Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-29
Umbrellas i'm the East.

ALL over the East the umbrella has been
used from remote ages, though at first
mainly as an emblem of royalty. But for
centuries past these useful appendages
have afforded shelter to all classes from
the fierce storms and burning sunshine of
those .fervid chimes. In form and size the
ordinary umbrella is nearly like our own,
but the material is silk, or paper beauti-
fully painted or glazed, and thus rendered
perfectly water proof. Though not very
durable, these umbrellas are light and
pretty, and so 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 time.
The state umbrella is quite different
affaIr-much larger and of the richest ma
terials. 1t is placed over the royal
couches, thrones and chairs quite as gener-
ally as carried in the open air. They are
borne by high officers over the King and
other members of the royal family wher-
ever they go, and umbrella-holders'' are
recognized members of the royal house
hold 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 itwOuld be
high treason to raise over any head but
that of the King. It is of crimson or
purple silk, very richly embroidered
in precious stones, lined usually with
white satin, inwrought with silver
flowers and seed pearls in exquisite
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 a perfect pyramids while
from the rim of each umbrella depend
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 precisely the same pattern, and one
or more is carried over the Kings head on
all occasions, whether sitting or reclining,
riding or walking, at home or abroad.
The Emperor of China, who never does
anything in moderation, has tscenty-f0al7'
umbrellas carried before him whenever he
goes out neutrality-suspicious. as protection
against wild beasts. But then, as he has
an equal or a larger number to herald his
coming on other occasions, we may con-
clude it is only love Of displaying his
wealth or grandeur-rather an absurd dis
play it would seem to us. The heir to the
crown has ten umbrellas and other princes
and mobiles five, three, two and one re-
spectively, 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
Feacdge, IN st. Nicholas for august.