Penned in the 1881 ‘Sunday Reading for Young and Old.’

‘Who Invented Umbrellas?

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Nearly a hundred years have gone by since Jonas Hanway, the first man who is said to have dared to carry an umbrella, died, about the year 1780.

   He was a remarkable traveller, and, like every one who has the courage to introduce novelty or improvement, was exposed to the insults of the ignorant. After sheltering himself under his invention for nearly thirty years, he had the satisfaction before his death of seeing the much abused umbrellas come into general use.’