When one looks at these Mitchell & Kenyon actualities from the Midlands at the beginning of the 20th Century, one is struck by the fact that everyone wears a hat or at least a cap. No one goes bare-headed. However, when you look at this this short, the first thing that strikes you is that these peoples' boat must have sunk while they were rowing, because they all wear tall silk hats.
However, when they reach the midpoint and begin to swim back carrying umbrellas, you realize it's all a gag. It's arresting, though, even though it's all clowning in good fun, to realize that the past is, indeed a different country. They do things differently there.