Mohave County miner., 1888-12-29
THE FAN In JAPAN.
DETAILS or THE PROCESS or o.
SIGNING AND MANUFACTURING.

Means of Blocks az Cherry wood--raa6
Tor Gentlemen Of Taste--The Fans Many
Etiquette.
Among the scenes OF unique interest which
arrest the eye Of the traveller In Japan ons
finds one's self well repaid Tor visit 10 ths
fan makers. Few OF those who visit the
curios shops 10 purchase these CANDY trihes
have any idea OF the meaning Of their picf-
uresGue designs or the method by which they
are made. Yet this handicrnft does really
more 10 advertise Japan than any other
manufacture. Fans are made by thousands
OF independent laborers, centralized capital
aud labor for the manufacture of works Of
art and handicraft being as yet little known
in Japan. The principal workers in this
trade are found In Toxic. Rioto, Nagoya and
Fulrui
We have have watched the operation from
beginning to end-the splitting Of bamboo,
the cutting and pasting Of delicate rice paper
by the girls, the artistic, dainty picturing.
tho finishing and packing. They are some
times inscribed with classic quotations,
poetry, statistical tableS, almanac lore, maps,
pictures OF noted places and congratulations.
Often these are made to depict life, customs,
architecture IN Europe, or even Yokohama,
that city being the immediate link between
the japanese and foreigners Thus are the
fans in the household, OF which there are
many, made to educate the family.
The design for the pictures on an ordinary
nat fan Is first drawn on thin paper, then
pasted On block Of cherry wood and en-
grayed; afterward printed from this by lay
ing the fan paper on the block and pressing
smoothly. japanese books have been printed
IN this way for centuries prior to the late
changes In the empire. The variety Of colory
are put on with not infrcquently as many az
twenty blocks Often the picture papers
have the choicest Of perfumes laid between
them before being pasted on the frame, then
h''lshed with iTory handles, inlaiJ and gold
lacquered.
FOR oENTLEaRg or TASTE
Gentlemen Of luxurious tastes have largo
collections Of these refreshing triles, with
autograph inscriptions and pictures from
celebrated artists. A very dainty custom In
vogue Is TO exchange fans as we do photo
graphs F
We, as foreigners, are supposed to do
things upside down. In this country the
large, fat fans are for tho ase Of gentlemen,
but In Japan It would be a direF breach Of
etiquette, as these are used exclusively by
women. The gentleman always carries q
folding fan In his girdIe or bosom, usually
elegantly decorated. II hc is q scholar or
author, when he invites bis literary friends
70 his house they must 80 prepared TO in
scribe this dainty bit OF refreshrnent offered
them on arrival A rack of silver hooks, or
tubular fan holder is found In every house
of the least pretention.
Japan uses the fan for great variety Of
purposcsi made OF stout paper 20 vfnnow
grain, for dust pans and charcoal fire blow
ers; OF waterproof paper for dipping In
water and as yaporizer, for producing ex-
ira GOODNESS 10 the face There arc double
winged fans for the jugglcr, who makes
butterfly OF paper autter up the edge OF .
sword, for the judges at wrestling matches
and for the dancing girl, who makes her ian
q part OF her own graceful motion and clasdo
pose. In charming grace OF manner the
japanese are uneGualed, and secret though
decorous love IL often expressed in artistic
use Of the san til, consummated by openly
avowed attachment.
As tokens Of good feeling and polite atten-
ton Americans are not infreqnently tho re-
cipients OF costly fans from their japanese
friends On a certain special occasion. ac-
companying an invitation 10 dinner, tied
with da!ntiest silk corn on perfnmed paper,
was q tray Of CONNECTIONS and sponge cake in
} lacquercd box Of exquisite make and q case
Of three rare, painted fans, each tied In silk
napkina
On leaving the empire, a family with
whom delightful relations had been estab-
ishcd, sent as parting gift beautiful gold
acquered cabinet, in one Of the drawers of
which was found number of perfumed
'ans OF elegant manufacture, which viii be
lifelong keepsakcs in memory Of the assthetio
japanese. Helen H. g. Thompson In Good