TRAVELING IN STYLE : SIDE TRIPS : Dry Wit

Newspapers held aloft against the rain are mere desperation; those small fold-out umbrellas work well enough until a slight breeze blows them inside out. For serious rain protection, look to the British, who have spent eons living and moving around under falling water. The J. Peterman Co. of Lexington, Ky., offers, in its mail-order catalogue, what it modestly calls the Best Umbrella, made in England by Swaine Adeney Brigg and Sons Ltd.--in business since 1750. The brolly is 36 inches from end to tip, with a 42-inch diameter when open. The fabric is black nylon, the shaft maple. Handles, steam-bent from a single piece, can be maple, malacca, chestnut or an Asian wood called whangee. Prices range from $195 to $320, depending on handle. J. Peterman, (800) 231- 7341.