Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-06-28
Curious Umbrellas.


That he had to iyc, and he iad to die.
Curious Umbrellas.
Though they did not invent the UNI
brella, tic English have done much I
develop and bring it to perfection. Be
tween October, 1876, and July. 1871, n
less than 292 Improvements on the ordl
nary walking stick were patented in thi
country; and though some few of thes
patents refer to undraped batOns, som
go of them are for portable conoplcs
A considerable proportion of these opel
letters were granted for improvements il
one or another Of the subordinate part
of the sun shade-such as ribs, strctcher!
tips, handles, ferruies, notches, springs
but the majority exhibit specifications
that affect the general design or CHIEF
materials for the articles. Indeed, an en-
tire volume might be written about all the
various projects for perfect umbrella
The rhabdoskidopheros is an umbrella
with the drapery folded into a hollow
stick, from which the canopy shoots forth
an6 expands itself in a trice on the touch
of spring. The MacGregor umbrella
may be used with equal effect against the
rain, or ones natural enemies, az 1t is
fitted with a spear, and may he used as a
bayonet. Just 80 years since al umbrella
was invented for people with chilly hands,
which had curious little heating apparl.
tus set in its handle. Draped canes have
been fitted with sun-dials, compasses and
watches. The lady's parasol riding-whip
is familiar to everyone; but it is not
everyone who has seen neeJlc-gun cane,
afishing. rod and pipe stalk fitted with o
canopy for the protection of tho sports.
man or smoker. What would dear old
lsaak Walton have thought of fishing
rod fitted with an umbrella? The special
feature of another umbrella is a long, fall
ing curtain. that, on the expansion of the
parapluie. hangs from the tips of the ribs
and the edge of the covering to the
ground. When he Is in motion, the bear
er of this umbrella he's the appearance of
an unusually tall and animated pillar post :;
and in order that he may see his way, the
falling curtain is provided with q little
glass window, bow or otherwise, through
which he can gaze on the astonished
world. 10 another inventor we are in
debted for an umbrella whose hollow
s'aT is furnioho1 with pistol, come
charges of ball aud powder, a screw tele.
scope, pen and ink, paper. pencil, and al
small knife. In the automaton umbrella
the stretchers are put so high that the
canopy can tie brought down close overl
the bearers head. The club umbrella, in.
vented only few years since, was pec,,.
liar in having handle that could be IN.
screwed. so that on removing the handle
and putting it into his pocket, the owner
might leave the canopy in the hall with
an agreeable confidence that lie would STE
it again on leaving his club IS no one
would care to '.boIrow' a handleless
umbrella. But this ingenious contrivance
failed to find favor in Pail Mall, because
1t was felt to be an unclubable act for al
man to enter his club with an umbrella
that implied distrust of the honesty of
the members of this joint-stock home.
1t is almost needless to say that the per-
feet umbrella If the future will combine
all the features of ali the previous UNI
brellas-tha. il will be !is!iinr-rnd
fowling piece, driving whip, swolk stics /
bayopet tobacco pIpe, wli:iGC desk. and
pillar post tent, aud have Its handle tittea,
with firepl@ ce, = repea;ing watci, aud q
compass, aiid vii! weigh only 8 ounresl
avolrdupois, the weight of the most
delicately-constructed Paris umbrella.
Fashions Under Louis XVI,
With the advent of the thirteenth
Louis, France first assumed the sceptrel
OF the empire of fashion, which she has
ever since retained. For the first time
after.the lapse of several centuries, ladies
wore dresses which did not spoil their
figures. The lsdi.s of the old school still.
retained masks, but the younger ones
merely wore wells of black Grape, which
served ss relief to the whiteness of theirl
skin, Young and old alike made a plen-
tiful use of perfumes, powders, rouge,
and patches cut TO initiate stars, flowt rs :,
and animals. There was but little change
In the general character of the fashionsI,
under LOUIS XIV. The ladies continued
to wear such low dresses that one of the
priests in Paris wrote book dcnouncingli
the practice, being followed by Able
Bolleau, brother of the poet, who
published book on the ABUSES of Nu-,
dity."
In the sixteenth century the publicI
baths, which had been opened fifty yearsl
before, gave rise to such scandals that the
police had been compelled to close them
and the only baths that then existed were
those in the hotels of wealthy persons and
the rive, ''Oths used in the summer. The
result WAS At the use of baths had gone!
entirely OUT fashion,. Water was re-
placed by perfumes, and even the great
ladies of the court went . week without
washing their hands. The King, who
had himself felt the inconvenience. arising
from The absence OF baths, had measures
taken to reopen them, with q due regard
to prOpriety. and all Paris washed and
Wa clean. Up to this time ladies had
always had their hs,r dressed by their
own maids. but thenceforward they EN-
ployed the professional BARRIERS who man.
aged the public baths. The wig makers
had sheir share in this success; and the
mania for false hair was so great that q
learned theol0gian. one Jean Baptiste