Photos, videos and docs of Alan Mays, with the keywords: "romantic"

You Have the Key That Fits My Heart

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 15:42:02 +0000

A woman fans herself as a man encroaches on her personal space while they are both perched dangerously on top of a giant key in this amusing image from an early twentieth-century postcard.

Caption: "You have the key that fits my heart."

Smooching in the Yard

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 03:36:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A kissing photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of knitting, fishing, and kissing (photos of people who are knitting, fishing, or kissing; post examples of all three if you have them.).

A real photo postcard of a guy and a gal hugging and kissing at an awkward angle out in the yard (is that a kid's toy wagon they're sitting on?). And judging by the tilt of the picture, the photographer evidently had a slanted view of the couple's relationship.

Lovey-Dovey Couple in Boat

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 03:55:58 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of people exchanging "a look" that the photographer has captured perfectly for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Never mind that it's a fake look in a fake boat—the photographer who created this real photo postcard has captured a studio scene of a man and women looking into each other's eyes and pretending to be in love. I just hope that the swan got out of the way before it got caught in the wake of the speeding boat!

Hankerchief Flirtation Card

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 05:22:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The notion that men and women could use handkerchiefs to secretly signal their romantic intentions may seem far-fetched, but that's the idea behind this "Handkerchief Flirtation" list.

In fact, using hankies to flirt seems downright dangerous. You might accidentally drop your handkerchief on the floor and end up telling the wrong person, "We will be friends." Or even worse, you could draw your handkerchief across your cheek as you blow your nose, inadvertently saying, "I love you."

Despite the potential for miscommunication, flirtation lists like this circulated widely in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In addition to handkerchiefs, you could supposedly also use flowers, gloves, parasols, hats, cigars, pencils, and even buggy whips and handheld fans for covert courtship.

For further discussion of these secret flirting methods, see the following:

Esti Brenna, From the Stacks: Victorian Courtship and the Language of the Fan, Clements Library Chronicles, June 6, 2012. "Unfortunately, the fan language--and other, similar codes like the language of the handkerchief and the language of the parasol--were largely the result of advertising campaigns meant to popularize and sell accessories. There is little evidence that the fan language was ever in widespread use, though the concept was satirized by several writers in the 18th and 19th centuries."

Natasha Frost, The Victorian Cards That Explained How to Use a Book to Flirt, Atlas Obscura, March 23, 2018. A "Book Flirtation" card and other alleged flirting techniques. (Full disclosure: I'm quoted in this article, and it includes some of my calling and acquaintance cards.)

Handkerchief Flirtation

Drawing across the lips—Desirous of an acquaintance.
Drawing across the eyes—I am sorry.
Taking it by the centre—You are too willing.
Dropping—We will be friends.
Twisting in both hands—Indifference.
Drawing across cheek—I love you.
Drawing through hand—I hate you.
Letting it rest on right eye—Yes.
Letting it rest on left cheek—No.
Twisting in the left hand—I wish to be rid of you.
Twisting in the right hand—I love another.
Folding it—I wish to speak with you.
Over the shoulder—Follow me.
Opposite corners in both hands—Wait for me.
Drawing across the forehead—We are watched.
Placing on the right ear—You have changed.
Letting it remain on the eyes—You are cruel.
Winding around forefinger—I am engaged.
Winding around third finger—I am married.
Putting it in the pocket—No more at present.

How We Pass the Time at Pittsburgh, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 02:41:25 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

One in a series of amusing "How We Pass the Time" postcards published in the early twentieth century. This noon-time example is postmarked 1911, and it illustrates how "Pittsburgh" has been spelled with and without a final "h" at different times.

How We Pass the Time at Pittsburg
A stroll at noon, a quiet spoon,
The time it passes all too soon.

Whip and Fan Flirtations

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 22:21:12 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Flirtation lists like the ones printed on this card also circulated in books, newspapers, and other media in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These lists suggested that common objects like buggy whips and handheld fans could be used by men and women to secretly signal their romantic intentions, but the coded gestures really seem too complicated for easy communication. Flowers, handkerchiefs, gloves, parasols, hats, cigars, and pencils were other items allegedly employed for covert courting.

For more on flirtation cards and acquaintance cards, see "When 'Flirtation Cards' Were All The Rage," an article by Linton Weeks on the NPR History Dept. blog.

See The Ghost Card, or the Skeleton on the Wall (below) for the other side of this card.

Whip Flirtation

Holding stock in left hand and lash in right—Desirous of an acquaintance.
Holding the same, and placing center against the waist—I am sorry.
Holding in left hand by center—Will you bathe with me?
Lash in right hand, stock down—I love you.
Same in left hand—I hate you.
Taking in both hands by center—I love another.
In center, hands crossed—We are watched.
Right hand in center, left on lash—Yes.
Left hand in center, right on lash—No.
Butt against right eye—I am engaged.
Against the left eye—I am married.
Holding it with the left hand against the right shoulder—Follow me.
In right hand against left shoulder—Wait for me.
End in each hand, center bent down—You are cruel.
Same, with center up—You are too willing.
Winding lash around forefinger—Repeat your last signal.

Fan Flirtation

Carrying in right hand in front of face—Follow me.
Carrying in left hand in front of face—I wish to be acquainted.
Placing on right ear—You have changed.
Twirling in left hand—I wish to get rid of you.
Drawing across the forehead—We are watched.
Carrying in right hand—You are too willing.
Twirling in right hand—I love another.
Closing—I wish to speak to you.
Drawing across eyes—I am sorry.
Resting on right cheek—Yes.
Resting on left cheek—No.
Open and shut—You are cruel.
Dropping—We will be friends.
Fanning slowly—I am married.
Fanning quickly—I am engaged.
Handle to lips—kiss me.
Shut—you have changed.
Open wide—Wait for me.
Drawing through hand—I hate you.
Drawing across cheek—I love you.

It's Great Fun to Have a Spoon

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:12:54 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"It's great fun to have a spoon under the pale bashful moon."