Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1917 — FAN MEANS MUCH IN JAPAN [ARTICLE]

FAN MEANS MUCH IN JAPAN

Every Native Carrie* One and It Haa Much Significance, According As It Is Used. It is no exaggeration to say that In Japan everybody carries a fan, and a /an means a great many things, according as it Is used. . There is an enormous variety of fans. The cheapest and most usual forms are familiar to everyone. On# of the most curious varieties is the Iron war fan. This ,was invented in the eleventh century for the use of military commanders, either for direction of their soldiers or as a shield for defence. It is made of leather or Iron. The water fans are made of bamboo, i and are thinly lacquered, so that they may be dipped In water to secure extra coolness while fanning. Another kind Is the revolving white fan, which clings around Its stick, and can be rolled up. Another strong, flat paper fan is used *8 bellows to blow the charcoal fire in the kitchen. The “agi” are folding fans. They are painted with flowers and tied with white silk. These are the court fans, and different flowers are appropriated by different great families. Sometimes an innocent-looking fancase holds a dagger, WWie*treaeW|js carry notes on their sermons in theirs. All the old legends are told by the arrangement of houses, figures and birds painted on the faces of the fans. An endless etiquette is Involved in the use of fans. With the Japanese, in fact, the fan is an emblem of life. The rivet end is the starting point, and as the rays of the fan expand so the road of life widens out towards a prosperous future. rr..— ; ■-:v—'