The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-14
From the Electric News Service.

FROM the Electric News Service.
TIME inhabitants of almost every
country have used fans for thou
L sands of years. The American In
dian utilized for this purpose the wings
of the wild turkey and other large birds
The. fans of the Aztecs of Mexico and the
Incas of Peru were made of highly colored
feathers and most elaborately decorated.
The fans of the wild and semi-civilized
nations of Europe and Asia varied greatly,
from tiny hand fans to huge feathered
devices operated by slaves and attend
ants. Reproductions of fans in the shape
of leaves attached to long handles have
been found in ancient monuments in Asia,
These are called talapat, which signifies
palm tree leaf. The talapat is still used
by Buddhist priests in the kingdom OF
Siam. Ancient miniatures show that some
of the earliest fans were made of peacock
feathers or an elaborate combination Of
feathers. The plumage of birds and the
different colored grasses doubtless stimu-
lated the primitive artist, so. after while,
the fans began to be decorated.
The "punkah" was the Indian name of
the fan. This term is also used to desig-
nate the huge fan or frame covered with
cloth which is suspended from the ceiling
and worked by slaves.
Proofs have been found that 5000 years
ago Assyrians had contrived some method
of refreshing the air by artificial breezes.
In China and Japan the bamboo leaf be-
came transformed into a marvel of work
manship. The Japanese god of happiness
in the seventh and eighth centuries A. D.,
is represented with a folding fan in his
hand. Chinese artists were probably the
originators of the pictorial decoration on
fans. The Japanese have a special kind
of fan for every use. They have a court
fan. a kitchen or water fan, a dancing
fan, tea fan, war fan and a kind of bel
lows fan. In ancient time the war fan
was quite formidable weapon. 1t was
made of leather with heavy iron ham
die. All kinds of souvenir fans with views
and scenes originate in China or Japan.
Artists and poets have embellished these
fans with wonderful carvings in ivory or
mother-of- pearl, and with many kinds of
precious wood inlaid with gold and silver.
Little figures are sometimes wrought in
silk embroidery with delicately carved
faces of ivory. The varied pictures of ma
ture supplied material to these early ar
lists, aided by their own marvellous I'M
agination. Fantastic animals, mythology
cal gods, curious figures, served to adorn
Celestial fans, and much previous ma
terial and careful labor have been law
ished upon them. Dreadful dragons with
surprising lines and curves in combina-
tions of glowing colors, birds. insects and
flowers, were all utilized and portrayed
upon these early fans.
The first fan mentioned in Chinese poe
try was that of the Princess Pan, A. D..
$50 She was for a time the favorite OF
the Emperor Chi'eng 81, but when she
found that she was gradually being for
gotten and neglected, she sent to the
Emperor a circular fan with some%verses
written upon it in which she described
herself as an autumn or neglected ian.
Since that time in China neglected wife
is often called an autumn fan.
Some study into the early history of the
fan reveals the fact that in China and
~
weapon against the hot climate and the
annoying swarms of insects. 1t was not,
therefore, a mere, feminine accessory, as
it later became in England In the Tar
east. prince and priest. soldier. day labor
er, mistress and maid carried the fan for
the sake of GOODNESS. 1t also had its cere-
monial uses. 1t was used in the saluta-
ton and carried by all classes.
The fan was royal emblem in Egypt
and signified authority, happiness and re-
pose The fan bearers were generally per-
'sons of royal birth and We're initiated into
their office with elaborate ceremony.
Frescoes on an ancient palace of Thebes
represent fan-bearers carrying semi-cir-
cular screen attached to long handle.
The Grecian ladies preferred fans made
of peacock feathers, as the peacock was
the bird of Juno and symbolized splendor
and luxury. AS the Romans were chiefly
engaged in conquests of military ma
ture. art Industries did not flourish as in