions that are now practiced at court. The ladies who carry fans under me are drawn up twice a-day in my great hall, where they are instructed in the use of their arms, and exercised by the following words of command:

Handle your Fans,

Unfurl your Fans,

Discharge your Fans,

Ground your Fans,

Recover your Fans,

Flutter your Fans,

By the right observation of these few plain words of command, a woman of a tolerable genius, who will apply herself diligently to her exercise for the space of but one half year, shall be able to give her fan all the graces that can possibly enter into that little modish machine.
But to the end that my readers may form to themselves a right notion of this Exercise, I beg leave to explain it to them in all its Parts.

Each one is explained as follows:

Handle your Fans:
When my female regiment is drawn up in array, with everyone her weapon in her hand, upon my giving the word to handle their fans, each of them shakes her fan at me with a smile, then gives her right-hand woman a tap upon the shoulder, then presses her lips with the extremity of her fan, then lets her arms fall in an easy motion, and stands in a readiness to receive the next word of command. All this is done with a close fan, and is generally learned in the first week.

Unfurl your Fan:
The next motion is that of unfurling the Fan, in which are comprehended several little flirts and vibrations, as also gradual and deliberate openings, with many voluntary failings asunder in the fan itself, that are seldom learned under a month's practice. This part of the Exercise pleases the Spectators more than any other, as it discovers on a sudden an infinite number of Cupids, altars, birds, beasts, rainbows, and the like agreeable figures, that display themselves to view, whilst every one in the regiment holds a picture in her hand.

Discharge your Fan:
Upon my giving the word to discharge their Fans, they give one general crack that may be heard at a considerable distance when the wind sits fair. This is one of the most difficult parts of the Exercise; but I have several ladies with me, who at their first entrance could not give a pop loud enough to be heard at the further end of a room, who can now discharge a fan in such a manner, that it shall make a report like a pocket-pistol. I have likewise taken care (in order to hinder young women from letting off their fans in wrong places or unsuitable occasions) to shew upon what subject the crack of a fan may come in properly: I have likewise invented a fan, with which a girl of sixteen, by the help of a little wind which is inclosed about one of the largest sticks, can make as loud a crack as a woman of fifty with an ordinary fan.

Ground your Fans:
When the fans are thus discharged, the word of command in course is to ground their Fans. This teaches a lady to quit her fan gracefully when she throws it aside in order to take up a pack of cards, adjust a curl of hair, replace a falling pin, or apply her self to any other matter of importance. This part of the Exercise, as it only consists in tossing a fan with an air upon a long table (which stands by for that purpose) may be learned in two days time as well as in a twelvemonth.

Recover your Fan
When my female regiment is thus disarmed, I generally let them walk about the room for some time; when on a sudden (like ladies that look upon their watches after a long visit) they all of them hasten to their arms, catch them up in a hurry, and place themselves in their proper stations upon my calling out Recover your Fans. This part of the Exercise is not difficult, provided a woman applies her thoughts to it.

Flutter your Fans:
The Fluttering of the Fan is the last, and indeed the master-piece of the whole Exercise; but if a lady does not misspend her time, she may make herself mistress of it in three months. I generally lay aside the dog-days and the hot time of the summer for the teaching this part of the Exercise; for as soon as ever I pronounce Flutter your Fans, the place is fill'd with so many zephyrs and gentle breezes as are very refreshing in that season of the year, tho' they might be dangerous to ladies of a tender constitution in any other.

There is an infinite variety of motions to be made use of in the Flutter of a Fan. There is the angry flutter, the modest flutter, the timorous flutter, the confused flutter, the merry flutter, and the amorous flutter. Not to be tedious, there is scarce any emotion in the mind which does not produce a suitable agitation in the fan; insomuch, that if I only see the fan of a disciplin'd lady, I know very well whether she laughs, frowns, or blushes. I have seen a fan so very angry, that it would have been dangerous for the absent lover who provoked it to have come within the wind of it; and at other times so very languishing, that I have been glad for the lady's sake the lover was at a sufficient distance from it. I need not add, that a fan is either a prude or coquet according to the nature of the person who bears it. To conclude my letter, I must acquaint on that I have from my own observations compiled a little treatise for the use of my scholars, entitled The Passions of the Fan; which I will communicate to you, if you think it may be of use to the public.

1. Swinging it to and fro by the handle on the left side – I am engaged
2. Tapping the chin gently — I am in love with another.
3. Swinging it to and fro by the handle on the right side – I am married
4. Letting it rest on the right cheek – Yes
5. Letting it rest on the left cheek – No
6. Carrying it elevated in left hand — Desiring acquaintance.
7. Carrying it over the right shoulder — You can speak to me.
8. Closing it up – I wish to speak to you
9. Dropping it – I love you
10. With handle to the lips — Kiss me.
11. Closing it up — I wish to speak with you, love.
12. End of tips to the lips — Do you love me?
13. Dropping it — I love you.
14. Folding it up — Get rid of your company.
15. Putting it away — No more at present.
16. Carrying it elevated in right hand – You are too willing
17. Carrying it closed in left hand – Meet on the first crossing
18. Carrying it closed in right hand by the side – Follow me
19. Carrying it over the right shoulder – You can speak to me
20. Striking it on the hand — I am much displeased.
21. Twirling it around — Be careful! We are watched.
22. Carrying it over the left shoulder – You are too cruel
23. Carrying it closed in the left hand — Meet on the first crossing.
24. Carrying it closed in the right hand by the side — Follow me.

