Evening star., 1896-07-02
NOBODY WOULD BORROW 1T.
The Unique Experience of the First
Man to Carry an Umbrella In London.

From Chattrrbox.
We have it on good authority that Jonas
Hanway the eccentric philanshropist. was
the first person who walked about the
streets of London with an umbrella over his
head. He was a man who jid not want
courage as We know from ether deeds
which he did of q more dangerous sort.
Being a Quaker, he was not afraid Of
sneers or jeering remarks. which Quakers
have always had to encounter. Very likely
he was both insulted and pelted when he
appeared with his umbrella in some streets.
for the Constabes of the reign of George
III did not keep order SO well as our mod
ern policemen do. Probably good Mr.. Han
ways original umbrella was even larger
than those to which. in allusion to one of
Dickens tales, the popular name OF
camps is often given by way OF joke
The Georgian umbrellas are described to Us
as being made of green oiled canvas. with
cane ribs which would not bear a strong
gust of wind. Cowper. the poet, in his
Task" mentions the umbrella as an ar
ticle which people used to protect them
from the sun, because 1t was the fashion
then to cut down many of the fine old trees
of parks and groves. so that perhaps this
was Hanway's first idea about it. that it
made good sunShade.
Evidently the umbrella came to us from
the east, where 1t is employed for that pur-
pose, but the French had IL before us. This
was one thing which made people dislike it,
for French fashions were thought silly
Macdonald, writing in a. d. ITS says that
the London idlers and the hackney coach
men shouted after him when he carried an
umbrella. and called him 'mincing
Frenchman." His sister was out walking
with him, and she was much inSulted
that he had to take refuge IN shop. But
[ must say something about Jonas Han
way, for he is worthy to be remembered
He was born at Portsmouth IN A. d.
4
deal. and published a book giving an ac-
count of his travels in Persia. With some
other gentleman he founded the Marine So
ciety in 1I.,6. which was intended to benefit
beggar boys and orphans, by giving them
an outfit and starting them sailors upon
trading ships. He was himself Russian
merchant. Then he was one Of the early
friends of Sunday schools. though the
schools which he helped to start were DIFF
ferent TO those we have now: they were the
means of tanning children VINO were like
young savages. They heard the truths of
the Bible and were taught to read 1t was
not till this century that machine for
sweeping chimneys was invented and the
custom Of employing boys as climbing
sweepers gradually ceased, but before that
Jonas Hanway did what he could to pro-
tect these poor little fellows. They had
often to go up chimneys on bitter cold
mornings: sometimes they stuck fast and
died. often they got bad bruises and sores
from this dangerous work Some OF the
tlmld ones, 100, were always a1rald Oh
meeting boSeS in the chimneys. Even at
the age of six seven children were so
employed, bee ause, when small. they could
climb up narrow chimneys better, and little
girls were actually sent up sometimes.
Mr.. Hanway obliged the masters to feed
these young sweeps properly. to have them
washed after their work. and to give them
beds. not dirty sacks, to sleep upon; also
he got their hours shortened.
When he was in London. Hanway lived
during many years in a house in Red Lion
Square. Holborn, and he had all the recep-
tion rooms there decorated with beautiful
paintings and devices. The reason he gave
for this was a good one; he said that often
visitors did not know what 70 talk about.
and these wall scenes gave them a subject.