The British way with umbrellas

One of the more prominent features of this sodden British summer has been the umbrella, unfurled incessantly against the inclemency, and, moreover, starring in the opening ceremonies of both the Olympics and Paralympics. The latter is a reminder that the umbrella is unequalled in instantly conjuring the British character in nearly all of its aspects, including the comic, the cautious and the class-conscious. Its adoption and popularity here is at once surprising and not. Obviously, and particularly recently, it does rain quite a lot; but why a country which has prided itself on no-nonsense practicality should take to such a fussy piece of equipment rather than rely on hat and cape is not immediately clear. Jonas Hanway, the umbrella's populariser in Britain, did not have an entirely easy ride with his novel contraption, having to endure the contemptuous gestures of his shocked compatriots as he strolled about London. It evidently cut no ice that he had come across the umbrella among rebellious and quite violent tribesmen in Persia. After all, it's difficult to imagine those brave British forbears at, say, Agincourt carrying them (the longbow men in particular would have got in quite a tangle). Against that, though, is the example of Major Allison Digby Tatham-Warter at Arnhem, who carried one throughout the engagement because, as he explained, he could never remember passwords and the umbrella would make it perfectly clear he was British. The key here, I think, is that much proclaimed but elusive native quality, eccentricity. Nevertheless, the Major disabled an enemy armoured car on at least one occasion by poking his umbrella through a slit and blinding the driver. And, of course, there's class. Not a working man's implement, exactly. Even here, though, and as usual, you have to be careful with the nuances. A friend of mine (employing an umbrella, as it happens) once encountered a grand acquaintance dressed in tweed hurrying to his London home through torrential rain, and rather wet. Why, asked my friend, pointing to his own, no umbrella? The man looked shocked. What, with country clothes?! I, however, shall continue to use, and fairly often lose, one, fortified by a fine remark from Major Tatham-Warter when a comrade counselled caution against a concerted mortar attack: Don't worry, I've got an umbrella.

Charles Nevin Excerpt from a piece posted by the author on 31 August 2012 on the Editors Blog, moreintelligentlife.com Link: http://moreintelligentlife.com/blog/charles-nevin/british-way-with-umbrellas