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

4 Great Variety Of Csiors Appilsd b
sf~sns ef Biocirs Of Cherry wood--Ran1
Tor Gentismen of Taste The Fans s1any
Uses--Etiguette.
Among tho scencg Of unique interest which
arrest the eye OF the traveller in Japan ons
1nds ones self well repaid for visit to tbs
fan makera Few Of tbose who visit the
curios shops to purchase these CANDY TRIES
have any idea Of the meaning OF their pict-
uresque designs ar the method by which they
are made. Yet this handicraft does really
more to advertise japan than any other
manufacture Fans arc made by thousands
Of independent laborcrs, centralized capital
and 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, Kioto, Nagoya and
Fukui
We have have waschcd the oSsrntion from
beginning 10 end--thc splitting Of bamboo,
the cutting and pasting Of delicate rice paper
by the girls, tho artistic. dainty picturfng,
the finishing and packing. They are some
tunes inscr1bed with classic quotations,
poetry, statistical tables, almanac lore, maps,
pictures Of noted places and congratulations
Often these srs made TO depict life, customs,
architecture In Europe, or even Yokohama,
that city being the immediate link betwssn
the japanese and foreigners Thus are tho
fans In the household, OF which there are
many, made 10 educate tho family.
The design for the pictures on an ordinary
mt fan 10 frst drawn ON thin paper, then
pasted On block Of cherry wood and an
graved; afterward printed from this by lay.
ing the fan paper on the block and pressing
smoothiy. japanese books have been printed
la this way for centuries prior to the late
changes In the empire The variety Of colors
are put on with not iufrequsntIy as many ~
twenty blocM Often the picture papess
have the choicest Of perfumes laid betwecn
them before being pasted ON tho frame, then
finished with ivory handles. inlaid and gold
lacquered.
roa cxsrLExss on TASTE.
Gentlemen OF luxurious tastes have large
collections Of these refreshing triHes, with
autograph Inscriptions and pictures from
celebrated artists. A very dainty custom in
vogue Is to exchange fans as ws do photo
graphA
We. as foreigners. are slppossd to do
things upside down. In this country the
large, fat fans are FOR tho uss Of gentleman,
but In JsTan IL would be dire breach Of
etiquette, as these are used exclusively by
women The gentleman always carries .
folding fan in bis giriie or bosom, usually
elegantly decorated II he Is scholar OF
author, when he invites his literary friends
TO bis house they must go prepared to In
scribe this dainty bit OF refreshinent offered
them on arrival A rack OF silver books, or
q tubular fan holder Is found Ia every house
OF the least pretention-
Japan uses the fan for q great variety Of
purposes; made OF stout paper TO winnow
grain, for dust pans and charcoal fire blow.
ers; Of waterproof paper for dipping In
water and ~ yaporiz'r, for producing ex-
ira coolnes 10 the face. There are double
winged fans for the juggIcr. who makes .
butterfly Of paper fiutter mp the edge Of Q
sword, for the judges at wrestling matches
and for tho dancing girl, who makes her ian
apart Of her own graceful motion and claasio
poss. In charming grace Of manner the
japanese are uneQualed, and secret though
decorous love Is often expressed In artistic
use Ut the fan till consummated by opemiy
avowed attachment.
As tokens Of good feeling and polite attSn-
tion Americans are not infrequently ths rs-
cipients Of costly fans from their Japanese
friendA On . certain special occasion, 40
cornpanying an Invitation to dinner, tied
with daintiest silk corn on perfunscd papsr,
was tray OF confections and sponge caks N
. lacquered box Of exquisite make and case
OF three rare, painted fans, each tied In SILK
napkins.
On leaving the empire, family with
whom delightful relations had been estab-
lished, sent ss parting gift beautiful gold
lacqusred cabinet, IN one Of the drawers of
which IVES found number Of perfumed
fans Of elegant nsnufscture, which win b.
lifelong keepsakes in memory Of the ssthetio
Japanese. Helen u. 8. Thompson In Good
Housekeeping.