The Washington herald., 1913-03-03
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

more fascinating the wlleS OF the Sex
The fan of to-day is on a miniature
Scale. a tiny semi-circle of daintily
painted parchment, set above sticks of
carved ivory or torquoise shell. perhaps
pnlaid with precious stones according
10 the means or the taste Of the owner
But the fan has known and survived
many phases, many styles; for its use
has endured since the earliest times.
In fact, 1t has been practically uni
varsal.
Fans are to be found represented in
ancient Etruscon urns. They are al
luded to by Homer. Anacreon, Euri-
pides. &c. They originated primarily
among the dwellers of the South as
means of protection against the rays
of the sun. Their use, however, soon
spread to cooler climes. they being
adopted there as articles Of decoration
and of luxury.
The legends relating to the origin Of
the fan are many and varied, most Of
, them coming from Japan. the land where
this little adjunct to toilet is used more
than anywhere else on earth. 1t is used
there by man. woman, and child, no mat
ter what their occupation or station In
life l know of a legend. told me at
Ieddo. that connects it with the charm
ing daughter of sho-sun, who. when
\ present one evening at a feast of Ian
terms was overcome by the heat. She
doffed her mask and in order to prevent
being recognized, she waved ii rapidly
TO and fro in front of her face This
pretty gesture was remarked, admired
and adopted by other coquettes and court
beauties. who. fully appreciating the
firtatious value of the movement, have
ever since kept it the fashion.
The earliest fan was fashioned from the
palm leaf. method which still endures
IN the East Later on the fan was form
ed of other materials, but still in the
palm-leaf shape. 1t was frequently at
1ached 10 a long handle. and was wied-
ed, punkah-wise. by slaves. Thus no
doubt was Cleopatra famed on her way
along the Nile; thus no doubt was the
Queen of Sheba ministered 10 by her at
fendants. The Eastern potentate had his
fan of peacocks' feathers, the handles of
precious metals inset with Jewels no
eNtravagance being thought too great for
Its establishment.
II was not until the seventh century
that the folding fan came into existence.
and its origin has been the subject of
considerable controversy. II is probable
that il was either derived from observa-
fion of the mechanism of a bats wing,
or from the natural unfolding of a palm
leaf. In this later form il is found in a
variety Of materials including vellum.
parchment satin, satin gauze, ivory, and
tortoiseshell. The Chinese love to fashion
fans entirely Of pure gold. exQuisitely
pierced. or else Of enameled silver, 50
wondrously worked that, like their en-
broideries. they are equally lovely on
either side.
Famous artists in Japan are engaged
in the work of fan designing. and at
social functions il is no uncommon
sight to see them making or eNchang
ing sketches for this branch of their
art.
. In France, in the eighteenth century.
This also was a favorite occupation of
leading artists. and some of the most
exquisite work Of men like Watteau.
Lancret. and Boucher was expended
upon the little fan. At this day the
work Of Gender may fittingly take its
place among the finest masterpieces OF
fan decoration. and many an artist
might do worse than apply his talents
TO this particular art.
Popular novclists gave rise to fans
designed in their honor, and the publi-
cation of "Gullivers Travels was
speedily followed by whole series of
fans depicting all the principal events
of the story. Ladies Of a religious
turn of mind enjoyed the contempla-
tion of the features of their favorite
divine when tanning themselves while
others were able to mediate on the
verses from the Bible inscribed on
:heirs Indeed TO possess 9 striking
and original fan was considered a |
couple of centuries ago To he the indi- |
cation of a cultured mind and a pass |
port to good society.
The ''lorgnette" fan of the seven
teenth century is curious relic of the |
days when a lady could not walk the |
public streets with impunity. The |
belle of the period caused A pair of 1
1orgnettes to be inserted in her fan. so |
that when she took her walks abroad |
She might survey the world without |
being unduly quizzed !
Then there are the English topical" |
fans, much sought after by collectors. |
These belong mostly to the eighteenth |
century. when they were designed in |
connection with practically every pub |
lie event of Importance. They were |
often inscribed with political satires |
frequently they dealt with royal mar |
riages, births. christenings. &c. or.
again. they might bear few bars from |
a popular opera, or a scene from some |
play Some even bore the whole pro-
gramme of a drama, others would dis
play the rules for a game set out |
within a decorative border of playing
cards Many dealt with events such as
the Peninsular war. or the terms of the 1
exicise bill, while in addition there
were puzzle fans. riddle fans. calendar
fans. and fortune-tellinC fans.
For those whose hobby is collecting
there can be hardly anything so prolific
rs the fan, owing to its universal use
and the variety of its examples or pat
terms. But collectors should beware of
taking their md too near a fire lest
the heat injure the parchment or spoil
the decorations. On no account should
:thev be allowed to be opened and shut
toe often. To fully enjoy the beauty of a
valuable or antique fan without detri- |
ment to tneir worth they ought to be
fixed frL:ly with small pins upon a
mounting and framed beneath glass. TAX
ing care that the design of the wooden
frame is kept as simple as possible so
trat il may detract in no way attention
from the fan housed within it
daughter of the American Amba ssador to
Germany. is to be engaged to the young
Duke of Croy. lieutenant of the Kaiser's
Life Guards. has not been verified. Not
that it would not be most desirable
match for our handsome young coun-
trywoman for the nobleman of ancient
lineage and the scion of one of Ger
rnany's foremost families. In the Will
helm strasse at any rate it is whispered
that Miss Nancy is anything but indif-
ferent to the dukes protestations of love
There will be one drawback, however
even If the story is verified. Being an
will have to be consulted, and without
his consent there will be no marriage
Besides the duke is hereditary MEM