The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-21
FRIDAY NIGHTS FLOOD.
HOW 1T DEVELOPED AN INTEREST
IN UMBRELLAS.
The Fashionable Wear In Those Indis-
pensable Articles Of Comfort-Novel-
ties in Designs That Appeal to the
Sense Of the Beautiful

Those who were privileged to traverse
the streets and impress the prints Of their
fairy feet on the sidewalks of lovely Men,
phis on Friday last from p. m. EDWARDS,
may remember that it was damp even
ing and night. Being one OF those FORUM
ate ones, and our friends having only one
umbrella each, and, with the selfshness Of
ordinary humanity, preierring to keep
that one umbrella in the family, with hope
springing ever eternal in the human
breast, or words to that effect, we having
paid for that two weeks ago umbrella, VEN
tured again into 357 Main and sweetly re-
marked: GLOW is umbrellas this even
ing?" We thought that. mayhap perhaps
the fair manager would instantaneously
recognize us and would present us with an
umbrella, as loan, merely, to be returned
without fail by the middle OF next week;
but no, ii was only the smiling recognition
of ordinary business mixed with the doubt
ful possibility OF chance customer. 'Has
your friend who wrote that article in THE
APPEAL of Sunday week called for the
promised umbrella" A dstrustful look
came into the northeast corner OF the
managers eye, as the cold reply came:
"No, sir; three individuals have
applied for that umbrella, but / am too
sharp to be humbuggcd." Oh, thought I,
and the pleasures OF hope proved to be
merely another straw that would have
broken Cam(pb)el's back. "fiow is trader"
said |. "oh, splendid" said he. Doing
positively well, comparatively better"
said |. You see, since that letter OF our
unknown friend, Kalakaua, in TIE Ap-
PEAL, our business has increased wonder
fully" said he. The rain still poured out
side, and | did wish | wasn't 30 Oldest.
Tell me about umbrellas" said /, and
like the turning loose OF the rain listened
to the rise OF the umbrella, and ieasted
my eyes on umbrellas, some OF them such
as my widest Imagination never made mo
familiar with; even in my Chateau en- Is
payne ] never walked under such gorgeous
umbrellas as some OF these. There were
umbrellas with solid onyx heads four or
five inches long; lovely onyx with solid
gold top and gold swedge with magnih-
cent silk covcrs, some OF them OF rich
Italian silk, deep, lustTous black, that
would never cut or tear; others in fancy
coloS, plain and substantial, worth merely
S25 or $50, intended for portly, well fed,
well 10 do church warden gentlemen and
mothcrly DANES with thoroughly assured
incomes Oh, but they were tempting. I'm
brellas with long solid silver heads, oxyd-
lied or bright, elegant, plain and exclusive,
not intended for the profane or ungloyed
touch, covered with the finest Of imported
silk, worth Sl2 to $50, according to style
and material; long ivory handles with
exquisitely carved figures OF animals with
bright flashing jewelled eyes, III only for
dainty hands and loving touch, covered
with silk that looked plain and dark, but
rich when folded or closed, but when
opened and looked through 10 the light
showed to the bearer, and cast on the
lovely face beneath its folds, bright shades
OF garnet, blue or soft tinted pink. 1herc :.
were quantities OF sticks and handles At
tractive for their woods, ebony and rose
wood well known 20 every artistic taste,
and always lovely; that layoric Of wears
gone past, snakewood, deep red brown,
notified with dark markings; acacia tough
aud light, Of BLUSH tint with dark mot
things and markings and many knots,
some OF the markings almost gobclin
blue, others q delicate cream, Nicrd and
fascinating wood; violet wood, light in
weight and color, but with lovely grain
OF velvet tone; Turkish cherry and pro-
ducts Of the African and Brazilian forests
were abundant; gcntlcmens umbrellas
with dogs heads or other zoulOg-
ical combinations beautifully carved
were there, but these can be gotten
wherever mannish or sporting tastes pre-
vail. Some Of these umbrella sticks with
solid silver heads four or five inches long,
eNquisitely engraved or artsticaly etched,
were worthy u place in an artists stu
do or the collection Of virtuoso. For
lover OF Aud Scotia or ~ a travellers
souvenir. were umbrella sticks OF Scotch
iir, stained or OF H. own bright color. All
these fancy woods were, of course. im-
ported. There were bamboo handles in
exquisite aud recherche styles, with heads
o vegetable ivory or other African fruits,
most beautifully carved In the shape Of
dogs Of the various fashionable breeds.
There were some covered with silk 40 light
as 10 give scarce any sensation of weight,
and Il rolled could be cncOmplssCd with
mans finger ring and yet 40 strong ~ 20
be almost everlasting, the stick being Of
small cane or bamboo, inclosing q small
steel rod, and the ribs Of the finest steel.
These are called dudes umbrellas, but
AitNF NNNlN'N Alh'NifH UlNAf IO llt the larry
fingers Of some Of Memphis lovely maid.
ems. and there are no lDyclicr or daintier
ones 90 bc found the whole world round.
There were some with patent frnmes---
delicate but unbuakahlc soliopcnins.
with q button IN the handle which. when
touched, causes the umbrella 20 gently
glide open ul its own yu'iiion; others
which open In the ordinary commonplace
style, and by touching a button in tho
handle give their bearers cacUrt a hint by
shutting mp, or, perhaps, thcylre intended
a. cover while the fascinating cousin IL
10 cXtricaic himself from he
umbrella. There were tonri.i4'
folding umbrellas that could be oniirct
within the folds Of a slichnl the stick fold.
ing in three lengths and the whole making
q package sixteen inches long aud not
over two In diameter | never imagined
there could be- so much II poetry and
beauty IN an umbrella. In TACT, the Mem.
phis umbrella factory is fascinating place,
o sort ol fairy land 10 me. / fingered,
guzrd, tuycl With the artistic wars. hut
the rain continued 90 rrign, and ! was
stlll au unrCrprniZcd genius. so | pavncd
my good looks lor "a plain Bingham, every
day, honest, fCpICUllIo article, and ~
turned b my lOuclyoo, down by the river.
side. KuAEAuA.
ItogutIou