Las Vegas optic., 1913-07-29

Dreadful dragons with surprising
lines and curves in combinations Of
glowing colors, birds, insects and
flowers. we're all utilized and por-
trayed upon these early fans
The first fan mentioned in Chinese
poetry was that of the Princess Pan,
"a D. $50, She was for time the fa-
vorite of the Emperor Chi'eng ST, but
when she found that she was gradual
ly being forgotten and neglected, she
sent to the emperor a circular fan
with some verses written upon it in
which she described herself as an au-
tumn or neglected fan. Since that
time, in China. a neglected wife is Of
ten called an autumn fan,
some study into the es-5y history Of
the fan reveals the fact that in China
and Japan the fan was an indispens-
able weapon against the hot climate
and the annoying swarms Of Insects
1t was not, therefore, a mere feminine
accessory, as it later became in Eng
land. In the far east, prince and
priest, soldier, day laborer, mistress
and maid carried the fan for the
sake of coolness. It also had it's cere-
nomial uses. 1t w. used in the salu-
tation and carried by all classes.
The fan was royal emblem in
Egypt and signified authority, happi-
ness and repose. The fan bearers
were generally persons of royal birth
and were initiated into their office
with elaborate ceremony. Frescoes on
an ancient palace of Thebes repre-
sent fan-bearers carrying a semi-cir-
cular screen attached to long handle.
The Grecian ladies preferred fans
made of peacock feathers, as the pea.
cock was the bird of Juno and symbol
lied splendor and luxury. AS the Ro-
mans were chiefly engaged in con
quests of a military nature, art in
dustries did not flourish as in times
of peace. The Romans used the fan,
as did the earlier nations, to enhance
their splendid festivals. At banquets,
slaves stood behind the guests and
waved enormous fans made of pea
cock feathers, gorgeously colored and
further enriched with ostrich plumes.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centur-
les, ladies of the chief italian cities
carried fans, in which little mirror
was set According to a charming
Spanish legend, Psyche was asleep
one day on bank of flowers and
Zephyr kept lowering near her. This
made Cupid jealous and to punish the
intruder Cupid plucked off one OF
Zephyr's wings and gave it to Psyche
that she might always have cooling
breezes. This is the Spanish story
of the origin Of the fan
Early in the eighteenth century the
fan was in general use among the Ia
dies of England, and Addison wittily
wrote: Women are armed with fans
as men with swords, and sometimes
do more execution with them"
At this time the fan was a fascin-
ating trinket in the hands Of power
full beauties and figured in many a
political intrigue Social events and
politics, the follies and fashions Of
the time were depicted upon them.
Scenes from popular plays were paint
ed upon them, while others had the
rules of various games Some bore
records Of royal marriages; others
we're inscribed in verses or contained
carioatures on social and political
events. After the French Revolution
the cupids, roses and rustic idyls cis-
appeared entirely from the fans.
Up to the early eighties the palm
leaf fan and other inexpensive fans
Of oriental make were in general use.
Fans to be operateG by mechanical
power we're hardly possible until the
discovery and development Of cleo.
trioity. While experimenting with an
electrically-driven propeller for
small boat an electrical engineer CON
ceived the idea of the electric fan.
This was before the perfection Of the
electric generator, and electric ser
vice for the home and office Conse-
quently the new fan had to be operat-
ed from battery current. Little ad-
vance was made until 1883 when
successful attempt was made to con-
= i.