National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-27
THE USE OF THE FAN.
a weapon for fhe Lndies-son,o Interest.
fnE Facts.


The use Of tho fan has become 80 general and
It's cost so trining, few persons ever give thought
TO It's origin, or dream that IL ever had any sig
niheanco beyond serving the purpose Of cooling
the brow of the sick and the we'll, or forming n
pretty present for one friend to give to another.
The fair sex, both young and old rich and poor,
alike use IT, and the most dignifed man-when
old Sol is on the fampage-does not consider II
eneminae to do the same. The society belle, in
preparing for an evening entertainment, would
almost ns soon think Of going without her gown as
TO go without her fan. To her II is a whole
arsenal Of weapons in the skrmishing attacks
upon the hearts of the opposite sex. The Spanish
girl would be entirely at loss without this aid to
Irritation. With it she catrles on regular con-
versations, and the language of fans Is almost Ms
extensive and expressive rs tho language OF
flowers.
now GRACEFULLY SHE HANDLES IT,
and artfllly makes 1t do duty in hiding and re-
vealing the brllinncy of her beautiful dark eyes,
and the number and variety she manages 10 coll
lcct Is something remarkable She prizes them as
highly MS New York belle docs her jewels, and
has them TO suit all times aud seasons. Fans of
crimson and gold for the festive occasion, of blue
aud silver for the moonlight walk, Of sombrc hue
for The church fans Of fragrant woods OF polished
pearl OF dainty ivory, nnd sometimes of gold and
silver, The origin of this pretty little adjunct to
the toilet is traced to remote nntiguity. Histor-
rinns differ as TO which nntiOn the honor belongs
Of originating 1t. the majority, however, attribute
II to the Japanese, for with them It has signih-
cnnce entirely different from any other people
In that country the fan hot only denotes the rank
OF tho individual carrying IL, but IL Is used for
multitude Of purposes which strike us as being
very comicnl.
TIE ACTOR USES THEM
upon the stage to give greater emphasis TO his
laid upon isn and handed to him, and the Grim
innl In the cell receives his sentence of death upon
= fan. Fans are used by the umpire in deciding
boxing matches, wrestling matchCs, rat fights and
cock fights. With us gentleman raises his hat in
saluting a friend, japanese waves his fan. In
Japan battle fans are carried III war and are very
imposing ailairS. In ancient Rome fans were in
common use, and ut great feasts slaves stood be-
hlnd the lady guests with large fans. During the
ers, with handles of gold or silver, became lucra-
tive artlc cs OF trade ia the Levantine markets.
from whence tAsy wcro exported to Venice and
other places,
CATHERINE DE MEDTcG Is CREDITED
with having introduced into France the folded
fan, such as are in use at the present time. hey
became objects 9fgreat luxury during the time Of
Lou NV and Louis XIV, they were adorned with
beautiful paintings and portraits and rare lace,
ana were set with diamonds and other precious
stones. No toilet was complete without them, and
they ranged in price from $50 to SioO, This cx-
lravagance though was not confined to France nor
TO that PERIOD for costly fans still manuiacured
ana iind rendy purchasers in every city. 1t Is
comfortable feerng, however, that the luxury OF
Possessing them Is not confined to the rich as
palm leaf VIII afford quite us much coInfutt and
not half MS much care us the dainlic5t cOmbina
ton of pearl point lace, or feathers will afford.
and to the uninItated, Japanese fan manuiac-
turcd in New jersey near the shores OF the At
iamtic Is just MS pretty aud as foreign looking
as though II had really crossed the Pacific.
DlTFEREST NATIONS HAVE
their own peculiar styles and designs, and some of
them are very unique and interesting. The chi.
nose probably lead fl in producing the greatest
variety Of designs; they rather pride themselves
upon their ingenuity in manufacturing curious
and beautiful fans. They ornament them with
AL sorts of 6rocsquc figures and impossible fruits
and flowers, und mike them of extraordinary
llghtness and durability. ono of their favori
designs Is called the "mnkce bfcakec." When
clio. cd or opened proT erly 1t
PRESENTS THE APPEARANCE
OF an ordinary shut-up fan; when turned in the
opposite direction 1t apparently drops TO pieces in
the hands. The conservation Of the individual
who may happen to lorrow your fan, when he
ices II iNll to pieces is exceedingly amusing, aud
II never fails 10 ill the Chinaman with couvulsve
laughter. They also manufacture semi. trans
parent fans, with tie aid Of the silk worm, which
are very curious and beautiful. One would hardly
expect to find danger Of any kind lurking III this
pretty little article of Dress and yet the Italian
ever on the alert to find hiding place for h Is
death dealing sletto has utilized the fan for tina
purpose, Just us he has done the cane aud c.r,ain
articles Uf jewelry.