Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-05
The umbreiIain Dritatn.

The Umbrella in Britatn.
Gordon Cumm.ngsl
Previous TO the reign Of Queen Anne
a. ID. 1902 TO l714) the umbrella wss a
luxury practically undiscovered in these
rsiuy Isles. That it was not quite un-
known must be inferred from the fact
that IN the Harleian MSS. No. GOj) in
the British Museum, a Saxcn king Is re-
presented as having an attendant who
holds On um brella over his head. Never
theless. in the time OF James |. they were
stili regarded only ~ strange things from
far countries, which furnished the theme
for several poems. -,
Thomas COryat in his "CrudIties "
(publshed 1GlD describing suudry re-
markable things he had observed during
his travels, tells how some ltalisns carry
fans, but others carry objects OF " far
greater price, that will cost at least a
ducat q. q, about Gs.) which they
commonly call in the Indian tongue nm
breln-that il, things that minister
shadow unto them for shelter against the
scorching beat of the sun. These sre
made of leather in the form OF n littlo
canopy, aud hoopcd in the inside with
divers little hoops that extend the um-
bella IN pretty large compass. They
are used especially 10y horsemen, who
carry them in their HANDS when they
ride, fastening the end Of the handle
upon one Of their thighs, and they I'M
part 20 large o shadow unto them that 1t
keepeth the heat OF the sun from tho
upper parts Of their body"
A little later we iind amongst Absurd
classiications at picture sales " n notice
Of one at tbe Blue-Goat Coffee House,
1T Swithin's lane, of ioestraaten's III
comparable paintings. Likewise fine
parcel OF umbrellows, with other curlo;i-
ties"
Evidently the umbrella was still arare
object in Britain in j7ly, when Daniel
Defoe wrote his immortal "Roblnson
| Cmsoe," and SO graphically described
Crusoes efforts 10 make for his own use
in the sun and rain such m umbrella as
be- had seen used IN the Brazlls, aud All
the difficulties he had to master ere he
succeeded IN making one which Wouli
omen and shut. and how at last he con-
trlyed 10 make one which VAS quito ser
viceablc. and covered it with skin, tho
hair upward, SO that it cast OF the rain
/ Ike penthouse, and kept OF the sun
so eneciualy that be could walk with
comfort Ia the hottest hours OF the day.
That umbrellas were, however, Is use
even at that time, though only recog-
MED as suitable for women, Is evident
/ from the occurrence OF the word IL kcr-
scv's Dictionary, published IN 11Oo,
when he mentions " Umbrella, or UNI
/ brcllo; kind OF br5sd fan or screen
commonly used by women to shelter
/ them from rain" And IN Baiiey's DC
/ tiouarv. published about 1920. he gives
ilo word uwbrella, which lac defines as
"a little shelter which worlen bear III
their hands to shade them. " Parsol,
a sort of htle canopy, or umbrella,
which women carry to keep oil the
RAIN"
In ITO Dean Swift published his
verses on GA City shower, IN which
he describes n woman Lurrying along
with her dress tucAedup, "whlIe streams
run down the oiled umbrella sides, sug-
pestinc the umbrella OF heavy oil-cloth,
whereas kersey's definition OF "broad
fan would seem to indicate the Use OF q
psim-leat. such as IN sill commoniyused
by Clngolese peasants, and Doubtless
some OF these were imported IN those
early days of commerce.
About the same period Gay (whO died
in 1882 tells, in his "Iriyil,' how good
housewives
" nofoadod by M uiabrcllas oily shade,
safe Ur0ugh tho rain On cimklng paiten'
tread
Hence We may infer that The umbrella
was already making its way among tn,
people. But 20 essentially feminine Wal
lis use considered thdt any man whC
yentured to csrfy one vas made the sub
ject OF much 1dicule for such aiiccta
ton.
1t is recorded that Jonas Hanway, borl
in l7l2 Ohe founder Of the MsgdsleI
Hospital, noted pbilanthroplst and
traveller, was the tlrst man who had TN
courage to walk through london towI
in the rain carrying an umbrella for M
own use. Imagine the strength of min,
required to wslk down Pail Mall for th
first time thus distinguished among tn,
leerlng crowds
He had recently returned from Persia
where had acquired this luxurious habit
and was moreover in delicate health
which wae considered somewhat Of fa
excuse for this effeminate practice. A
umbrellas were already in vogue il
France the London mob pointed thel
tests by mockingly calling him 81
mincing Frenchman."
1t must have been about 4. ID. l76O
that he first yenturcd on this bold step
perseyering therein toll the day Of hi
death il 1856, by which time the fashion
no had thus set was very general,
adopted. Bot fashion travelled slow il
those days, and it was not till 1850 that
surgeon Of the namc Of Jameson ven
tured to use an umbrella in Glasgow
while Dr. Spens was the first person
who, about the same period. fOunC
courage TO use Que in Edinburgh. Henc,
it appears that the umbrellas as British
institution is a mushroom OF only on,
centurys growth.