The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-21
Umbrellas in the Rsst.

4 All over the East the umbrella has
been used from remote ages, though at
hrst mainly as an emblem Of royalty,
But for centuries past these useful ap.
pendages have afforded shelter to all
classes from the fierce storms and burn.
ing sunshine Of those fervid climes. In
form and size the ordinary umbrella is
; nearly like our own, but the material is
silk, or paper beautifully painted .or
glazed, and thus rendered perfectly wa
ter-proof. Though not very durable,
these umbrellas are light and pretty, and
30 very cheap about twenty cents
each that one does not mind their
wearing out occasionally. They have
been made and used in China, in just
the same style, for fifteen centuries, and
in the neighboring countries for perhaps
nearly as long a time.
The state umbrella is quite different
affair-much larger and Of the richest
materials. 1t is placed over the royal
couches, thrones and chairs quite as
| generally as carried in the open air.
They are borne by high officers over the
king and other members OF the royal
family wherever they 60, and ''umbrella
| holders" are recognized members of the
royal household both in Burmah and
| Siam. One of the numerous titles
Of His Majesty of Siam is "LOrd
Of the White Elephant and Su-
preme Owner Of the Umbrella"- that
is, OF the umbrella Of state, which it
would be high treason to raise over any
head but that OF the king. 1t is of GRIM
son or purple silk, very richly embroid-
cred In precious stones, lined usually
with white satin, inwrought with silver
clusters, and trimmed with heavy gold
fringe and costly lace. Sometimes, on
great occasions, umbrellas are carried in
tiers of two, three, and five, one above
the other, diminishing in size toward
the top, and forming perfect pyramid;
while from the rim of each umbrella de-
pend scores OF tiny gold or silver bells,
which, moved by the passing breeze,
make sweet music, that floats upon the
air like the sounds of an Eolian harp.
In Burmah the kings umbrella is white,
and that of the court red while in the
royal city, but elsewhere they carry gold
or gilded ones; and always over the
dead bodies of the nobility are placed
gold umbrellas, usually the gift of the
sovereign. Both in Burmah and Siam
there are many state umbrellas, all OF pre-
cisely the same pattern, and one or more
is carried over kings head Oh all occa-
sions, whether sitting or reclining, rid
ing or walking, at home or abroad.
The Emperor Of China, who never
does nythtng In moderation, has TWEEN.
ty-four umbrellas carried before him
whenever he goes out hunting-perhaps
as protective against wild beasts. But
then, as he has an equal or larger num-
ber to herald his coming on other occa-
sions, we may conclude it is only love
Of displaying his wealth or grandeur;
rather an absurd display it would seem
to US. The heir to the crown has ten
umbrellas, and other princes and mobiles
five, three and two, land one respectively,
according to their rank. So one may
usually read the rank Of noble he sees
approaching by the number and style Of
his umbrellas, as he discovers the rank
of mandarin, or civil officer, by the
color of his buttons Fannie Roper
Feudge, St. Nicholas for August.