The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-08-18
JOSHUA LEAviTr, S,
MARCUS MoRToN, JR oec'e'"''es'


1t is not hundred years since very eccentric
Englishman, named Jonas Hanway, having re-
turned from his 'sTravels in the East" 1.-THE re-
cord of which is still preserved in voluminous
quarto form, with that title, in some old libraries
appeared in the streets oil London on rainy day |
lit does rain in Eng land sometimes) with queer
notion imported from China, IN the shape OF what |
is now called an umbrella. 1t was the first ever
seen used in England, and probably the first in
Europe. 1t attracted such curious and indignsut
notice, that the eccentric Jonas was soon sur
rounded by furious English mob, and was bold
Iy pelted with mud and other onvenient missiles
for his presumptuOus audacity in thus attempt.
ing TO screen his head and figure from the rain
which all true born Englishmen, from time i'm
memorial, had allowed 10 beat upon them with
out resistance, stinevitable visitation from
the powers, upon all who chose to leave the shell
ter OF roof in a storm shower. The incident
made noise, and in spite of ridicule, the scout,
landish, new fashioned notion began TO take
nightly with the extensively bedrizzled people
OF England !; and as the new machine was found
TO be as effective in protecting the person against
the rays OF the summers sun, as against the fall
ing rain, the learned condescended to borrow
name for it from the Latin diminutve form OF
''umbra-a shade," umbrella, little shsde.-
Poor Jonas Hanway's innovation, SO unpopular at
first, merely shows what disadvantage it is to a
man TO be few years Gin advance OF the age"
The above reminds US of fact which has been sta>l
ed to by those who connected with insurance off
IL IS ihs-that there persons in this enlightened
age, and in vicinity, who think il ''presumptu,
ous and wrong, put up lightning rods and refuse
ientous grounds, TO avail themselves OF that safe
guard preterring pay higher ate of insurance. and
the greater risk of their lives, rather than wound
tender conscience. Such people should remember that
the falling of the rain, the direction Of the hunderboll
and all the other phenomena of nature governed BY
fixed laws that knowledge of these laws enables US
TO avert the evil which they might do US, and to turn
ti the SOIL who transpans and prunes the tree, wbs
builds house TO shelter himself and family or even
turns the natural of the water, il finds its way
from the clouds the surface OF the earth TO the
ocean Just much nteferes VITA the natural course
those laws and is pIesumptuous in doing it, as
Who by the aid Of the rod guides the lightning quietly
and harmlessy by, TO find that electric equilibrium to
seek which, is The of its action. We should take
wise and elevated view of these things Oui
talents given TO understand the laws of the uni
verse; and almost the ~hoe time of we'll spent life is
passed in turning the agencies of nature through The
operation OF those laws, wise and benevolent purpo,
ses and he best u the purposes of his creation who
most successfully contributes in this way the good
e6cent than the saving of human lie aud the produc
Of human labor by giving TO the electric fluid sale con
ductor?