The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20

manufactured to please the taste of the
outside barbarian. In Canton simple
white fans can be bought with maps of the
| city on them, although the Chinese map
| maker has adapted his map to the shape
Of his fan. Many of the feather fans are
! shaped like n Tyre with white bone or
| ivory handle. and eight, ten, or dozen
| long feathers ranged in order. A lady eX-
| fjbits one in which, perhaps, nearly q
score of feathers are employed, and which
unlike the gentlemans long, narrow
| shape is broader than long. In Annoy
was procured a curious fan which came
from Formosa, fibrous. somewhat Tyre
shaped leaf having few leaves or sprays
burned into it by way of ornameutdtio
The so-calied Swallow fan is very well
known in this country. being used fire.
quertly as an advertising medium for
, mercantile products. bamboo tube
about the thickness of a small finger,
serves as the handle; to form the frame
work the bamboo above the handle is split
into very thin slips; the surface is pa.er,
pasted over these slips. This is one of
the most serviceabie of open fans.
1T is amusing to see the vigorous way
in which a Chinese fans himself" says a
traveller in that country. Not content
with languid stirring of the air in front
Of his face and chest. he inserts the fan
under his jacket, both front and back, and
legs and arms will come in for an equal
share Of attention.
The ordinary way to carry a fan in
China continues this authority, lis in
the hand, but another convenient place
for folding one is the back Of the neck,
or il is sometimes stuck by a tradesman
into the top of the stocking 1t takes the
place of a walking stick with a Chinese
gentleman as il gives him something to
hold in his hand. and TO flutter, and to
wave, and gesticulate with, when excited.
With schoolmasteTs ii is constantly at
hand to rap boy over the head with, or
call attention by tapping the desk with it.
1t serves to give point and emphasis to
the public speakers periods when he has
warmed up to his subject and his heated
oratory has had its effect and a cooler
frame and quieter manner will suit his
next periods better he opens its folded
ribs, and with a few leisurely motions
brings down his temperature to its de-
sired state; it adds grace to the fault
less get up OF the jeunesse doree; while
the youthful bride is sheltered from the
too inquisitive stare of the crowd by her
attendants fan; the overheated eoole
cools himself with it as he rests mo-
fnent or two from his arduous toll. and
the sweltering half-nGied blacksmi has
his apprentice fan him when engaged be-
fore the glowing forge; the mandarin has
a huge imitation screen-fa of wood car
Tined in his retinue, which is useful when
be meets a fellow official with whom he
has no time to waste in salutations by the
way, for their attendants interpose these
wooden fans, and neither official has seen
the other, thus obviating the necessity Of
stopping the professions and descending
from the sedan Chairs
A lady of the Chinese court, being de-
serted by her husband. wrote the follow
ing verses upon a fan, which she pre-
sented to the Emperor. The translation
is by DR.. Martin:
OF fresh new silk, all snowy white,
And round harvest moon;
A pledge Of purity and love-
A small but welcome boon
While summer lasts, borne in the hand,
or folded the breast.
Twill gently soothe thy burning brow,
And charm thee 10 thy rest.
But ali! when autumn frosts descend
And autumn winds blow cold,
No longer sought, no longer loved,
Twill lie in dust and mold.
This silken fan, then degn accept,
Sad emblem Of my lot;
Csressed and cherished for an hour,
Then speedily forgot
Although these lines were written &C
cording to our chronology 1880 years be-
fore the Christian era, or nearly 2,0oO
years ago, a wife forsaken by her hus-
band is still called by the Chinese an
autumn fam"