Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1894 — SUN AND RAIN SHADES. [ARTICLE]

SUN AND RAIN SHADES.

Aa English Philanthropist ta« Krrt Maa to Habitually Carry an Umbrella. About 140 or 150 years ago a bloodless revolution was brought about io London by a single man, says the New York Evening Post. He was Jonas Hanway, a well-known philanthropist and founder of the Magdalen Hospital, who first had the courage habitually to carry and use an umbrella in public. Up to this time the umbrella bad been considered as essentially an article of feminine equipment and luxury, and the Innovation was naturally for a long time a subject of derision in general, but, most especially, from the hackney coachmen and chairmen of the day, who considered the use of them an invasion of their vested rights. Macdonald, a literary footman of that time, who wrote an autobiography, informed his readers that he had “a fine silk umbrella brought from Spain, but could notfwith any comfort to himself use it, the people balling out: ‘Frenchman, why don’t you get a coach?’ ” So remarkable was the appearance of an umbrella in those days that the “debut” of one in many other English towns was quite a news item, like the monster gooseberry or sea serpent in later days. So we read of a red Leghorn umbrella appearing in Bristol about 1780 and creating quite a sensation. In Edinburgh a Dr. Spens was said to have been the first to carry one in public. Horace Walpole tells also how a Dr. Shebbeare, who was prosecuted for seditious writings in 1758, “stood in the pillory, having a footman holding an umbrella to keep off the rain.” For permitting this indulgence to a malefactor, the undersheriff was pun. ished. Of the antiquity of the umbrella or parasol there can be no doubt; but the origin of it is wrapped in considerable obscurity. Investigators of umbrella lore have supposed that large leaves, tied to the extrem. ity of a bough, suggested the first idea; others assert that it was probably derived from a tent; the tradition existing in China is that the Han, which signifies a shade for sun or rain, originated in standards and banners waving in the air. The humble mushroom can also modestly claim some share of the idea, and this claim to the original patents is acknowledged by the Parisians, who call their shelters, erected for equestrians in the Bois de Boulogne, “Champignons."

Bob Ingersoll's Charity. Col. Ingersoll has the kindest of hearts towards all mankind. Only a few days ago a newspaper man told me a characteristic story about him. This newspaper man found himself in New York out at elbow, unable to get work, and unwilling, of course, to ask for alms. In his straits it occurred to him to go and see Col. Ingersoll, although he was quite sure that the Colonel would not remember the single occasion when they had met. “Well, what can I do for you, young man?” said the Colonel, coming right to the point “I am a newspaper reporter and want you to give me an interview. ” “On what subject?” “Any subject you please, sir." “For what paper?” “For any paper that will buy it of me.” “Well, that’s cool ! Don’t you know my time is valuable?” “Yes; but I am in a tight place, I am out of work; I don’t know what way to turn. There is always a market for what you say. Talk to me twenty minutes and it will be $25 or SSO in my pocket” “But I would rather give or lend you the money. ” “I couldn’t take it as a gift, and I nave no right to ask a loan. I want to earn it and I think I am justified in asking charity to the extent of a few minutes of your time.” “All right,” was the cherry rejoinder. “Fire away with your questions. ” The reporter “fired away” on the first topics that came into his mind, and soon had material which he made into copy salable to a syndicate for SIOO. Nor was Ingersoll’s good nature exausted with a single interview. Said my friend: “I ate, drank, and slept on Ingersoll for a month, or until I got regular work, and whenever he gave me an interview he went over my notes and touched tnem up until the matter was in his I est style. That’s the sort of man Bob Ingersoll is.” —Chicago Inter Ocean.

Untimely Candor. A bleak, cold sensation recently crept between a charming hostess of Indianapolis and her favorite cook. The latter, a thorough Celt, it is said, brought the trouble on herself by indulging in one of her characteristically candid and honest speeches, which for a long time have inspired feelings of terror in the family of her employer. The inmates of the household felt that it was only a question of time when Biddy would plunge them all into an avalanche of disgrace, and last week the anticipated moment arrived. Mrs. B. gave a swell dinner to some of her friends. The service was perfect. The hostess had ordered the cuisine prepared especially for the palates of doctors, lawyers, and some literary persons, who were her guests. The dinner moved along very well up to the point where the figger-bowls should have been brought in. Here an embarrassing silence ensued. Mrs. 8., ajarmed over the derelict conduct of Biddy in neglecting this Important detail, touched the bell that brought the ccok from the kitchen. “Biddy,” interrogated the hostess, “you have neglected the finger-bowls; bring them at once.” The broad face of the domestic lapsed Into a picture of blank despair, ks she whispered, in a voice distinctly audible: “Shure, mom, an’ Oi’ve not had to wash thim after moldin’ the’ .‘.illy in thim." The amusement of the guests was as acute as was the horror of Mrs. B. Notice has been given to the candid Biddy. J ■ ■ , , ' Niw Yoke City has sixteen million dollars invested in school sites and buildings. This is considerably more than the annual expenditure on education'of Italy and Spain combined.