1. To hold it opened, covering the mouth. I am single.
2. Winding it around her forefinger: "I am engaged to be married."
3. Winding it around the third finger of her left hand: " I am married."
4. To hold it on the right cheek.Yes.
5. To hold it on the left cheek. No.
6. To let slide it on the eyes. Go away, please.
7. Drawing her handkerchief across her lips - "Let's flirt with each other"
8. Twirling it in both hands: "I am not interested. Get lost."
9. To throw it. I hate you.
10. Twisting her handkerchief in her left hand: "Go away. I'm not interested in you."
11. Placing her fan against her left ear: "I wish to be rid of you."
12. To hold it in the left ear. I want you to leave me alone.
13. To let slide it on the forehead. You have changed.
14. Folding her handkerchief carefully;"I wish to speak with you"
15. Twirling it in her left hand: "Let's set a time to meet"
16. To hold it closed. Do you love me?
17. Resting it on her heart: "My love for you is breaking my heart."
18. Drawing her handkerchief across her cheek or fanning herself quickly while
looking at the "object of her affection": "I love you so much"
19. To move it with the right hand. I love another.
20. To let slide it on the cheek. I want you.
21. To change it to the right hand. You are imprudent.
22. Twisting her handkerchief in her right hand: "I am thinking of you."
23. Fanning herself swiftly with her left hand: "Don't you dare flirt with that
woman!"
24. To move it with the left hand. They are watching us.
25. Drawing her handkerchief across her forehead; twirling her fan in her left hand:
"Careful. We are being watched."
26. Waving it over her right shoulder: "Follow me"
27. Twirling her handkerchief in her right hand: "I will meet you."
28. Holding her handkerchief in opposite corners in both hands: "Wait for me."
29. Waving it over her left shoulder: "Farewell until we meet again."
30. Drawing her handkerchief or fan across her eyes: "I am sorry."

1. Fanning slowly: “I am married.”
2. Fanning quickly. “I am engaged.”
3. If she holds the fan in her left hand in front of her face, “I am desirous of your acquaintance.”
4. To open the hand fan with the left hand. Come and talk to me.
5. Carrying the fan in her left hand, indicates, “Come and talk to me”.
6. To touch the edge of the hand fan with the fingers. I want to talk to you.
7. By touching her finger to the tip of the fan she would be gesturing, “I wish to speak to you.”
8. Dropping the fan: “We will be friends.”
9. To leave it hanging. We will continue being friends.
10. Dropping it on the floor: "Let's meet"
11. A closed fan touching her right eye, “When may I be allowed to see you?”
12. A partially open fan showing the number of fan-sticks indicated the hour at which she agreed to meet her suitor.
13. Carrying in front of you — No more at present.
14. Letting the fan rest on the right cheek: “Yes.”
15. Letting the fan rest on the left cheek: “No.”
16. To semiclose it in the right and on the left. I cant.
17. Fan opened wide: “Wait for me.”
18. Fan held over left ear: “I wish to get rid of you.”
19. Resting the fan on her lips: “I don’t trust you.”
20. To let slide it on the eyes. Go away, please.
21. To hold it in the left ear. I want you to leave me alone.
22. Opening and closing the fan rapidly: “You are cruel”
23. Drawing the fan through the hand: “I hate you!”
24. Twirling the fan in the right hand: “I love another.”
25. Resting the fan on the heart. “My love for you is breaking my heart.”
26. The fan placed near the heart: “You have won my love.”
27. Hiding the eyes behind an open fan: “I love you.”
28. Drawing the fan across the cheek: “I love you.”
29. Drawing the fan across her cheek or hiding her eyes behind an open fan, “I love you!”
30. Presenting the fan shut, “Do you love me?”
31. Hitting her hand’s palm: “Love me.”
32. To let slide it on the cheek. I want you.
33. Half-opened fan pressed to the lips: “You may kiss me.”
34. Putting the fan handle to the lips: “Kiss me.”
35. Dropping the fan: “I belong to you.”
36. Shutting a fully opened fan slowly, “I promise to marry you.”
37. Fan in her right hand in front of her face, “Follow me.”
38. Waving it over her right shoulder: "Follow me"
39. Hitting any object: “I’m impatient.”
40. Half-opening the fan over the face: “We are being watched.”
41. Twirling the fan in the left hand: “We are being watched.”
42. To move it with the left hand. They are watching us.
43. Covering the left ear with an open fan: “Do not betray our secret.”
44. Drawing the fan across the eyes, “I am sorry.”
45. Hands clasped together holding an open fan: “Forgive me.”
46. Hands clasped together holding an open fan, “Forgive me.”
47. Passing the fan from hand to hand: “I see that you are looking at another woman.”
48. Fanning herself swiftly with her left hand: "Don't you dare flirt with that woman!"
49. Quickly and impetuously closing the fan: “I’m jealous.”
50. Drawing the fan across the forehead, “You have changed.”
51. Carrying the open fan in the right hand, “You are too willing.”
52. Threatening movements with a closed fan “Don’t be so imprudent.”
53. To let slide it on the forehead. You have changed.
54. Placing the fan behind the head, “Do not forget me.”
55. To strike it, closed, on the left hand. Write me.
56. Waving it over her left shoulder: "Farewell until we meet again."

The compartments are divided by a twist latch. The first compartment- the one away from the finger holes - is for your Fan and/ or Gloves.

The second compartment is divided in half.
Money- 2 coin purses- one for pennies and few silver and the second one is for all silver.

Scents, smelling salts, lip gloss, powder, mint leaves, pin tin and a sewing kit are lined up in the second half. If a lady is crafty enough, she could place elastic inside the compartment to hold each item in place Perhaps even make an insert for that side.