The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-17
ORIGIN OF THE FAN.
Some Interesting Facts About It's
EARLY Use.
From the New York tribune.

GUS legends about the origin OF the ran
One Of the prettlest or them attributes 1t
TO the action OF the fair daughter of a
nobleman, who, when almost overcome
from excessive heat. removed her mask
to allow the air TO reach her. but. not
daring to take II entirely off, just raised
it and gently waited il back and forth.
without uncoverng her face. Another
tale about the first fan is founded or the
old Sancrit poem, which tells of the
daughter Of the King who had charge
of the sacred fire upon which her fathers
success and glory depended" and how it
would not burn or even keep alive except
when famed by her own sweet breath"
The most authentic account of all is
found in quaint old Chinese book, en-
titled "A Child Guide to knowledge"
where can be found a long account OF the
invention of the fan by the Emperor
Asiem Ypan, who came to the throne in
the year b. C. $685." and then it states
little further on how general the custom
OF using the fan was during the earliest
centuries of the Chinese era.
All sorts OF materials were used for
these fans-palm leaves, leather bamboo,
and The plumage of birds, while a little
later, as the manufacture Of them came
to be more of an industry, ivory, carved
wood and metal, as wen as paper and
tortoise shell were used. Those of the
more elaborate make were used by the
court families. Indeed, an old Chinese
poem mentions fan of pheasants feath-
ers being used by a member of royalty.
Those of the commoner materials were
utilized by slaves to cool The air in the
rooms and to drive away the pests of in
sects with which such countries were al
ways infested This was the great use
Of the palm-leaf fans, and they were
nj In. sud
countries from the earliest times. Traces
of fans of this kind can be seen on the
bass reliefs in the ruins of temples in
Assyria, which shows plainly that that
country knew the use of the fan from
the remotest time.
The folding fan is supposed to have been
invented by the japanese, and many of
their oldest gods are represented holding
fans One old account of the folding fan
states that whether the folding fan orig
mated by a sovereign observation of the
wings of bat or was suggested by the
natural fofding of palm leaf must be left
to conjecture"
To trace the history Of the fan is in a
great measure to recall a large portion of
the history of each nation, for this little
ornament has played a prominent part in
the life and destiny of every land In the
countries situated in the warmer zones
The use Of the fan has become so univer-
turtles, part of the general costume, as
in China, Japan, Egypt and Arabia In the
early Middle Ages its use assumed a re-
lgiOus aspect, and special fans were made
for use in keeping flies from the commun-
ion table and the altar one of these old
fans is now 10 be seen in a cathedral near
Milan, and is supposed to have belonged
to the Queen of the Lombards during the
sixth century. 1t is OF leather, much decor
a'ed, and having many Latin inscriptions
which, however, are now about obliterated
As the general use of the communion table
was for many centuries discontinued the
run as part OF the religious service was
abandoned, and as the world developed in
ciVilzlng influences the fan gradually re-
treated from its place of prominence in all
state and church functions to its present.
day position, of an accessory to a Woman's
costume at certain times, but during this
evolution Ii played an important part in
the world, and changed It's size, shape and
design many times in response to Fash
TONS mandates.
The two places which gained the most
prominence and the greatest skill in the
manufacture of the fan. and which were
noted for beauty and artistic skill were
Florence and France The Florentines ex-
celled in their rare carvings, while the
French painted and decorated theirs most
lavishly.
Fans came into general use as an indis-
pensable article of dress during the reign
of Charles V of France in the fourteenth
century. They We're most beautifully
carved, set with gems, and painted in the
most artistic designs by the best artists
of the time, high prices being paid for
their decoration. One of these fans.
which was the property of Queen Eleanor.
is described as set with many of the most
costly gems, while another, which she
gave 10 Queen Louise of Lorraine was
valued at 1900 crowns, or about 5000 of
American money.
Many curious devices were wrought in
these fans. For instance, during the if
teenth and sixteenth centuries women had
small mirrors set in them, and some had
lorgnettes arranged in the slaves, SO thai
the fair owners curiosity could be thor
oughly satisfied regarding what was go
ing on all around, and yet her modesty
be completely concealed behind the feath-
ers of her large, screen-iike fan. From
the beginning of their popularity they
were worn suspended from the neck by
long chains of fine workmanship.
The fans varied in size and shape. but
were always IN conformity to the style
of dress generally worn, and in the many
collections of the old ones which are in
existence specimens of each period are to
be found. They are most interesting and
fascinating. telling as they do the COM
plete history of the vagaries of fashion
during the last ten centuries.
The manufacture OF the fan reached its
hight during the reign of Louis XIV of
France, and at that time it was more
than just a part of feminine attire, for 1t
was used alike by King, Queen, court fol-
lower and fine lady; in fact, men, wo-
men and children all over the kingdom
adopted 1t as a part of a protection in the
heated term of the year. There was a.
strict code established for it's use among
the court circles, and so popular was this
in England as well as France. that Addi-
son. in the Spectator, made many satiricaI
Women are armed with fans as men with
swords. and sometimes do more execution
| with them"