The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-09-20
Japanese Fans.

The place most noted for its productions
in fans is Nagoya, in the province of Dwarf.
Most of those exported are from this fourth
largest city in Japan. Kioto is famous
for very fine fans, and her artists excel in
delicacy of tints and richness of coloring.
Toxic formerly called Yeddo) also pro-
duces several millions annually. Ivory and
bone-handled fans made for foreign ladies,
and richly adorned with gold lacquer, mo
sale, silk cord, etc, are especially made in
Toxic.
There are great many varieties OF fans,
and they are put to a great many and Gu
rious uses. Besides those in common use,
the umpire at wrestling and fencing matches
uses heavy one, shaped like huge but
terfy, the handle being the body, and rem
dered imposing by heavy cords of silk.
The various motions of this fan constitute
language which the wrestlers-fat fellows,
who look as though stuffed with bubber by
means of sausage-blower-fully under
stand and appreciate.
Formerly, in time of war, the Japanese
army commanders used large fan, having
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In the centre of the fan was red ball, on
golden or silver field The red ball rep
resented the sun, the martial symbol of the
Japanese nation. The fans of the present
day, having large red, silver Or golden
ball on colored or white field, are in imi-
tation of the old war fan with which the
Japanese hero used to signal in the field.
In case of danger it could be shut, and a
blow from its iron bones was no slight
affair.
All the varieties of fans known among
us have been made for centuries in Japan.
One notable variety is made of waterproof
paper, which can be dipped in water, and
which creates greater GOODNESS by evapora-
ton, without wetting the clothes.
The uchi,oa, or fiat fan, is frequently
made of feathers, leaves or fine silk. 1t is
oftener made of rough paper and used as a
grain winnow, to blow the charcoal fires,
and as dust pan. Probably it is on this
account that it holds the lowest grade in
the caste of fashion.
The Japanese gentleman mean one of
the old school-who never wears hat,
uses his fan to shield his eyes from the sun.
His head, bare from childhood, hardly
needs shade, and when it does he spreads
an umbrella. With his fan he directs his
servants, and saves talking. Within doors,
the graces of the japanese maiden and the
dignity of the wife are enhanced by the fan.
To the juggler the fan is necessity, many
of his cleverest tricks, including that in
which he makes butterfly hover up and
down the edge of sword, being performed
with bits of paper and a fan.
In Japan, people are continually making
presents to each other, though the gifts are
usually very small A fan is always a
a proper gift. In nearly every house are
one or more fan-cases leaning against the
wall. They are of all kinds, from the
cheap tube of bamboo and lacquered wood
up to the splendidly gilt and inlaid case
costing many dollars. In these cases are
holes, in which the handles of the fans are
put, or silver hooks, between which they
hang. On marriage occasions, friends offer
costly gifts; those who are acquaintance
merely usually send fan on which are
written congratulations. They are often
used as cards by proxy callers on New
Years Day. When a young man attains
to Office, or an officer is promoted, fan
with line or two of writing sent to him
is equivalent to congratulations in person.
1t is the custom to ask friends or distin-
.guished persons to write their names, or
some original poetry, or classic quotations,
on fans, thus filling the place occupied by
sur mothers or fathers, or our own youth
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