The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-05-23
EVOLUTION oE UMBRELLAS.

finin Clonka OF All kinds and Nations and
tho Device for the Korean Swell.
Most people know enough to come
in out OF the rain" 1t is this class that
are compelled to be out in the pelting,
driving storm or hot sun that we are 60
ing to take a peep at,
AS for indoor folks, they are merely
under an umbrella of larger growth,
like the Samoan house, which is not so
much for living in as for shelter. Afri-
can houses are even more like huge UNI
brellas, often clustered together like a
lot of haystacks. Our Indian wigwams
are temporary umbrellas, ready to be
struck and carried away on short notice.
Savages are not afraid of pneumonia.
Rain and wet do not incommode them,
or at least they have a faculty of being
able to grin and bear it," so that no
one knows what they think about the
weather. When it rains all the animal
and insect world finds some place to
hide or hold on till it is over. The mar
tins and swallows, though, seem to de-
light in the aerial bath of a thunder
storm, and soar and contest with the
elements, DnclSs, frogs and small boys
also enjoy the rain.
There is dispute between the sun
and rain as to which made umbrellas
necessary 1t is difficult to decide, but
it seems probable that the first umbrel-
las were sunshades, while all rain coats
oiled and rubber coats, are to the credit
of the storm. In countries where very
little clothing is worn rain does not
make much difference, but the sun is a
power.
Why shouldn't the palm leaf be the
first sunshade, with it's ribs and handle
to order? 1t hints at the umbrella as
well as at the fan, Travellers among
the Amos of Japan often make tempor-
airy sunshades of gigantic dock leaves
which are sometimes six feet in diam
eter and eight feet high, large enough
for an account of Gulliver.
The umbrella has very great an
tiquity. The word itself means cit
tie shadow" showing that it was named
for its protection from the sun in this
case. Horace says: among the mill
tary standards the sun beholds an
Egyptian canopy" On coins and in
the rock carvings of the ancients the
umbrella often shows its familiar form,
but it comes down to us by its connec-
tion with royalty, and is not the barrel
ribbed gingham of the masses, nor can
we tell whether the people with umbrel-
las furnished the same amusement for
the comic players as they do nowadays.
The Anglo-SaXons used umbrellas One
would think if there is climate in the
world that would compel the invention
it is found in the fright tight little
isle"
All this goes to prove that Jonas
Hanway did not invent the umbrella.
This great traveller is said to have laid
himself under the displeasure of certain
Londoners by the effeminate use of an
umbrella to keep off the sun. This was,
perhaps, an atfectation in a country
where the sun is SO rarely seen. Jonas
Hanway, at least, saw the value of the
eastern sunshade, and soon it became
the fashion to carry this article of ap.
parel. There must be a great differ.
ence between the umbrella of the
eighteenth century and the modern
steel ribbed silk covered slender arti-
Gle which it is regarded as misfortune
to get wet.
The desideratum at present is port.
able umbrella. There is a fortune for
the man who invents really good um.
brella, which can be slowed in valise
or trunk. There is an unpatented
Korean umbrella that may fill the bill.
When it begins to rain the picturesque
and stately Korean swell reaches into
his sleeve and produces a folded oiled
paper affair, resembling fan. This is
spread and set over the hat like an eX-
tinguisher and is kept in place by two
strings held under the chin. 1t is not
very large, but anything that will cover
Korean hat will keep the rain from a
Korean
Japanese umbrellas are triumphs OF
skill and bamboo. One must not also
forget the artist who lays on the impos.
sible decorations in gaudy colors.
The Siamese emperor is not in good
form with an umbrella of less than six
or seven stories, covered with tinsel
The Chinese emperor sets the fashion
in multiple sunshades, and he would be
Il reckless Celestial who would copy the
imperial umbrella.
Rain cloal1s are of many different
kinds. The MeXicans, Japanese and
Chinese have hit upon thatched coats
made of palms, oat straw, grass OF
rushes, neatly fastened on a network
so as to turn rain. These coats are
light and will do what is expected OF
them, though a man clothed in one OF
them looks like a walking haystaclk,
and might be pursued by hungry cow.
Oiled paper rain coats are also popu-
lar, as well as rain proof; so think oui
almond-eyed Antipodians. The Mongol
of the Steppes folds large sheet of felt
around his person if he has occasion tc
venture from his blackened and smoky
moundlike tent.
The Eskimo makes a waterproof coat
out of transparent fish skins neatly
sewed together and decorated with edg
ings of feathers and fur. This coat i,
not made especially for rain, but tt
keep the Kayacker dry in his venture
some out-to-sea journeys in his Skin
boat The thick reindeer and sealslk.r
clothing made by the Eskimo wome1
turns rain for a time. When the ful
gets filled with snow the garments are
beaten with an ivory knife, used as
whisk broom.
HIS CHECK WAS GOOD.