Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-07-29
THE UMBRELLA.
EVOLUTION OF MANKIND's RAINY DAY
FRIEND
Rsvsrsncsd in Early Times-Ridiculsd IN Ia'af
Days-Umbrellss Costly Enough 70 Tempt
Religious Man TO Steal.


Religious Man 70 Steal.
C. r. Gordon Cumming IN English IRnsrdied
Ad9ar ne.
Referring to the traces of the singular
reverence bestowed on the umbrella, rs
proved from the pre- Christian sculptures
of Northern India, none are more carions
than those which suggest the retention OF
primitive tree worship in the earliest days
of pure Buddhism.
In point of fact the connection between
trees and umbrellas is not 30 far-fetched US
might at first sight appear, for the pri-
mary idea Of the umbrella is undoubtedly
derived from q shady tree umbrella,
umbra, shaded, with pendant boughs
dropping from an upright stem as in the
weeping willow; or the circular cluster oil
long ironds which crown the slender stem
of each member of the great families OF
tall land in most cases perfectly upright
palm trees, ferns and pspswas.
So closely has the primatiye model been
adhered to by the peasants of Burmah and
Bengal that their great clumsy chattas
(umbrellas) consist simply OF q framework
of bamboo, covered with leaves, or else
matched with grass. :
The usual ingenuity Of the Chinese and
Japanese was not long in devising an adj
vance on the original idss. Many csntu-
ries must have elapsed since they be-
thought them of q method Of converting
leaves or bark into stout paper. So while
they retain the idea of the tree in the
strong bamboo handle and framework of
split bamboo, they substitute a thick
waterproof paper for the primitive green
leaves.
Even in the beginning of the present
century the Mahometan rulers OF Hindo-
stan claimed a monopoly OF the use OF the
suEshade, and no one was permitted 10
carry an umbrella in tbeimpsrial presence,
Thus it is recorded, that certain Engiish
merchants having been admitted TO an au
dience with the king of Delhi, the ladies
who were Of the company were ordered to
dispense with their parasOls as being an
infringement OF the great Mo9urs prerog'
alive. So they had to protect their heads
as best they might from the SUMS burning
rays, by heapingOn heavy folds OF drapery.
The magnifcence of these Indian state
umbrellas was amazing. Some were Of
crimson velvet, richly embroidered in
gold, and the heavy golden handles, which
we're eight feet high, were incrusted with
diamonds. That of the queen Of Luck
now, which is now treasured in the South
Kensington museum, is of blue satin en-
broidered with gold and seed pearls. Some
were of cloth of gold, Others only OF gilt
paper. Some were even covered with gay
feathers, but all had Tor hsve) long hand
leg, either Of beautifully inlaid wood, Of
precious metols, or even of carved ivory.
| The state umbrella OF Indore is chapel
like a mushroom.
In the Assam department Of the Indian
and Colonial Exhibition a remarkable
double umbrella is shown, consisting OF a
yery large umbrella overshadowing a
smaller one. Both are of white silk, al
most resembling game, and each is Dor
dered with two short valanCes. The whole
structure is supported by a framework Of
bamboo. A long, perfectly straight, small
bamboo forms the handle, and this fits IN
TO a larger bamboo, in which centre the
ribs of the great upper umbrella. The
whole is crowned with a tall knob OF gold,
and has doubtless held a place Of honor in
great state ceremonials.
Reyerting to medieval days we tind that
Persia liS"-s-~ e"iiJ ievvSn'hou tile honor
asnierring power of this symbol as is funny
proven by the ancient title which has ever
been bestowed on her high diguitaries,
namely, Sltrap, or Chstrapa, which like
tbs titles of the Burmese kings and the
Mabratta chiefs simply means Lord OF
the Umbrella"
Indeed it was from Persia that the idea
of carrying a canopy of some rich stnff
above any object to be reverenced seems
first TO have reached Europe; the Balda-
chini of ecclesiastical art having derived
their name from Baldach, the ancient Per.
sian name of the city of Bagdad. The
baldachini, which is simply a richly en-
broidered canopy, supported by four poles,
carried by four bearers, is now familiar to
Us only in the gorgeous professions of the
Greek or Roman Catholic churches, where
il is borne above the consecrated host, or
sacred images.
Bat in the middle ages it figured in all
solemn processions-cOronations, mar
riages, funerals, triumphsl progresses Of
great m%en-just as we may still see in
Eastern lands, where the chief mobiles of the
kingdom are those selected for the hon
or of supporting the splendid canopy
which o~vershadows the royal litter, or the
funeral car wherein is laid the honOred
dead.
Another ecclesiastical symbol of honor
which / believe to be simply a convention
allied form of the umbrella is the ~auriole,
which is 30 invariably represented as en-
~ciIcling the heads of Buddha and his dis
ciples, and very frequently Of other del
ties. These have either the chatta over
head, the anriole behind the head, or a
canopy, which, rising from behind the
shoulders, overhsngs the head, and it
seems probable that the three forms are
but variations Of the q
If you look at the Japanese parasol
which is so often selected by photograph
ers as an attractive background for a pref
ty girls head, you will see how easily the
idea of the auriole may suggest itself.
From tropical lands, where the fierce
rays of the sun lend much special import
ance to the protecting canopy, let us turn
TO Europe and see what has been the his
tory of this simple little safeguard, which
the poorest cottager now deems an essen
tial, not indeed rs a sunshade, but as q
rain guard. Little does he dream that
less than two centuries ago it was O lux
ury almost unknown in Britain, hut still
less does he knew of its exalted honor in
the remote ages, and in 30 many lands.
To glance first at its position in classical
lands. The Greeks and Romans seem to
have been the first to admit such a refine
ment of luxury M to allow great mobiles
and ladies of high degree the privilege of
its use. The movable sunshade, made to
open and shut, is shown on divers old
Greek and also on Etruscan vases, some
times in the hands of lightly -draped ladies,
sometimes of laurel-crowned mortals,