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Show FANS BROUGHT FROM ITALY. English Traveler of 1608 Describes Them a Curiosities. Tho following description of fans by Thomas Coryat gees to prove that paper fans were not used in England at tho time of his tour (1G08), and that we borrowed them as well as forks from the Italians. "Hero I will mention a thing, thnt although perhaps It will seeme but frivolous to divers readers that have already travelled Jn Italy, yet because unto nuiny thnt neither havo beeno there, nor ever Intend to go thithor whllo thoy live, It will bo a meero novelty, nov-elty, I will not lot it pass unmentlonod. "Tho first Italian fannos that I saw in Italy did I observo In this space betwixt be-twixt PIzlghiton and Cremona; but afterwards I observed thorn common In most places of Italy whero I trav oiled. "These fannos both men and women of tho country doo carry, to coole themselves wlthall In tho tlmo of heat by tho ofton fanning of their facoa Most of them aro very elegant and pretty things. "For whoreus the fanno conslstett of a painted piece of paper and a little wooden handle; tho paper, which It fastened into the top, Is on both sldos most curiously adornod with excellent pictures, having somo witty Italian verses or fine omblems written undet them; or of some notable Italian city, with a brlefo description thereof added add-ed thereunto." Exchange |