The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-03-05
JAPANESE FANS.

, to thinking that the world stands still beyonC
her own home and customs, and while indulg
) ing Unfortunately in every new thing tina
Fashion dictates, she never gives though
: to the eternal fitness involved even in the
|, wooden ribs Of an ordinary japanese fan
We use them by the million, in hundred
different ways, from the simple instrument
of comfort in sultry weather to the elaborate
decoration of home life, but unfortunately
inspiration does not teach us that in our eff
fort at daily beauty a wild indulgence in the
color mania and gathering of all sorts OF
japanese fans, parasols, and pictures, in all
kinds of places, is directly violating the tra-
ditons of japanese etiquette in the way that
is clear as print to the initiated. Ia Japan
the fan figures in every circle, unmistakabIy
defines the line af fashion and social customs
and woe unto the one who departs from the
wisdom of his ancestors and mires his fans
up! A general swap of babies would create
less confusion With us, if a man appeart
on Broadway cooling himself with a folding
fan, the odds are in favor of his arrest as a
lunatic, while in the land of the Japs this
style of fan is exclusively the property of the
men, and woman must cOntine herself to the
ugly flat abomination, though never allowed
to carry it on the street, or before man, in
doors or out Precisely what shape the law
and Mrs. Grundy permit her to toy with in
the presence of male adorer is vexed
question, but it is certain that to use real
fiat fan n the presence of male native is to
affronthim morally and raise lovers or fam
lily fight should the thoughtless damsel own a
brother who can be held responsible Among
the upper ten this folding fan and symbol of
the incxorabe law of caste is worn in the belt
or bosom of the loose robe, thereby stamping
him with the sea of blue blood and high So
cial standing. The lower classes carry it
always down the neck of the dress, or pok-
ed under the knob of hair on their glistening
skulls, where it sticks like a skewer or CO.
lossal hair-pin. 1t leaves something to be
desired in the way of beauty, but admits Of
no mistakes in station or degree.
Passing through japanese city is a trip
through kaleidoscope On every side
crowds of queerly appareled folks saunter
bare-headed that's are modern frivolties just
coming into general favor under brilliant.
hued umbrellas, with the gaudiest Of fans,
waving salutations to friends and directions
to servants. Later on you accept this butter
cupping of japanese fashions and lose your
sense of amusement at the sight of the entire
male element armed with the folding fans,
and every one of them an emblem Of customs
and stations which requires long residence in
Japan to become thoroughly familiar with
Take, for example, the spreading gilt and
coored fans, glittering with brilliant bugs
butterflies and nondescript beasts and bios,
SONS. Every city and country belle here
owns them by the dozen. and fortunately for
the ignorance that is bliss feels herself ap-
propriately 60 ten up for conquest. But at
home these by right and usage belong to the
singing and dance girls of Japan, and are car
ried by them as distinguished Trademark
No hgh-bo dame, maid or matron would
touch this badge of lower stratum of so.
ciety even to save herself from melting. As
for the dramatic talent in Jap-land, it i:
probably greater than we are led by crcum-
stances to suppose, when we read of tragedy
and comedy as interpreted by the motion,
of an actors fan A skillm use of it auG
other shortcomings are ignored, and critic
and audiences delighted by this new version
of high art As weapon Of of, nse tn,
old japanese battle tan was unrivaled. Gen
erals, colonies and other martial fish swan
about in the tide of war under the protec
tion of these huge. iron bound things, GOV
cred with heavy parchment and bearing tn
! symbol of carnage on their faces ; and
blow on the head or back generally kept tn
5 unhappy victim eflectually quiet. Since tn
fan frenzy has seized us, doubt whethe
5 there is a house in the city in which chea
\ fac-simile Of these obsolete battle-fans ca
a not be found and recognized by the colorc
balls floating in colored fields. Thousands q
5 these bamboo limitations are yearly hrougl
c over and are tragic reminders Of bloody scene
d and cracked crowns, The large fiat fan,
d shaped like elongated pumpkins, and c
t rough paper and wonderful h,eroglyphic
y which we buy by the gross at the becinnin
It of dOg-days, are at home nothing but tn
c most plebeian duSt-pans and hearth-sweepci
= -receptacles for the trash that accumulate
h in living rooms. A little more insight int
5 the ways of our neighbors would prever
e such blund rs in taste and the placing in ii
d parlor of articles that belong naturally to Il
re Kitchen closet.
Is When displaying the treasurers of our a
20 gallery to one who knows, it is terribly hr
Is initiating to learn that our pet extravagan
le the portrait of male native with an ot
l. arrangement of dress and fans-is, as OF
friend assures US, only ticket of leave ma
10 and the companion picture, of whom o.
H. fancy has made a queen, is but the paint,
* prototype of a demoiSene who plies an uf
as nous callieg, and though never appearing
al public, is we'll known by her siugularly 70
ct geous rament, the legal necessity Of tyi
lg her sash in front, and her braidS Ever
Vn thing that comes to us from Japan i a fat
he full copy of home life and scenes, taken wi
bo the most Microscopic accuracy. Facts 50 |,
h detail escapes them Rather than allow u.
e. margin for speculation the artists write (;
tn words of description on every article ii
leaves their hands But as the price, we p
-. will not purchase an interpreter with the
e' we are not much benefited by their exphr
go tions, Take it all in all, japanese Ians
he a liberal education in a condensed form
he sort Of puhlic-school system, which no amou
al of playing hockey can evade Many yet
ago it was the only schooling to be had, a
let now geography arithmetic, history, the pra,
he book and Ten Commandments, with VIII
of the missionaries have iamiarized them, ne
or Of all kinds from foreign fashions and fl
~ cies to the last sweet thing in bonnets,
H- printed on them, and it would be difficult
er- find better method of sowing informat
ar broadcast Philadelphia Press
lts A Cross Baby.