The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26
UMBRELLAS In ALL Ages
Pioneers Of Comfort During Many
Centuries Gone BY.
Their Advent an Adjunct to the
Paraphernniino of FashiOn-Its Evo-
luton From Ponderouz Roof to
It's Present Genteel styIe-Once
Considered Sign of Royalty.

The umbrella, that oft-borrowed and
seldom-returned article. rarely. perhaps
appeals to its owner pro tens., in the
light OF its past history unless indeed that
light reveals itself through one or more
holes in the upper portion. or the absence
Of handle forces the fact unpleasantiy
upon the attention that that particular
implements usefulness is. in fact, confin-
cd mainly to former days. in which case il
usually again becomes the property OF its
original owner.
| But what is meant by the history Of the
umbrella is not confined TO that of any par
| ticular umbrella. but embraces the entire
genus. so to speak. 1t is not necessary to
go any farther back than the last century to
appreciate the fact that the evolution
of the umbrella is remarkable one. In
the first place, it is difficult to realize. at
| the present day, that there was required
no little exercise of courage, and contempt
of popular prejudice on the part Of the frs.
! Englishman or American who made use of
| the umbrella even on the occasion OF a
violent rainstorm. The luxury Of thus pro-
! teeting ones self against the inclemency
| of the weather. was held in England and
| the Thirteen Colonies to be the exclusive
privilege OF the female sex.
In 1862 Lieutenant Colonel (afterward
GeneraD Wolfe. the hero of Quebec. writ
ing from Paris. says: The people here
use umbrellas in hot weather to defend
them from the sun and something OF the
same kind to save them from the snow
and rain l wonder a practice so useful
t. ;utr in ENGLAND ah0rf
the time when this was written bold pi-
oneer OF the public comfort did exercise
the moral courage to use an umbrella in
the streets of London He was the cele-
brated traveller Jonas Hanway. who had
just returned from Persia, and the only
justification which was accorded him for
his action was the fact of his being in
delicate health at the time. In news
paper of that day it is mentioned that "a
parapluie defended Mr.. Hanway's face
and wig"
For a time now other than that exag-
gerated type of fop of the period termed
''Macaronies.' carried umbrellas, and
anyone so doing was sure to be hailed on
the street as "a mincing Frenchman."
One John Macdonald. footman, who en-
riched posterity with his memoirs, de-
scribes how as late as 1910, upon his ap-
pearing with a fine silk umbrella which
ed with the cry OF "Frenchman, why
don't you get ceach?''
During the whole of the eighteenth CEN
fury, however. persistent efforts must
have been made by those who had more
respect for their personal comfort than
for public opinion, to introduce the UNI
brella in defiance OF Angio-Sazon pref
udice 1t seems that in famous Lon
don eoffee-house, patrouiZsd by the wits
and Iitterateurs of the day as early as
1909 an umbrella was kept on hand by the
mistress of the establishment for the use.
in emergency. of any gentleman who cared
to employ IL.
privilege is attested by the following
newspaper notice, which appeared in the
year above mentioned:
THE young gentleman, belonging to the
Custom House, who in the fear OF rain.
borrowed the umbrella at WINS coffee
house in CornhiIl. of the mistress. is
hereby advised that to be dry from head
to loot or the like occasion. he shall be
welcome to the maids pattens.'
The umbrella of the last century was
porderous article, very different from the
slim, walking-cane affair OF the present
day. 1t had. moreover the disadvantage
OF being very difficult to open. and. when
open. was almost impossible to close.
These inconvenience were caused prin-
cipally by the use CT oiled silk. which
stuck together, especially when wet or
damp and which. in that condition. must
have had very bad effect upon the tenn
per of our fcrefathers. These old UNI
brellas had a ring at the Top, by which
thew were carried on the finger, when
turled. and by means of which they could
be hung up within doors. It is related
how IN a certain town. there were at
the beginning Of the present century but
two persons who carried umbrellas. One
belonged to the clergyman, who, upon pro-
ceeding 10 his duties hung Up his UNI
brella in the church porch. where it at
tractd tn wondering gaze of the semi
rural congregation.
That the umbrella was in use among the
most ancient nations is attested by the
sculptures and paintings OF Egypt. The
passion of colored races for the umbrella
dates from the remotest times, to judge
from the deIineatiGn on the walls of an
Egyptian temple, OF an Ethiopian princess
in her chariot through upper
Egypt to Thebes, wherein the car is fur
nished with a kind Of umbrella fixed to a
tall staff rising from the centre.
The recent discoveries at Nineveh show
that the umbrella Tor parasoD was a sign
Of royalty, being carried over the head of
the King in time of peace. and even in
war. In shape" says Layard, 1T re-
sembled very closely those now in common
use. but it is always seen open in the
sculptures 1t was edged with tasseIs. and
was usually adorned at the top by flower
II some other ornament. On the later bas-
'eliefs, long piece of linen or silk falling
rom one side like a curtain. appears to
screen the King completely from the sun.
The parasol was reserved exclusively for
he monarch. and is never represented as
'orne by any other person. On several
,as-rellefs from Persepolis the King is
represented under an umbrella which fe
male slave holds over his head
The umbrella was in common use among
he ancient Greeks and Romans and ii is
elated that. among the latter when the
wning of the circus or amphitheatre could
lot be raised. the women and more effem-
nate of the men made use of the UNI
'raculum. or umbrella Of the period.
1t is probable that the Italians have al
ways continued the use of the coHtrivance,
nd that from that country il was grad
tally introduced among other nations Of
Europe.
Brahms. the Musician.