Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-24
The >fOvy of the IAN.

When and where was the tan Invented
TIE beauties of Rome familiar with
lie charms as he proud stepping danes of mod
op Spain; and ladies Of every cline and com
ri, xion have adopted the mischief working
Weapon OF coquetry, aud become skilled in the
mystery of flirting fan
In the alien hating dominiOns OF the Tycoon,
the school master brings unruly urchins to book
By tapping their knuckles with fan; the fop
uses 10 as a switch; the beggar 10 ikes IL a recep
tacle for aims, tie traveller seeks useful informa-
ton ia It's folds the warrior brains a foe with its
iron case; aud IL comes as a death warrant 10 the
high born evil doer.
The deacons of the Greek Church receive a
fsn upon being ordained, 10 remind them that
they expected TO keep intrusive insects from
ANNOYING the superior priests in the performance
OF their public duties; and large fan of white
peacock feathers has figured in many grand
religious solemnity as part OF the papal insignia
The fan made its first appearance in England
At the beginning of the sixteenth century. It
hit the fancy of the sex, and il soon became an
indispensable item in the feminine paraphernalia
In Shakspeare's day no lady thought of stirring
abroad without 1t, the care of the toy deyolving
upon her gentleman usher; even Juliet's nurse
must have Peter to carry her fan; and many
poor lover who had ravshed feather from his
lady's fan, and wore il "a favor, hesitated at
carrying bis love to its legitimate conclusion tor
fear Of his ability to
Keep a larry waiting man.
And buy hoop and silver hanaled fan
With forty pounds
The most fashionable fans we're made OF os-
trch, peacock or other flexible feathers, fastened
into metal or ivory handle. Among the un-
considered trfes snapped up by Fsllstafs hungry
jackals, Pistols aud Nym was the handle of a
certain Mistress Bridgets fan, for which fence
of the peorOd gave the conveyors thirty shillings
and ninepence. When Elizabeth honored her
lord keeper by dining with him at Kew, dia-
mond decked fan was one among the gifts with
which he acknowledged her condensation
Faas, indeed, seemed to have been always ac-
ceptable TO her Majesty: and many such costly
toys figured in the let Of New Years gifts ten
dered by courters TO their royal mistress
When Elizabeth died. the royal wardrobe con
tanned no less than twenty seven fans.
Tom Coryat was charmed with the elegance Of
the Italian fans He says: These fans both
men and women of the country do carry to cool
themselves witha in the time Of heat, by the OF
ten tanning OF their faces Moot of them
very elegant aud pretty things For whereas the
fan consisted of painted piece OF paper ard a
little wooden handie; the paper. which l. fss
tened Into the top. Is on both sides most Gu
riously adorned With excellent pictures. either OF
amorors things tending 60 oalliance. having
some witty Italian verses Tor hue emblems writ
ten under Ih, N. of some notable Italian CITY,
with a brief description added thereuntO. hees
fans are OF mean price. tor a man msy buy one
OF the iairest OF them for so much money 81
countervaieth our English sross" The Ital-
ian gentlemen cid not stand alone M their eliem.
macy The butlei es of the Scoteh Scion 5
Court carried fans 20 shield their tender faces
from the rude Wind Is they rode 10 banquet OF
bali. We strive 70 DE accounted womauish -
murnurs Green. "by keeping OF beauty. our
caring OF hair, Oy wearing Of ulumes or feathers
in our hsnds. which in wars our ancestors wore
on their heads - This ridiculous custom seems
to have had a long lie. for Aubrey bears WI
ness that in 1915 gentleman we're IN the habit 81
carrying huge iaas with handles halt a ward long
serving not oull Tor their protection aud delec-
ton. bat coming isto domestic use IS nsIru
ments OF correcting their grown ID daughters
~hen troublesome or rebelhous The Judges of
the land we're hot exempt IRON the Tan lever
and no less man than l. ird Chiei Justice Coke
carried al enormous leu WHEN going the circuit
"a curious way ot adding dignity 10 the majesty
Of the la-
C-thsrne Of BragsI introduced the green
shading Ian into Eugiaud AID il held us pride of
place until the revelation when the folding fan
esre into vogue. and The old-fa-hiooed feather
ian lre-chrsiened matrOns FAM sas relocated
TO elderly ladies.
In AEnes reign. the toy had lost none NJ
Us charms. nor bad fashionable ladies' sco,;,a4
more cec~ncy. for Ar assured that tbey oDI,
endured the intOlerasie fatigue of sitting out the
morning service al church. by making il an oec,
sion for Displaying thsIr me fans. - bite hands
and brilliant jerelry.
To tirt fan properly wss an art only 10 be