The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-26

How to 'Rsiss the Wind" During tho Dog
Days-A Fit Subject lor Agitaion-Ths
Trade in Europe and Ameriea-Fanei-
full Styles and Matsrials-Lan-
guags Of Fans-The Com
ing Man Uses Them

i
No subject can be more grateful to every perspir-
ing atom OF humanity in these days when the hermo-
| meter is among the nneties and respiration and
| pcrspirstion are synonymous TERMS than FANS
That "the esh b weak indeed" In its connics with
the sun, few would be willing to dispute now and
we turn with pleasure to the discussion, In this
instance we may sag, "agltatlOn" Of the subj ect
which, IN conjunction with bbulous antdotes against
heat. the soothing sling the consoling cocktail,
serves TO AFFORD momentary relief. Again, the SUBJ
Ject Is interesting on other points besides the dis
pelllng OF heat as In dainty fingers belonging to the
feminine persuation. It Is made to express o very
| eloquent language. There Ia besides no danger
OF heated discussions when speaking OF fans,
although the limits of spreading the subject" are
rather constrained.
FANS ARE OF GREAT ANTIQUITY.
In fact the immediate OF the oldest nhab-
tant cannot recall the first time they were unfolded
to the world Neither their remote descendants
The Idea was probably taken from the animal world,
for instance-a dog wagging his tail or an elephant
oscilating hts trunk. But from the original palm
tree leaf with which the scantily dressed antedilu
vians probably drove away mosquitoes and midsum.
mer heats. what change has taken place In the
material and manufacture OF these anti-Sol and
antiny machlnesi For instance. young married
lady in Brooklyn received
AS A WEDDING PRESENT
last month tortoise shell fan manufactured In
Paris and costing there 800 In gold Tiny solitaire
diamonds flashed rays OF light from It's folds and Its
own radiance made 1t q dazzling object ar recep.
ton. Tho trade In fans In this country is mainly
carried on with Paris and Vienna where
all stylish articles OF the kind are manufac-
tured. The business In those cities Is enormous
although the factories principally confined to the
upper floors In dwelling houses where tenants, like
some OF our cigarmakers, manufacture on their own
account. The fans thus made pass into the hands OF
the large jewellers and fancy goods Dealers who i'm
port hem In conjunction with the various articles OF
the ewelry business in vast quantities to this coun
try. French house in this city does an annual
business Of $65.o00 in fans A million Of dollars
would probably represent the average amount Of
business transacted annually between the principal
houses In New York and in Paris and Vienna In fans
alone. Itwoud be impossible to make any accurate
calculation to the imported fans from Japan and
China. Although they are Of comparatively recent
Introduction into this country, they have
OvERsPREAD 1T LIKE CLOUD,
and have probably been the lnitiatory cause or the
they have stirred up q breeze. the fan is a neces
while the little ''agtator' Is ever In operation.
Even In war one may see desperate charge maze
Ing, pigtaiis Tying and som-iOms sounding. War
fans are generally typical OF bioodshed and saugh-
enemy, and carved handles OF blood red hue CLEAN
ominoasy In tue hands OF their gallant owners. It
y stated also on good grounds that line OF az tated
fans serves to distract the enemy's aim.
THE CHINESE AND JAPANESE
are very expert In the use Of the fan. With pair
strange departures from the laws Of gravity among
surrounding objects. The curious breaking or puz-
cling ian from JeddO and Yokohama Is often the
source OF painful embarrassment to visitors, who.
finding 1t dsplayed~careessly upon the cenGre table
fan, 20 ' inseniousiy O made and 81 saudy orna
mented, when taken into the hands Of one unao-
falls in q hundred pieces hanging to each other in
various places by slender thread, wire, or shred
Oh elas''o WOOD. THE MATERIALS
Of which fans are composed are as varied and numer
name is legion. II we regard the fashionable speci
mems from Paris and Vienna, we find some made OF
tortoise shell ana others Of ivory pearl sandal and
pensive ones are decorated with the richest kind OF
lace. Jewels Of oil kinds CLEAN In the intersices Of
tage The brunettes Of that sunny cline have no
superiors in the world in flirting with those danger
to the mark IT, %asoa on the pas
a bull light and the silent but expressive language Ss
they convey with the fan Is irresistible and mex.
pre6siby eloquent Here arc few OF
THEIR TELEdRAPHIC SIGNS.
open fan means friendship; shut close, the oppo-
Site half open. an invitation to conversations touch.
secresy aud conildence waving the fan TO the right
shave no fear;' to the left, somebody is watch:
lowering the fan below the face, al don't under
ssand;" touching tue forenead, 'syes;n waving it
brisky, "n0:" opening and shutting the fan
slowly, ~ must have time to consider;" quickly,
"wrlte."
In regard to the styles in FANS we can say that the
large. round shapes have given way this year to
convenient ones-the POmpad0ur, IN particular
which Is small near the hand and large above, thus
allowing free, unObStructed OF the fan. In the
other shapes the lower part is liable to strike the
wrist. The pearl fans are now dyed to any color
responding with the toilet OF the wearer and on
some the most artistic figures carved.
THE HANDSOME FANS
Of marabOut and feathers, which have little stuffed
bird In their CENTRE are the work OF Indian squaws,
and mostly come from Canada. The increase In the
trade may be imagined from the increased use Of
fans. Formerly they were the special property Of
ladies, and It was considered q mark OF e0eminacy
for any Of the sterner sex TO use them. Since the
advent OF our Oriental friends however, every one
uses them and on the streets. too. Even the labor
ing classes indulge In them. Hence, probably, The
increase In agitation Of oil kinds OF business.