A few centuries ago, interaction between the sexes was not as open and unencumbered by societal dictates as it is now. Smitten couples, as well as unattached young men and women searching for their soul mates, often took recourse to non-verbal forms of communication.

Lace handkerchiefs ruled the day and sealed the fate of any blossoming love story! Demure girls shyly dropped the scented squares of cloth and lace on the road in front of the man they fancied. Thus encouraged, the young man would gallantly bend down to retrieve the lost treasure. Viola! Conversation would then be initiated, the ice broken, and who knows…..maybe they then walked off hand-in-hand into the sunset…