The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-07
Religion and Umbrellas.

Inc umbrella is probably q remnant
OF solar worship; and it is only the de-
generacy OF later times, and especially
the leveling and democratic spirit OF
Europe, which has debased it to the
paltry uses Of keeping oneself dry.
Ihe robust people Of all times did
not want to be protected from sun or
rain. They were too hardy, and too
much inclined to do nothing unless
they could not avoid it, to care for the
elements.
Umbrellas are not, however, neces-
sarily sign Of the degeneracy of the
human race, though superficial observ.
ers might think them so. A Siamese
work, the "Thai Chang" gives us a
correct idea of their origin. "The
expression, San Kouany (the three bril-
liant things)" says tho learned author,
'deslgnates the sun, tile moon, and the
stars. These illuminate the world by
the command Of the Lord of the heay-
ems, and disseminate their benificent
rays into all parts Of the universe. TO
point the finger suddenly at them is q
very grave breach of respect, and merits
grievous punishment"
Here, then, we have the true first
notion Of the proposed use Of the um-
DreIla. Weak human nature is unable
to govern its actions as to be uniformly
mindful of the celestial powers.
In the common affairs of life men
are constantly pointing in all directions,
and might inadvertently stare rudely
at the moon, or the stars, or even nj
the sun, though there is not so much
danger of that. In order to protect
themselves against such thoughtless-
ness, and moreover to avoid the danger
OF unseemly actions, and possibly dis
respectful gestures in full view of the
COD OF Day, the umbrella was invented
consequently, when the article first
came into use, it was most generally
used i'll fine weather, when the sun was
high III the heavens, and thus was most
liable to be offended.
In rainy weather the danger was not
so serious, for the great luminary COW
ercd up his face in clouds, as with a
veil, and it was not 50 necessary to
guard against being rude to him. AS
natural consequence, whenever it
ralned, the primeval sun-shade invent
orS put down their umbrellas and were
happy.
In later days, skoptical people who
did not scruple to speak disrcspecl fully
OF the sun, let alone the stars, found the
parasol-in the chronological sense
convenient for keeping off the rain.
and, when the pious-minded were low.
erlng their umbrellas, these hcrctical
weaklings unfurled theirs to cover thar
sorry bodies. Hence the modern desc
cratiSn Of the ancient Implement of
worshila
The multiplication of the article has
Of its virtue, and ali would be inclined
to doubt if man offered to work a
miracle by the aid Of bulging, whale
ribbed umbrella. But 1t is recorded in
the old chronicles that such marvel
was once performed.
Ihere was great drought in all the
land, the fierce sun sucked up the pools,
Nthe young rice died ere it could hide
quail and all the people were dying
with thirst, Notwithstanding that every
man OF them sat under his sun-shado,
But IT was revealed to the pious gov
ernor, Tseng Kong, III a dream, that
he would meet al old man at Il certain
place, and that this holy parsonage
would save tho country. Accordingly,
next day he went forth in solemn pro-
ccsslon, with all his retinue and SOL
dicly; and outside the city walls, where
all the plain was shimmorlng in tho
heat, they found shrivclcd old gray
beard, sitting under III ancient umbrella
with hundreds Of patches on it. He
seemed quite cheerful, and did not APP
pear to mind the drou gilt and furnace
heat at all. Tseng Kong approached
him revcrcntly, and told him of his
dream, and how he heard OF the old
mans supernatural powers. There
upon the aged wanderer delivered a
long sermon, inveighing against the
laXity OF the times, and averring that
he owed all his sanctity and power of
working miracles to the fact that all
through the eighty and six years Of his
lie he had never gone into tho open
air without his sunguard. 1T was
through the sinfulness OF the people,
who mounted umbrellas to keep off the
rain, and omitted to hide their wicked
ness from the sun, that tho calamity
had fallen on the land, and tho three
brilliant things" would hardly be ap-
peased even at his intcrccssion. At
length, however, after long prayers, he
shook his umbrella, and the rain came
down, and the people were saved, and
put umbrellas to their proper use foI
MANY Vparg