Evening star., 1902-03-15
UMBRELLA STANDS
The Latest Models Wrought
Iron.
d 0 M EN- ADE ON ESt
HOW TO BUY AND CARE FoR
WET DAY NECESSITIES.
New Fashions in Coverings and
Wood and Metal
Handles.
1 ON EN- ADE ON ESt
Written for The Evening Star

~ is now close upon the season when the
merry spring sunshine plays its annoying
game of hide and seek with the pleasant
April showers. From April showers II il
natural transition to the subject of the
umbrella, for during the month Of sun.
shine and tears it is not safe to be parted
long from that worthy protector
For some reason umbrellas are less con.
spicuously displayed in the house than they
were when high art was a less importane
article in the furnishers creed MANY a
business man and business woman who dive
out into shower rather than wait to uu-'
earth the mfslad property might have been
saved harassng Illness If the umbrella ,
mad been conveniently placed In the hail.
Racks In which the family collection OF
mats and umbrellas once were ranged are
no longer comme II faut. Houses are small
and such numbering pieces OF furniture have +
oeen found 10 be unbearably in the way:
hence their relegation to the attic or the :
junkman's shop.
Every member Of the family who is COM !.
PEELED to go out in all kinds OF weather
should have his or her own umbrella and
this should be placed in a stand where IL !.
may be conveniently found when needed.
Each individuals right to his own should DC ,
rigidly respected, and he who loses or mis-
lays his umbrella should be prohibited from
carrying off that Of some one else. Inside
each canopy, preferably stitched to tho
roof near the stick, should be neat strip
of white or mauve silk, on which the own
ers name and address are plainly set forth,
in India ink. For rough everyday use q
good gloria cloth is the best protection from
storm, but the frame should always be OF
good quality.
Best for General Wear. f.
Though fashions differ, simple, mex
pensive handle is best for general use.
Birds and animals heads and carved flow
ers. while novel, are mere temporary fad.
Enameled or gold silver handles are
suitable for fine silk umbrellas. Gloria
cloth makes the most serviceable cover for
the reason that it does not split with long
service, while even very good silk um-
brella often proves disappointing in this
respect. When put away, umbrellas of silk
should not be rolled, the folds become
fixed in the cloth. and holes or rents are
likely to appear in the seams
Very inexpensive and very pretty umbreL.
la stands which take up little room may be
purchased in the stores. They cost almost
any price from 81 up. Stands Of bronze,
consisting Of little more than a drip pan
and frame for the support of the um-
brellas. are the cheapest. Iron, bronze and
brass are also used in their manufacture.
In Wrought Iron
The most artistic stands are OF wrought
iron worked into wonderfully pretty de-
rods and conventionaized designs of leaves
and flowers. The jet black finish OF the
wrought iron is in harmony with any in
terror decoration
Stands of terra Gotta or of china are very
artistic and some of them are costly. Sat-
suma ware and delft are expensive Dark
green backgrounds adorned with raised fig
ures In green and white and white back
grounds covered with figures i'm green and
ocher are popular in the medium priced
stonewares. Black and white effects are
striking, as also black and gray I'm .
Stoneware or china.
When rack is desired for the hall
bamboo one. very light and very narrow Is
the most convenient in the average en-
trance, which is seldom so large that room
can be spared for a cumbersome piece OF
furniture. In square reception hall the
corner nearest the stairs Is the most con-
venient position for the umbrella recep-
tace
homemade rack may he made from a
piece of sewer pipe inverted in brass or
enameled pan The surface of the pipe is
carefully measured and a piece is cut from ,
glazed wall paper made to represent tiles.
With some glue the paper is applied to the
surface Of the pipe and smoothed carefully
so that it will appear to be part Of it.
When the paper has dried it should be gone
over with shellac varnish. The object Of
this is to make the paper waterproof. -
The Trimmings. =. :.
Instead Of covering the pipe with tiled
paper (preferably blue and white) 1t may
be enameled wood green or delft blue
What are called Imari umbrella stands ara
very handsome These, with the pretty red
Tokenabi, may be purchased in the depart
ment stores at moderate price f'
There are nowadays few umbrellas which
are not made either of silk or of mixed
cloth in which silk is the principal ingre-c
dent. Cotton and gingham are seldom seen
Sr, I'D -
of the Sary Camp sort are no longer to be
found. "a
The steel rod which forms the center Of
the frame is now light and durable. and the
steel ribs are so fitted as to lie close to the
rod, without any mechanical contrivance tos
keep them in place. An umbrella whose
rods fail to lie snugly together may be ac-
curately placed In its proper class-that Of
the poor quality umbrella. Twenty-six,' i
twenty-seven and -eight-inch covers
may be had in taffeta, silk, serge. gloria
and others of the silk mixed fabrics. Only
In cotton or gfngham or the thirty ana
thirty-two-inch sizes to be had. These are
used chiefly as coverings for those out driv- (
ing, and are supplied with stout handles and
plain and mounted silver and gold horn.e
ivory. china and gun metal are used for
handles -
For Best Occasions. i
Just at present pearl and silver are united !
in the making of the more fashionable UNI !
brella handles for women. Ash or ash !
mounted with gold or silver and gold and
ebony handles are favored by men. Gun
metal trimmings are applied to the woods, "
of which almost any very hard quality IL
considered modish. Some tendency to ex-
ploit the atwood rod is evinced. but steel
is so light. yet firm, that there Is little dam
ger that 1t will be superseded. "a
In selecting umbrella examine II care
fully to see that the framework is well
fitted and firm. Take the handle in the
hand hoist and shake the frame well to
discover If it is trim and taut. Inspect the
cloth to see that it is heavy enough to keep
out rain and subject the catch to as severe
a test as possible. Fl
When putting an umbrella away be sure
that 1t Is quite dry and free from dust It
Is always best to brush the cover before
putting 1t away. Roll 1t snugly, being care.1
full to keep the folds unwrinkled Then run
the closed hand over the surface, beginning
near the point and reaching to the tips OF
the rods. Next button the strap and put
away the umbrella. -
I'd
Used to Carrying q Load. ii