Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-07-08
The First Umbrella.

1t is generally stated that Jonas
Hanway, the well-known philanthro-
pist was the first man who carried an
umbrella in the streets of London
Hanway died in 1856. Early in the
century large umbrella was kept in
the halls Of aristocratic mansions, for
the special protection of the lady of
the house in passing from her door to
the coach and it was not uncommon
to keep such articles in the coffee
houses of taverns for the benefit Of
customers, as early as Queen Anne S
reign.
The fact, however, is not the less
true, that it is only within the life
time of persons now living that this
almost indispensable protection from
the mists and rain has become gener-
ally adopted. In the Female 1attler
Of December l2, 1909, appears a satir-
lcal notice, informing tae young gen.
tIeman belonging to the custom house,
who, for fear Of rain, borrowed the
umbrella at Wills coffee house, Corn
hill, Of the mistress" that "to be dry
from head to foot on the like occasion,
he shall be welcome to the maid S pat
tens.
Gay mentions the umbrella as early
as l7l2, in his poem of "Trivla, in
which he describes the tucked up
seamstress' walking in shower while
streams run down her oiled umbrella
sides. " Mr.. J. Jameson, Scottish
surgeon, brought with him from Paris,
in 1851 or 1852, an umbrella, which
was the first seen in Glasgow, where
he resided, and where it attracted
great attention.
The earliest specimens Of the En-
glish umbrella were made, as men
toned in Gays lines, Of oiled silk
which, when wet, was exceedingly diff
fcult to open or close. The stick and
furniture were heavy and inconven-
lent, and the article very expensive
It's transition to the present portable
form is due partly to the substitution
Of silk and gingham for the heavy and
troublesome oiled silk, which admits
of the ribs and strecher being made
much lighter, and also to the many
ingenious mechanical improvements Of
the framework which have been made
from time to time, several OF which
have been patented. No change has
proved o greater convenience than that
from the old-fashioned ring and string
for securing the umbrella when closed
to the sim pie clip and India rubber
braid now in use and yet before this
was accomplished, many transitions
had to be passed through.
Though the umbrella is itself o1
older date, there is nothing to invali-
date the story that it is to the good
Jonas Hanwav that we are indebted
for the valuable example of mora
courage in first carrying an umbrella
in the streets Of London. 1t is diff
cult now to conceive the amount o1
persecution which this strange pro,
ceeding entailed upon the unfortunate
philanthropist, whose object was
doubtless, less the protection of hlt
own person than that Of showing his
fellow countrymen how they might
avoid those continual drenchings tt
which they had so long submitted.
The hackney coachman and the Sc.
dan chairman were the first to cal
out against the innovation, declaring
thai they were ruined if it came into
fashion. When they began to be car,
ried, even a gentleman accompanied
by a lady, under the shelter of the
new-fangled rain protector, were
hooted as they passed along; While a
gentleman alone carrying one was
certain to be attacked with cries OF
"Frenchman Frenchman why don t
you call coach ?" and other more
offensive salutations.
D-,r Jo,on+1v and honn,ar an ,t0IltIv