The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-07-19
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Umbroi1aa.

Now that the thermometer runs ninety
one degrees in the ahade, umbrellas be-
como objects Of interest, Tits said that
the Arat umbrella ueed in the streets Of
London was carried by. Jonas Hanway,
WHO iiodd in 17SSss. The date of the ad-
vent Of the umbrella is not known, In
tho oldst ;dicti6nafiea 'au nnthrylla is de-
fqedas 'sa poktable penthouse TO GARRY
in a persons hand to screen him from
violent rain or heat" Umbrellas are
very ancient, for there is evidence, from
old carvings, that they were used by
Eastern princes in remote ages. Old
pieces of chinaware chow the aristo-
cratic Cbinaman and his family shaded
By slaves who waiR9S bsside them @ Tor for
the purpose. Doubtless they were used
in that peculiar country long before they
were introduced in the outside world.
At first they were kept only at public
houses, and hired or lent to visitors, as
coach, or other vehicle, or conve-
nience would be, end used only by inva-
lids! The use Of ehAm Was regarded ss
an affeotation. or evidence Of effeminaoy
on the part of man. In an old copy Of
The Female 7dAler an advertisement can
be found as follows: .:Che young gentle
man, belonging to the custom house,
who. in fear of rain, borrowed the un.
brella from Wilkes coffee house, shall
the next time be welcome to the maids
pattehs." It is likely the buxom maid
inserted the cutting squib herself, to
damp Tie pride of the moe young man,
for that species Of the gsnas homo ak
listed then as we'll as now. The first
o$k fCo o1ooo of RhnJ Jokn
war, violent prejudice existed in the
South against umbrellas, except for old
persons, insalids nnd ladies. This arose
from the fact that very few young South
ern gentlemen were able 10 afford the
luxusy. They were accustomed TO en-
poanre to all sorts of weather, and
rather liked the independent style of
going in spite OF weather. The young
ladies admired this, Of course; whereas,
on the other hand, the influx OF specu-
lating Yankees that poured into our
country, came ssmarching on armed
with umbrellas. They were terrified at
the idea Of sun-stroke, and carried their
umbrellas from the rising OF the sun to
the setting OF the same. They held on
to their umbrellas under any and all oir-
cumstances, attacked by sun, rain, rebels
and Ku Kluxes! The umbrella was
sometimes unceremonionely lowered,
bnt rarely laid down. Not 100 miles
from the spot where ne write, O certain
ex.sutler from Maine, who Was appoint
ed by the Government Judge Of the
circuit court, was once called upon 10
settle case outside of the court house.
He left the cqnrt room itowafds nipht-
faN, protected by his Umbrella. Being
conscious Of the presence OF the plain
tiff in the case aforesaid, he did Iay
down his protector for once. and not be-
, ing disposed to appear in the defence.
(wbioh We must admit was not consist.
ent with his judicial functions, he was
relieved OF his coat; upon which he
grasped his umbrella and brought il
down-under his arm. Feeling safe
again with it's silken folds about lis
pslpitating heart, he lodged under the
arms OF several laughing Southern
TitanB, and onward sped, amid roars of
merriment, and assurances of 'tnobody
hurt" Onward he few, with more
speed than dignity, using his feet and
limbs with commendable activity, until
his pallid countenanoe and dishevelled
hair disappeared down private side
street, where the coast seemed clear; and
the Inst point made in the case was made
by that irrepressible umbrella under his
arm. The phrase, "He had an umbrella