The Washington herald., 1911-09-03
The Umbrella
coPYRIGHr BY JAMES ELVERspE

~
~ most exalted position, and, like a
uniform. decoration or a crown, de-
noted the rank Of the parsonage over whom
IL was held. The very earliest of history's
records do not go back to period when the
umbrella was unknown
In Eastern countries, from, the earliest
tunes, the umbrella was one OF the insignia
OF royalty, and on the sculptures of Egypt
ana Nlneveh there are representations of
kings gong IN procession with umbrellas over
their heads
To thus day, in most Eastern cIimes, the
umbrella has Significance which has never
been gwen to 1t here. Upon state occasions,
natives OF importance Of India, China, japan
or Persia would never think of appearing
without tins emblem of dignity
As the Prince OF Wales the late King Ed
ward visited India a number OF years ago,
ana the handsomest umbrella that could be
devised was manufactured for his use If he
llad gone out without that umbrella over his
head, the natives could not have been brought
to believe that he was the son of the I'm
press of India.
Even among savage peoples, chiefs are dis
tlngllshed by tins symbol In the Soudan
the tents OF the head men are always topped
6y an open umbrella of gorgeous hues In
1871 the English made war upon and con-
quered Ashanteeland and one of the tro-
phies of their prowess was King Coffee's um-
brelh, which s now exhibited under a glass
case in Il London museum
In ancient Greece and Rome the umbrella
was extensively used, but chiefly by women.
the carrying of it by men being regarded az
a sign OF ehemlnhcy. 1t does not seem ever
to have gone out of use in italy but it was
not seen in England until the beginning OF the
seventeenth century In the reign of Queen
Anne It had become common in London as a
sunshadC and a screen from the rain but only
Tor the weaker sex. The dandies of that time
wore the "lOudest' costumes, made of the
most expensive silks, satIns and vclvets.
'l1l ,l,..V l,,.,I
was limited by act Of Parliament and the
supply ui sedan chairs was not equal to the
demand. SO when a shower came up there
was rush Of young tops and exquisitcs for
the shelter Ot the OverhangIng stories of the
wooden houses which lined Londons narrow
streets.
The man Of fashion might encase his deli.
cate hands in Il muf, if the weather was cold,
but he must not carry an umbrella no mat
ter how heavily it rained
Gay and swift make reference in their DO
ems to the Queen Anne umbrella and, judg-
ing from what they say OF it, and from old
pictures, II must have been terribly clumsy
affair. II was made Of OilClOth il had heavy
whalebonr ribs, and it doubtless outweighed
a score OF the deliCatcly built and fairy-look.
ing coverings carried by the bellies Of today.
Jonas tianway, an English traveller and
philanthropist, will go down in history as the
first EnglIshman to carry umbrella in his
native country. In the year 1850 he returned
70 London from journey to Persia, and
brought with him an umbrella. which he had
the courage to carry on the streets. He was
made the butt of much ridIcule but he bore )
his umbrella triumphantly until the year of /
his death 1856.
His example was followed by other men. S
but the umbrella had to tight its way The +
hackney Coachmen and sedan ChaITmen, fear
ing that their occupation, like Othellos, c
would soon he gone, assailed those carrying o
i with cries Of derision, and ragged urrhins b
pelted it with mud and stones Even the B
,aricaturlst, not more than a century ago, o
brew sketches, in which it was held up TO
idiculc.
The fact is that the umbrella has always n
lad great deal to contend with. From its u
irst introduction in England it was given II
nickname. In Defoe's wonderful story, Rob T.
nso Crusoc was pictured az wandering over d
lis land carrying an umbrella, and So it was a.
allied a Robinson
Then Mrs. Sarah Camp, one Of Dickens u
most humorous creations, always carried a,
luge umbrella, and so it was given the title "
4 Camp" e
Paul Pry was a worthless fellow. who had
10 business of his own and constantly Ia
Interfering in other peoples affairs. In the Is
lay Of that name, his excuse for entering III III
DOM where he was not wanted always was P'
Hope don't ntrude. Just popped in re
o look for my umbrella " u'
A great many people seem to have an idea "a "a
hat umbrella is not n piece Of personal w ="
rOperty in which the owner has any right, 81 81
nd 80, when they borrow one, it liz very apt 70 70
OF to he returned. This has afforded room ~
Dr. many Jokes on the part Of the wits
No doubt, some Of the Pilgrim Fathers, or ne ne
/ least the mothers, brought umbrellas with So
OF thought worthy Of being preserved side fe fe
Y side with armchairs and old china. te e
A sight Of one Of these "gtnghams' would ce
e interesting, Ind would serve 70 show -,
ow the umbrella has developed from the W. W.
rub TO the butterfly. ba