The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-11-19
FANS OF D TIMES.
Wealthy Ladies Amusing Themselves by
Collecting Weapons of Gentle War
fare of Long Ago.

arrangement is at present an industry
popular with ladies of social distinc.
ton who can afford the advertisement.
The collection forms a conspicuous
feature in the bric-a-bac of not a few
wealthy homes on our avenues, and
where earnestly considered is not only
artistically but historically instructive.
Many of the collections seen are val
liable in antiquity and material. The
various styles from the latter part OF
the seventeenth century to the present
time are more or less abundantly il
Illustrated, and the changes and transl-
tons of different periods and instances,
plainly shown. Doubtless the oldest
one IN possession is owned by Mrs. f.
w. Ferner. 1t was given her as a pre-
sent by an old sea captain twenty
years ago. 1t is a Venetian dagger
fan. The sticks are OF ivory, decora-
lively etched in black. Within the
shaft is concealed the treacherous
steel, whose sturdiness and point for
bid the idea that it was any dainty
plaything. The fan is constructed on
the principle of the sword cane, and
may have been used as a weapon of
offense or defense as easily as for pur-
poses of coquetry. An Old Spanish
fan of a little later date suited the
gentle warfare of which the fan is the
chief weapon. This amid it's some
what gaudy ornamentation has plates
of mica that serve as windows, through
which the effect of it's execution can
be observed. Several Louis XIV. fans
are distinguished by their Vatican de-
signs and by the great elegance of
their ivory sticks. These are broad
and beautifully carved in medallions
and interlacing lines. Several Dutch
fans of the period were shown, which
showed a clumsy Interpretation of the
French influence. ASpanish fan own
ed by this lady is as notable for its
color as for refinement in its design--a
beautiful harmony of vellows and
browns. Most of the Louis XIV.
structures have the sticks slender,
wide apart, and covered with unmeau-
ing designs in color, and lavishly be-
spangled.
This form of advertisement origina-
ted, of course, in the East, and one of
the prime movers. at present the guest
of q boulevard capitalist and wife, has
brought her treasures with her for the
e%diication of the boosters. The de-
signs in imitation of Vatican are pam
eled off and intertwined with wreaths.
One presents a couple engaged in the
love-making which was the chief
amusement of the Louis XIV. shep-
herdesses and their SWANS. The
Dutch ans of the time are ornament
ed with local scenes, chiefly CONNER
cial, an interesting commentary on
the growth of Dutch trade, and with
scriptural subjects executed with the
homely fidelity that characterizes
Dutch art. With these are placed
some pretty Dutch fans in carved bone
and small ivory hand-screens finished
IN gilt. A Martin fan. instead of be-
ing covered with lacquer, is divided
into panels. Martin, it will be re-
membered, was a carriage painter Of
the time of Louis XIV, who learned
the secret of lacquer varnish from
some missionaries who brought it from
China and afterward applied it,
among other things, to fans. The
upper part has a French court scene;
below is the principal design, showing
a large part of the ivory ground. The
subject is Hercules restoring Alcestis,
veiied, 10 her husband, Admetus, hay
ing rescued her from Hades. The
Chinese ivory fans are as exquisite as
lace-work, the designs are in fact left
solid on a ground which is cut in
slender lines. apparently too delicate
to bear tho weight of ornament.
Among fans of note is the n of gold
lacquer, on ivory, of great beauty,
which was presented to Mrs. Grant by
the Queen of Siam, who also gave her
an exquisite representation of Chi
nese figures. Then she received a
silver fan with blue enamel and gold
filigree and blue enamel from foreign
despots.
One ambitious lady is working for a
of political fans, regardless
of artistic merit, and has already Sc
cured at considerable expense several
of value. One is an old Spanish, rath-
coarsely painted, in which IN envoy
offers his King the inscription: 81
bring you peace" while the King
tramples under foot a compact. On
the other side are three kings who
have evidently acquie<ced in the re-
suit. A ducal coronet on the sticks
give additional significance to the fan.
The other fan dates from the French
revolution; this has a portrait of Mira
beau in the center, and on the sides