lesson from our cousins German or French, who have invented distinct
names for the weapon used to ward off the rays of the sun, and that
employed against rain, namely,--Regenschirm, _parapluie;_
Sonnenschirm, _parasol._ These are better than our names, even
though both the French words labour under the disadvantage of being
hybrids, half Greek and half Latin.

Such, then, is the ancient history of the Umbrella, as far as our
research has enabled us to trace it, and, indeed, we are now not a
little surprised at the result of those labours which have enabled us
to discover so much.




CHAPTER III.

THE UMBRELLA IN ENGLAND.


As a canopy of state, Umbrellas were generally used in the south of
Europe; they are found in the ceremonies of the Byzantine Church;
they were borne over the Host in procession, and formed part of the
Pontifical regalia.

A mediæval gem represents a bishop, attended by a cross-bearer, and
a servant who carries behind him an Umbrella.

In the Basilican churches of Rome is suspended a large Umbrella, and
the cardinal who took his title from the church has the privilege of