Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-19

The umbrella. rs n sun-shade. boast
an antiquity greater by many centuries
than that OF the Christian religion. II
seems 10 have had its origin in the ne
cessitics of the tropical countries of the
East. aud was for many wears used on
by the rulers and those in high estate.
The original forms seems 10 have been
somewhat similar tn that with which
all are familiar, though in some countries
n sun shade was also constructed in the
form Of a banner In whatever form IL
was constructed. however. it was always
cumbersome, and required. not only for
digni,y's sake. but for physical reasons
n well. an attendant to carry it. In
Grcoce and Rome the umbrella or Inn
brn~'auUi. as IT was called. was used rs
sun-shadc by the wealthy. and was
also still retained ~ a distinctive mark
of royalty. Ladies had their maids
carry these paraSois over them during
the day; even ofrcminate men used the
same protection from the strong rays of
the sun. The form of the parasol ap-
pears 10 have been very much like that
which we use. hut the covering was
made Of skin or leather. and could be
closed and opened at will An English
writer. as late as lG0r. describes the ftal-
m fans. and concludes with the infor-
nation that "many Of them do carry
other fine things of a far greater price.
that will cost at least a duCat (about
S1.37), which they commonly call i'm the
Italian tongue umbTcliOcS. that is. things
that minister shadow unto them for
shelter against the scorching heat Of the
sun. These are made of leather. some
thing answcrablc to the form of a little
canopy, and hoopcd in the inside with
divers little wooden hoops that extend
the umbrella in pretty large compass.
They are used especially by horscmcn.
who carry them in their hands when
they ride. fastening the end of the handle
against one of their thighs; and they
impart so long shadow unto them.
that IL kcepcth the heat of tho sun from
the upper part of their bodies" The
umbrella 1ourishcd in other southern
countries at the same time, and was not
unheard of in England. though IL had
not been adopted into general use. and
was not even familiar 10 the masses of
the people. Mention is made Of 1t. how
ever, as early rs 1916. and before the
close of the seventeenth century the
paTasol had become considerably used.
its introduction into England and France
apparently having come from China,
H1 Aitf listl M8AN thffltNltt tliAlliW AD
that used In China and Japan.
The use ofumbrclas rs defcnccs against
the rain did not become general until
late in the eighteenth century, though 1t
had been used to some extent. eNclu-
sively by ladies. for many years previous.
II was too cffcminate thing for men,
and when Mr.. Jonas Hanway. in the
streets of London. first had the boldness
to carry an umbrella. he was subjected
TO no little ridicule. and il was some
years later before any men, except the
weak and sickly. had the temcrity 10
use essentially feminine covering as
protection against rain. 1t is recorded
that the first umbrella seen In Glasgow
was brought there in 1871 from Paris.
and was regarded with much curiosity.
The first English umbrellas were made
Of oiled silk. and when wet were very
difficult to open or close. The sticks and
ribs. too, were very large and heavy.
and altogether the umbrella was a de-
cidely clumsy affair rs compared with
the latest improved frame. with lts al
paca or silk covering of to-day. The
umbrella of two hundred years ago. with
n thirty-one-inch rib. weighed three and
n half pounds; one Of the same size
now weighs not over six or eight
ounces.