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 an 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 you 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 Publick.  I shall have a general Review on Thursday next; to which you shall be very welcome if you will honour it with your Presence.

     I am, &c.

     P.S. I teach young Gentlemen the whole Art of Gallanting a
     Fan.

     N.B. I have several little plain Fans made for this Use, to
     avoid Expence.

L.

HYMN

From the Spectator, No. 465

The Spacious Firmament on high
With all the blue Etherial Sky,
And Spangled Heav’ns, a Shining Frame,
Their great Original proclaim: 
Th’ unwearied Sun, from Day to Day,
Does his Creator’s Pow’r display,
And publishes to every Land
The Work of an Almighty Hand.

Soon as the Evening Shades prevail,
The Moon takes up the wondrous Tale,
And nightly to the list’ning Earth,
Repeats the Story of her Birth: 
While all the Stars that round her burn,
And all the Planets in their Turn,
Confirm the Tidings as they rowl,
And spread the Truth from Pole to Pole.

          What though, in solemn Silence, all
          Move round the dark terrestrial Ball? 
          What tho’ nor real Voice nor Sound
          Amid their radiant Orbs be found? 
          In Reason’s Ear they all rejoice,
          And titter forth a glorious Voice,
          For ever singing, as they shine,
          “The Hand that made us is Divine.”

AELIANUS CLAUDIUS

(Second Century A.D.)