Handkerchiefs Had Quaint History from Headgear to Neckcloth

Evening Star, Issue 26138, 27 June 1947, Page 9

Handkerchiefs Had Quaint History from Headgear to Neckcloth

Handkerchiefs as well as fans and rings have a lore. Starting as a kerchief, the trifle was, as its name-derivation says (couvre chef* cover-head), a head covering, tho word coming into Britain with NormanFrench. Slipping down to the neck as a scarf, it became neckerchief. It probably became '.handkerchief when dandies of the French Courts of the Louises, contemporary with our Charleses, carried trifles of fine silk, richly edged with lace, between the thumb arid forefinger as a counterpart to the lady’s fan. The pocket hand-kerchief,-as we kuow it to-day, arrived in more recent times; its size and shape, however, decreed again in France.

The Kaikorai branch of the League of Mothers was well represented on Tuesday afternoon, when members met: for a Conducted tour of Coulls Somerville and Wilkie’s premises. The opportunity to acquire an insight into the industry and workings, together with the sports and social advantages of

One version puts the origin of the handkerchief in Britain to the interest of a young Scottish soldier serving with his regiment in Germany during the Continental wars, in 1090 or thereabouts. While on service this soldier, of the Scots Guards, became greatly interested in the fashion of handkerchiefs being woven in blue and* white checks. Reared in a family of weavers, the novelty impressed him, and when he returned to Scotland he brought with him a sample hankie. Setting up a small weaving loom in Glasgow in 1700, he succeeded in turning out handkerchiefs on the German pattern, the ! firsjt woven in Britain. Looms soon I multiplied, and Glasgow became famI ous for its checked handkerchiefs.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

modern organisation of such a business house, was much appreciated. Engagement The engagement is announced of Nocline, second daughter of Mr and Mrs F. C. Bell, South Dunedin, to Robert, second son of Mr and 'Mrs A. S. White, St. Clair.