| No one wants to be caught outside in the rain | | | | the sun. Sometime in the 1700's it became popular |
| without an umbrella. These handy devices come in | | | | to carry wood and oilcloth models as protection |
| an array of shapes and sizes, many that will | | | | from the rain. In 1750, an Englishman named |
| conveniently tuck into a purse or glove | | | | Jonah Hanway decided to carry an umbrella |
| compartment in case of a sudden downpour. Just | | | | everywhere he went. This was unheard of. Only |
| about everyone owns an umbrella, but not many | | | | women carried umbrellas. Because of this, he |
| of us give them a second thought. What follows | | | | became the subject of much ridicule, but at least |
| is a brief tribute to an item most of us take for | | | | he was dry. Ignoring the snickers of those around |
| granted. | | | | him, Hanway carried his umbrella for 30 years. By |
| Historians are unsure of when exactly umbrellas | | | | the late 1700's however, it became more |
| came into play. Some say Egypt while others say | | | | acceptable for men to carry "hanways." |
| China. What is for sure is that they've been | | | | Because they were made of wood, umbrellas |
| around a very long time. They weren't intended | | | | were not only expensive, but they were difficult |
| to protect us from the rain, however. The ancient | | | | to operate. In 1852, Samuel Fox invented the |
| Greeks and Romans used them as shade from | | | | steel ribbed kind that we see today. Since then, |
| the sun. It was the Roman women who began to | | | | they've evolved. We now have umbrellas for the |
| oil the cloth of the umbrella to protect it from | | | | rain and sun. We use them on the beach, while |
| moisture. | | | | playing golf, and on our patios and decks. What |
| It wasn't until the 1600's that European women | | | | would we do without our umbrellas? |
| began to carry umbrellas, mostly as shade from | | | | |