The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-04-07
THE UMBRELLA.

Hts Peculinr Significance In Foreign Lands
,,oaeCh.nae. .hss . Century have
Wrought.
The umbrella is mentioned in books
printed in the year 500, and the inven-
ton is thought to have been first sug-
gested by large leaves tied to the
branching extremities of bough, but,
according to Chinese history, it existed
thousands of years anterior to the Mo-
sale date of the worlds creation. In
the Ninevite sculptures the umbrella or
parasol appears, and paintings on a
temple wall in Egypt represent the
figure of a god carried in procession
with an umbrella overhead, which indi-
Gates that it was used as q mark of dis
tinction. In Persia the parasol is
found il the carved works of Persepo-
lis. while in Assyria and other Eastern
countries the parasol and its use had a
peculiar and honorable significance. In
the second Tartar invasion of China the
Emperor's son was taken prisoner by
the Tartar Chief and made to carry his
umbrella. A feeling of veneration fol-
lowed this royal significance, and in
many ancient nations the umbrella is
the Hindoo mythology Vishnu is said
gions with the umbrella over his head.
In Greece it had q religious signifi-
canoe, and was considered an indispens-
able article to q lady of fashion. Its
use seems to have been confined to
women. From Greece its use passed to
Rome, but it was invariably employed
for protection from the sun, and not as
q shield from the rain. But few men
carried one, and they were considered
effeminate. From the date of the
founding of Constantinople the custom
of great people carrying an umbrella
seems to have been fashionable. The
Romans lavished as much splendor
upon their umbrellas as upon any art
icle of dress, but their use was luxury
and not mark of distinction. NJ. de
Ia Loubere, who was Envoy Extraordi-
nary from the French King to Siam in
16S7'SS, records the fact that the use
of the umbrella was granted to only a
few of the subjects Of the King. Ira
verier, in his Voyage to the East, :"
| says that on each side of the Mogul's
throne were two umbrellas, and also
describes the hall of the King of Ava
as decorated with an umbrella
The Mahratta Princes, who reigned
at Poonah and Sattara, had the title of
CHI Ch'hatrapati-" Lord of Umbrella" In
Ava it was a part of the Kings title
that he was liking of the White Ele-
phant and Lord of the Twenty-four
Umbrellas" The umbrella has been
and is now in China a mark of high
rank. though not exclusively so. its use
not being confined to Royalty. The
fact is recorded that twenty-four UNI.
brellas were carried before the Emperor
/ l~<,x h,xvn t..
| in no other Eastern country, it was
used as q protection from the rain
rather than the sun. Among the Arab:
the umbrella was mark of distinction,
in evidence of which it is stated thai
| Feebular, who travelled in South Arabia
described a procession of the Inman Of
| Sanoh, in which the Inman and each o.
| the Princes of his numerous family
caused large umbrella to be carried
by his side-a privilege which in this
| country is appropriate to Princes of the
blood. In Morocco the Emperor and
his family alone are allowed to carry ar
umbrella. In Turkey, however, its use
is common, but a vestige of the rever
ence once attached to it remains in the
custom of compelling everybody who
passes the palace where the Sultan is
residing to lower his umbrella as q
mark of respect. Umbrellas were used
in the south of Europe as q canopy OF
state, and were borne over the host in
procession, and formed a part of the
Pontifical regalia. In France and En-.
gland the general use of parasols was
adopted, probably from China, about
the middle of the seventeenth century,
and in Italy they were used prior to
this time. That umbrellas were not very
common in England in the earlier hall
of the eighteenth century is evident
from the fact that General Wolfe, writ.
ing from Paris in 1852. speaks of the
people carrying umbrellas for protec'
ton from sun and rain, and wonder:
that a similar protection does not exis,
in England. 1t was at about this period
that the umbrella seems to have come
into general use, and, with surprising
rapidity, people recognized their value
and got over their shyness natural to 8
| first introduction. Jonas Hanway, who
founded the Magdalen Hospital, distin
guished as philanthropist, as friend
| of chimney sweeps, and as strong foe
| of tea, is given the credit of being the
first man who had the courage to carry
one habitually in London, and brave
| public ridicule and reproach.
As Hanway died in 1896. and as he is
said to have carried an umbrella thirty
years, the date of its first use may bt
set down at about 1850. For many
years, however, it was an object OF de
rision, especially from the hackney
coachmen, who saw in their use an in
| vasion on the vested rights of the fra
ternity. Mr.. John Jameson brought
.he first umbrella to Glasgow from