Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-06-20
Fans and Fan Making.


Hi'ihiiiS HIS Deeil l)rhlclpal Industry
of Japan. In this branch of manufac-
ture about l00.000 persons are engaged
ont of population of 800, 900 in the
three fan districts of Osaka, Kioto, and
Nagoya. Millions of fans are made
every year, of which there are many
varieties, differing in strength. Other
materials used for the fan-sticks are
bone, ivory, and wood. The ivory is
sometimes carved and inlaid with
mother-of-pear gold and silver. The
wood used for sticks is ebony, mahogany,
and chestnut, and is generally lac
quered. The tops of the Japanese fan
are made of paper, parchment, cotton,
and silk. The paper is the fibre obtained
from boiling down the bark of the paper
tree, to the cultivation of which whole
districts are devoted. Mulberry bark is
also used for the same purpose, though
1t Is much more expensive. The Jap
anese sO-called parchment comes from
rare tree, and is favored because of its
strength. The prices vary largely with
the tops" silks costing twice as much
as any other material. The Japanes ese
palm-leaf, or, rs it is sometimes called.
the church fan, is still popular.
Most of the dress fans come from
France, though the Viennese dress fan
has of late found favor. The French
fans in the cheaper grades have sticks
usually OF wood or bone, and the tops
OF cretonne, silk or satin. The French
dress fans have their sticks made OF
shell, mother-of-pearl, or ivory; the
tops are either of silk, ostrich feathers,
or lace. sometimes satin and kid The
shell-stick fans have usually no paint
ing on their tops. The lace fans
usually have sticks of mother-of-pearl
The ivory sticks are seldom combined
with lace tops, silk being preferred.
In the decoration Of the silk topped
fans Albert, OF Paris, has won an
especial reputation. The m burning fan
most popular is a combination of blacf
silk with ebonized wood or dark she'll
In the cheaper grades of Vienna fans
two peculiarities are noted namely,
leather sticks and the inlaying of the
figures i'll silk tops. This latter effect
is produced by having two layers of silk,
the lower one stamped with ITS figure,
just above which the upper layer will be
cut out. As yet, American fans are con-
fined for the most part to the cheaper
grades. The sticks in these fans are
made of wood only, the tops being mus
lin, cretonne. silk or satin. One kind of
American fan, however, is very popu-
lar-the extension FAM" with a stick OF
plush or leather. OF this fan more are
sold than of any kind produced, large
number being exported to England
The GaIlic Idea OF sport.
[Amos keig in San Francisco Chronicle]
In the pause which followed the
waltz the true French spirit began to
show itself. Half q dozen or more of
the young men formed themselves into
q sort of skating club and went sliding
across the by no means smooth floor,
running into anybody and everybody
who came in their way. These collis-
ions often resulted in tumble and
scramble on the floor, each sprawl call
ing forth an immense amount of ap-
plauSe and laughter from audience and
participants. Others amused them
selves by playing q sort of "tag"
Rather boisterous sort of game
it was, too; for all it consisted
in was for each young man to 60 sneak
ing about in the crowd, hiding behind
somebody or something, until he found
some unsuspecting player with his back
turned. Then the sneaker would sud-
denly spring out upon his victim and
give him rousing slap in the face and
disappear. Each attack was greeted
with good deal of laughter by those
standing around; while the victim,
hand to cheek and sickly smile on
face, turned hunter and sneaked about
until he could find some one to slap.
Sometimes, however, Just as one of
the players was about to spring out
and slap some one else, he himself
was the recipient of a stinging
whack alongside of the face, which
turned his contemplated joy into sudden
dismay and chagrin. Such little cpl
sodes as these gave the crowd great joy,
and every one was applauded to the
echo. Besides all these noises, there
were several young men who went run
ming round and round the hall, giving
vent now and then to yell. What par
ticular kind of amusement there was in
this performance 1 don't know but there
must have been some amusement in it
or they would not have done it. What
ever their motives were, they kept
steadily at work during every pause, and
sometimes, even during the dancing.
Clumsy Farming In Enxland.