Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-11
Umbrellas in Religion.

The umbrella is properly remnant of l solar worahip, and it is only the degsneracy of later times, and especially the leveling and democratic spirit of Europe, which has de- based it to the paltry uses of keeping one's self dry, and, with 8 few ancient persons, not on that account to be accused of sum- worship or Sabaistic heresies, of warding off the fierce rays of the sun. The robust peo- pie of old 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 clements
 If there was very heavy tropical shower. they simply got under shelter. If the sun was too hot for work. they were glad of the excuse for being lazy. In any case, their occupations were such as precluded the use of the umbrella as mere effeminate means of protection. Even nowadays the agricul turist dses not hoist an umbrella when he blows his fields or hoes his turnips and the nautical man, unless he be the captain of Thames penny steamboat, does not fear rheumatism so much as to unfurl gingham The primitive fisherman rather liked being wet than otherwise when he hauled in his nets. The rice cultivator absolutely revels in slush. Umbrellas are not, therefore, necessarily sign of the degeneracy of the human race, though superficial observers might think them so. The Siamese work the stThai Chang" gives us the correct no tion of their proper origin. "The expression San Kouang," (the three brilliant things ) says the learned author, 'tdesfgnates the sum-
 the moon, and the stars. These illuminate the world by the command of the Lord of the heavens and disseminate their benefcent rays into all parts of the universe. To point the finger suddenly at them is grave breach of respect and merits grievous punishment. !" Here, then, we have the true first notion of the purpose of the umbrella. Weak human nature is unable SO to govern it's actions as to be uniformly mindful of the celestial powers. In the common affairs of life men are con- stantly pointing in all directions, and might inadvertently stare rudely at the moon, or the stars, or even 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 disrespectful gestures in full view of the God of Day, the umbrella was invented Consequently, when the article first came into use, it was most generally used in fine weather, when the sun was high in the heavens, and thus was most liable to be offended. In rainy weather the danger was not so serious, for the great lum- mary covered up his face in clouds as with veil, and it was not so necessary to guard against being rude to him. As natural con- sequence, whenever it rained the prlmeval sun-shade inventors put down their umbrellas and were happy. In later days, skeptical people who did not scruple to speak disre- spectfully of the sun, let alone the stars, found the psrasol-in the etymological sense convenient for keeping of the rain; and, when the pious-minded were lowering their umbrellas these heretical weddings unfurled theirs to shelter their sorry bodies. Hence the modern dissertation of the ancient impIe- ment of worship.
 The umbrella having distinguished origin, it is not to be wondered at that in the East it is one of the chief royal insignia. and is guarded from being put to too common uses by severe sumptuary laws. In Africa it is not at all uncommon to find tribe in pos session of one umbrella only. and that um- brella the distinguishing mark of the King his entire resalia, in fact. But in India, and. especially in Indo-C China, where Sabaism is not yet altogether dead, the umbrella is 8 very important state appurtenance, and the King of Burmah, as every one knows, is not only Lord of the White Umbrella, but of all the umbrella bearing chiefs There is a very formidable etiquette of umbrellas. None but the King and the white elephant may have white ones The King has eight of them, duly carried round about him, all at once, seven feet or more across, and elevated on 12-foot poles. Englishmen who have un. wariIy expanded shades with white covers have expiated the heinousness of their offense by penance in the stocks, with nothing to shel- ter them from the averaging rays of the sun,