LORE OF THE UMBRELLA

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12391, 10 March 1926, Page 5

LORE OF THE UMBRELLA

SYMBOL OF SOCIAL STATION. While European newspapers *&re celebrating the history of the use of the umbrella in France, England, and Germany, it is possible to recall that the umbrella was an “elegant machine” in China and an important symbol of its social standards long ceuturies before it was ever heard of or introduced in Europe. Its practical uses in eastern countries, say 3 a writer in “Christian Science Monitor," were impartially distributed between protection from the sun and rain, but its aesthetic and cultural values were perhaps even more important than its practical value. The antiquity of the umbrella as a symbol of eoctni station among Hindus is well known The umbrella appears frequently in the Ninevite sculptures. In Egypt it has been a traditional accompaniment, designed in varying shapes, which probably had their origin in the “flabellum” or fan of palm leaves or colour?*! feathers mounted on a long handle. It is true that not until 1750 did one. Jonas Hanway, an English traveller »Titl philanthropist, . startle London on a rainy October day by walking out with an umbrella he had brought from China hoisted spectacularly over his head. But the history of the umbrella is very old indeed. CARVED AT PERSOPOLIS, In Persia the umbrella is repeatedly found in the carved works of Persopolis. A traveller has recounted his mixed emotions upon seeing a doughtly notional guardsman at Carlsruhe marching 10 the exercising ground with an umbrella hoisted haughtily over his head, while a maidservant paddled along umbrellaless in the mua behind him, bearing v lunch basket. Stevenson wrote, in his “Memoirs and Portraits," that it was wonderful to think what a turn had been given to our whole society, “because our climate is essentially wet, by the umbrella. A mere arbitrary distinction, like the walking swords of yore, might have remained the symbol of respectability, bed not raw mists pointed the inclination of society to another expression of the virtue . . A ribbon of the Legion of Honour, or a string of medals, might prove a person's courage; a professional chair his study and acquirement; hut it was the habitual carriage of the umbrella that stamped respectability, that has become the acknowledged index of social position. . “Robinson Crusoe," continues Stevenson, “has presented us with a touching instance of the hankering after umbrellas inherent ip the civilised and educated mind.

KING OF SIAM'S POSSESSIONS. “The King of Siam, besides himself having a graduated social scale of umbrellas, prevented the great bulk of hi* subjects from having any at all. \ve should be sorry to believe that this eastern legislator was a fool. The idea of an aristocracy of umbrellas is too philosophic to have originated in a uobody. The King of Siam really wanted to prevent any unworthy persons from bearing the sacred symbol of domestic virtues."

Umbrellas were formerly used at feasts of Dionysius. After the founding of Constantinople, the great habitually carried umbrellas. Glorius says the umbrella came to Rome from the Etruscans. The umbrella has always been a mark of distinction among Arabs.

The umbrella is substantially the saru«s “elegant machine" to-day as it has always been, even when the Maharajah o: Najpoor had his made of 16 streccuers and ribs covered with silk embraxoned in gold and silver embroideries. In 1773, in Paris, there was an urabiMia fitted with a lightning rod. In lbf»2 Germany produced one that had glass windows, CAN'T YOU SMILE ? Well, Take Marshall's Fospherine. Smile and the world smiles with you; kick and you kick alone. Don't let your nerves get you down—making you grumpy and out-of-sorts. When they feel this way it's time to toko Marshall’s Fospherine—vour nerves are wanting food. Marshall's Fospherine supplies them with tho food they want—phosphorous. Try n snort course; you'll be surprised nt the result.. 100 dosCB for 2s 6d. Ask for the six-sided carton. Any Chemist or storekeeper sells it.—Advt.