Evening journal., 1909-06-08
THE
NEW FANS
These Dainty Accessories
Are Especially Beautiful
This Season
WDg OR at least two centuries the
H. fan has been one of the most
delightful accessories of the

~ OR at least two centuries the /
~ fan has been one of the most
delightful accessories Of the
feminine toilet. And this |
summer the new wind waters are ex-
quisitely beautiful. especially those de-
signed to be used with period costumes. |
which are a fad of the season. Many |
lovely but inexpensive fans are to be
found at a Broadway shop that deals
in wares from the land Of the mikado.
In this display is a dainty little speci-
men of carved sandalwood with a
painted or stamped design in soft old
rose and dull green tones all over its
surface. The fan is moderately priced
at S1.50. and il would be reasonable
at twice the amount. as a sandalwood
fan is not only artistic TO the eye and
pleasant TO the olfactory organ, but has
the added advantage Of combining well
with most costumes. A fan of black
liberty silk, spangled with steel whose
sticks are inlaid with the same metal,
is in the same collection and is GER
tainly alluring enough 20 appeal 20 "a
Spanish donna. for who can WELD the
fan so successfully as the Spanish girl?
And in the land of Spain the fan
speaks a particular language, and gal
press its most subtle conceits than
through this delicate machine.
In the hands Of the powdered ducb-
esses and marqulses of Louis XIV's
reign the fan was a weapon and
symbol. 1t had. like diplomats. lam
guage of its own, which was learned
by every woman before she entered
society. With It could be expressed
wish, a promise. a refusal or a pardon.
In Persia, Egypt Greece and Rome
fans were in early use. The Egyptians
carried a peculiar arrangement made
of a birds wing extended, while in
Greece the round peacock feather fan
was the favorite Roman ladies ap
peared in public waiting thin tablets
of sandalwood. and a lurid light is cast
on the customs of the middle ages in
Italy by the fact that several dainty
fans are preserved with a concealed
dagger in the handle of each. The
fans first appearance in England was
made in the reign Of Richard II. The
virgin queen. the fair Elizabeth. is said
20 have owned no less than twenty
seven fans. one handsome specimen
costing 5000, large sum in those days.
Elizabeth originated the custom that
the only gift queen could receive was
Il =
acceptance were these offerings. whose
sticks were made Of mother -of-pearl
rubies and other precious gems. And
in our own day number Of society
women not only collect costly fans
many Of which have historical value
but they are seen using them at smart
functions.
The japanese. believe. have the
honor of inventing the first collapsible
or folding fans. about $50 A. d. They
have kept right on adding to theiI
clever inventions in this direction
Their latest idea of the collapsibl'
type is charming affair that looks
when closed IKE a bunch OF pinl
roses. but when a little silk string hid.
den among the posies is pulled gooC
sized fan Of white silk appears with
border of pink roses. These fans have
been favorite graduating presents this
year Another lovely little fan o.
oriental origin IS a round affair o.
white silk covered with cherry bios.
SONS in natural coloring. done in ;
silky fabric on the reverse side Il
this verse in Japanese characters;
Shikiiimano Yamabo
Gokorowa
Hito towaba
Asihine niwow
Yama Sakura kama.
Translated into English it would rea,
something like this: If you should asl
the Japanese where is the Japanes
heart he would point to the cherr,
blossoms waving in the morning sun
p There is the Japanese heart.
The decoration of fans has alway
proved fascinating TO French artists
and such masters as Fragonard, Bou
cher. Watteau and Lancret did no
consider the painting of lovely figure
on the dainty fans as beneath thei
dignity. In the Louis XIV period the
were beautifully finished by the fou
Martin brothers with a bright varnis
that gave the painting an appearance
Of enamel which is known even 10 thi
day as "Vernis Martin" A number O
the handsomest fans Of the summe
arc copiea Of the work of these oil
French casters, and when hung fror
chains of gold or senfiprecious stone
the effect is quaint and lovely. Their
is too, a fancy for suspending thes
tiny fans of the season from blac
grosgrain ribbon and carrying ther
over the wrist.
One could write indefinitely abou
fans of the past and present. but ther
Is a pretty NEUROLOGICAL origin that
pleasant to remember in connectio
with them which runs as follows: A
Psyche was sleeping one day on
bank of flowers zephyr's wings keT
lowering over her. After a time jeal
Gus Cupid plucked off one of Zephyr
wings and gave it to Psyche that sh
might ever have cooling breezes.
~ CATHERINE TALBOT.
M New York