Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-15
PART FAN PLAYS IN FASHIONS LIFE.
II put IN MANY Practical Uses in Social
Affairs and Often Made the Means
of Communication.


of Communication.
The sunshine that makes the horse-chest.
nuts blossom and the cool maple-leaves TO
grow by magic at this enhancing season
also brings forth in beauteOus array the
summer-fan to unfurl to the breeze. gen.
tly or furiously, according to the humor OF
the wielder.
A summer-fan and q winter-fan are no
more akin than are holly tree and rose
bush-the one stiff and formal, the other
teeming with life and the very breath OF
beauty. ~,
TO the woman of fashion this small i'm
plement of creature comfort IS her IN
variable badge of elegance. and hot or cold.
with 1t than would an officer 90 on dress
parade minus his epaulettes.
There are few women who do not know lis
invaluable powers as most discreet and
convenient aide-de-camp. 1t receives
glances too shy to trust elsewhere. 1t as
suages indecision and makes 1t charming
coyness; it is o silent keyboard where
white and tapering fingers play the modest
airs of embarrassment; 1t IS an outlet for
nervous energy, g sweet ana subtle con-
ductor of sympathy when passed from
hand to hand-for was there ever man,
in amorous mood, who did not derive
infinite comfort from playing with MS fair
ones fan? The gentle swish OF It's fold
and unfold has filled many an eloquent
pause. and, uplifted coquettishly to the
mouth. 1T has hidden many hldeous
yawn.
Let the French pirate as they Will OF
shoots and gloves to fit and pretty pocket
handkerchief" for Importance IN woman
toilette. but commend me to fan, be-
49,, oh; opd dainty for IL ia yprV fairy
wand of fascination and enchantment.
SO much may be expressed by the man
ner of welding these tiny wooers OF the
Zephyrs that q regular slgn-language called
fanology might well be created. Watch
the anxious. hopeful. beckonlng manipu-
lation of this feminine armor In the hands
of the veteran belle who has seen hard ser
vice but few victories; then the denant
delonndire ftful and confident flash the
pretty windlass has IN the sway OF the de-
buanfe: while the dowager, serene and
comfortable even and undisturbed, creates
the temperature of her atmosphere IN the
same contented monotony. There Is an
old superstition that YOU can always tell
| belle by her fan. If 1t be fresh ana I'M
tattered. clean and unspUtted from scrlD-
bled words of lovers meanings, and tree
from signs of any episodes, then 1t Is as
expressionless and inanlmate OF associa-
ton as new glove.
-
| Real fashion in fans changes less than
almost any other accessory OF woman's
| toilet. This il, perchance, for the reason
| that there is such an effort at variety IN
| their STYLES that all fashions of all ages are
| the fashion at one time. Occasionally
| there Is some fad in their sphere that bears
upon them with unique and odd effects.
| With may people there is the fad OF COL
| r tot n Z
| ing study, but costly as well as rare pur-
| suit. One craze of few bygone years was
| 10 have q monogram fan, which consisted
| in an undecorated and rather broad-tolded
| fan, upon which was pasted the monogram
| or crest of ones friends as they were cut
| ont from their stationery or quite as often
the autograph was written lengthWise
down the sticks OF the tan.
| In 1889 the Grand Duke of Baden him.
| self inaugurated the great exhibition OF
| fans at Carlsruhe. the patriotic and artistic
| energies of that monarch thus hoping 10
| create an ambition in the Germans 10
make fan-making and decorating one OF
| their industries, but never can they vie
| with the patient and skIlful Aslatlcs, who
flood every land with their plant bamboo
mounting and quaint Oriental devices.
The French have always paid great at
|
| art. some of its greatest disciples applying
their genius to small ,fan-leaves, which IN
| MANY instances were never mounted, but
framed and hung i'll some grand gallery OF
made fast behind glass doors In some
museum. One of the most famous OF
art fans was executed by Lambert. the
| great cat painter, who succeeded IN
individualIzing cats as Landseer did
his dogs, giving them infinite ex
preston. In this instance the artist
had painted long trails OF pale
blue ribbon that linked in their mean
dering curves large number OF feline
heads, all OF white kittens. Their indl-
yiduality was most marvellously por
trayed. One cat was sleepy. another cross
one was mewing desperately, another was
medltating u spring at some unseen OBJ
ject: and yet another was yisibly alarmed
at some threatened attack. When it is
considered that only the heads were there
it shows the wonder Of the work in ex
preston, for which the clever artist re
celyed 81, 400.
History as well as art and fashion. has re
ceived It's lasting influence from this wea
pom which the Chinese first taught Us little
the use of. BE II known that France owe
one OF her richest colonial possessions tC
a fan, for when the Dey of Algiers got int
an agreement with the French consul il
1928 he so far forgot himself III the passion
of the dispute as TO strike the foreign
diplomat in the face with his fan, and a
he refused stubbornly 10 apologize for thu
insult the French Government prompt,
sent their troops into his dominion, de
posed him and took possession of Algiers
and SO kingdom was once famed away
which seems quite as remarkable as JohI
the Baptist's head being danced away.