Depending on the era, courtship has always had its own set of rules. The how to and acceptability of touching has gone through an interesting evolution. Courtly protocol dictated suitable situations that allowed for flirtation and touch.

Today's protocol with its loosely defined limits makes the handshake fairly routine. Even so, there's still one thing that remains constant: Sweaty palms are unappealing.

Damp, warm palms can indicate a number of things. They're often thought to be a dead giveaway for nervousness. A lady was trained to always look calm, serene and unruffled. A touch of the hand, be it in a form of greeting, respect or on the dance floor was perhaps one of the few chances she might have to express a feeling or impress a suitor.

Marble eggs (yes, just like the ones you remember seeing in a bowl on your great aunt's coffee table) weren't designed for decoration. Their purpose was to cool the palms of overly excited young women. One could easily be held in the hand without evidence.

Possessing such an item suggested the young lady had reached a certain point in her journey toward adult hood; that she had entered the game of courtly love and coquetry.