The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-05-22
EVOLUTION OF UMBRELLAS.
Rain CIOaks of All Kinds and Nations and
the Device for the Korean Swell.

Rain CIOaks of All Kinds and Nations and
| the 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 go
ing to take 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
| 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 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, Ducks, frogs and small boys
also enjoy the rain.
There is a 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 its ribs and handle
to order? 1t hints at the umbrella as
well as at the fan. Travellers among
the Amos of Japan often make temper
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 lit
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
| S'AS AoNh Sul wings VI viz dIIClcDJS Vic
umbrella often shows it's familiar form,
but it comes down to us by its connec-
ton with royalty and is not the barrel
ribbed bingham 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 affectation 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 fortune for
the man who invents really good UNI.
brella, which can be slowed in valise
or trunk. There is an unpatente6
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 en-
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
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
reckless Celestial who would COPY the
imperial umbrella.
Rain cloaks are of many different
kinds. The MeXicans, Japanese and
Chinese have hit upon matched coats,
made of palms, oat straw, grass or
rushes, neatly fastened on a network
so as to turn rain. These coats are
light and will do what is expected of
them, though man clothed in one of
them looks like a walking haystack,
and might be pursued by hungry cow.
Oiled paper rain coats are also popu-
lar, as well as rain proof; so think our
Acknowledged Antipodians. The Mongol
of the Steppes folds large sheet of felt
around his person if he has occasion to
venture from his blackened and smoky
moundlike tent.
The Eskimo makes waterproof coat
out of transparent fish skins neatly
sewed together and decorated with edg-
ings of feathers and fur. This coat is
not made especially for rain but to
keep the Kayacker dry in his venture
some out-to-sea journeys in his skin
boat. The thick reindeer and sealsk.n
clothing made by the Eskimo women