New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-19
ORIGIN OF THE FAN.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ITS
EARLY USE
.nnrsov SAID THAT WOMEN DO MORO HARM
WITH IT THAN MEN DO WITH THEIR SWORDS

ADDISON SAID THAT WOMEN DO MORE HARM
WITH IT THAN MEN DO WITH THEIR SWORDS
JAPANESE AND CHINESE LEGENDS
Ionanese folklore contains many curious LEGENDS
.,,,, tho origin Of the fan one Of the prettest OF
,r a,rlbt,tes II 10 the action Of the fair daughter
OF a noblcman. who. when almost overcome 4''''-
excessive heat, removed Elr mask 10 a'o" inc a.
TO reach her but not daring 10 take IL eh'I'e' VA,
,us- raised It and gently waited II BACK anu
f,rth without urcovering her face. Another 'a'e
ahon- the first fan is founded on the old o4hsci'
,oorr which tells OF the daughter OK the KING VINO
had "charge OF the sacred fire upon VINO" hes
fathers success and glory depended. ana no" "
would not burn or even keep alive except ""eN
famed by her own sweet breath.
Tho most authentic account OF al Is round IN d
cna,rt old Chinese book. entitled a Chiids Guide
TO KNOWLEDGE" where can be found long account
of the Invention OF the fan by the Emperor @Ase'
Yuan who came 10 the throne N the year o. y
"a O." md then It states q little further on now
general the custom q" us.ng o." Kan was ~-''Ns
the earliest centuries OF the Chinese era
Al .,rfs Of materials were used for these fans
main, Loaf leather. bamboo and tho plumage OF
birds while a little later as the MANUFACTURE ..
them came 10 be OF an Industry, IVORY ca''cu
wood and metal as well as paper and tortoise-she'
were used Those Of the more elaborate MAKE were
us.a ly the Court families Indeed an old Chinese
,oe,n mentions fan OF pheasants feathers ue''s
used by a member OF royalty Those or the COM
nou.r materials utilized by slaves 10 ooo 'le
ar H. the rooms and to drive away the pests % ~"
secfs with which such countries were Always IN
..t rl,i ,vas the great use OF the palm-eaf
fans and they were utilized IN such service IN AL
tho warm countries from the earliest times traces
o, fans Of ,his kiad be seen Oh the oaHsis'''S
m the RUNS OF temples IN Assyria' when SHOWS
ulalnly that that country knew the use OF inc lA'
from the remOtest time.
THE FOLDING FAN
The folding fan is supposed 10 have been invented
bv the japanese and many Of their Oldest sous are
rl,r,eouted holding fans. one old account OF the
,l,,r,, fan states that whether ne folding IAN
or,,inat.c bv A sovereign observation OF the "lhes
NJ bat or was suggested by the natura! folding o.
a ualm leaf mus. be left TO conJecture
To trace The history Of tho IAN is III greet
measure 20 recall large portion OF the h's'oi' "
each nation for this little ornament las played
prominent part IN tn, lie and destiny OF every
land In the countries situated In the warmer zones
the Use OF the fan has become so universal 'na' l.
ia and has been for many centuries Il par "a '
General costume. as IN China. Japan. Egypt ana
Arabia. In the early Middle Ages It's use assumed
a religious aspect and special rams were "'Aue i0
,,sa I'm keepug flies from the communion ttDie anu
the altar one OF these old fans IL now 10 d" seen
in cathedral near Milan. ana = suposso 10 ny. 1h
sIYth century Ii is Of leather much decorated ana
having many Latin inscriptions "I.cil' nv w. -;
ar n 0m table MAS for many centuries dis
continued the fan AS part OF tne SslJonad IA
cvlIiLhs @ a., oro,ninence In ali state and church
sory 10 a womans costume al cnrlAln .nes &C. ~
during tbs DS cb9nred it, size shape and design
many times in response to Fashions mandates
SKILL IN WORKMANSHIP.
The two places which gained the most pro'n'nene'
and the greatest skill in the Manufacture .. ."e
fan and which were noted for beauty ana af'is"o
sk,ll were Florence and France. The Florentihes
excelled In their rare carvings. while the IRENE"
no,,taa and decorated theirs most lavishly
Fans into general use as an az chaTes Of
Fra1c in the fourteenth century They were most
beautifully carved. set with gems anu p ~ the
lime 1 high prices being paid for their DECORATION
one OF these fans which was ne ~ The most
Costly gems while another. which she gave 20 10
c Queen G o9 arou 3 Co Of American money
MANY curious devices were wrought In these lans,
r or Women had small mirrors set in them,
had "rory could be- Thoroughly
satisfied regarding what was going on an a hSt
ana et me of her large like fan From the
beginning OF their popularity they were worn sus
pended from the neck by long eha'hS Oh me "o'A-
the fons varied in size and shape but were a.,
worn and I'm the many collections OF the old ones
which in existence specimens OF eacn peTior are
re,jno telling as they DO the complete history OF |
the vagaries OF fashion during the last ten cell
turtles. -. a.. -u.os.a a.. ..,ob,
during the reign OF Louis XIV OF France. and at !
that Time IL was more than Just part or feminine
attire for IL was used alike by king. queen Court |
follower and fine lady; In fact, men, women ana
children all over the kingdom adopted II as part
Of the countrys costume. and also as a protection
In the heated term of the year. There was strict
code established for its use among the Court circles
and ao nopular WAS this in England as well as |
vance hat Addison, in The Spectator" made |
many satirical remarks on the use OF the fan. He
swords. and sometimes do moro execution with |
thAnn-"