Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1896 — THE USE OF OLD HATS. [ARTICLE]

THE USE OF OLD HATS.

One of the Most Important Parts of Man’s Costume Formerly the United States imported the major part of the hats used within its borders from Europe, especially from England, Germany and France, the latter and Vienna furnishing the best quality of silk hate. To-day the hat industry in the United States has assumed such enormous proportions that it not only supplies the home demand, but many thousands of American hats find their way across the ocean to foreign customers. There are factories in this country, like the Stetson company in Philadelphia, that produce in the neighborhood of 50,000 dozen a year, while the American styles are freely acknowledged to be superior to those of Europe. The quality of hats manufactured in this country is also superior to that manufactured abroad, with the exception of the silk hat, the consumption of which has of late decreased considerably. The fact seems to be that foreign hats are imported solely for a certain class of American consumers who prefer anything foreign to a domestic article. For what with the quality, style and quantity of bats produced in the United States, there seems to be no necessity for importation. The material from which the better class of hats is made is imported largely from several European countries and from South America, the latter furnishing the exceedingly fine quality of nutria fur. Russian and German hares, white and yellow carrot, and beaver in raw and carrot state, also enter largely in the manufacture. Considering the good material hats are made of, it will be interesting to note what becomes of the millions of hats that are annually, or even monthly, discarded by their owners in a condition which should allow' their continued wearing for a considerable time to come.

The discarded hats of the rich man rarely fall into other hands than those of his valet, who either uses them himself or disposes of them, together with other pieces of his master’s discarded wardrobe, to friends or dealers in second-hand clothing. As these hats are generally in very good condition, they find a ready sale without the process of renovation which other hats coming from less distinguished sources have to undergo, and they share their fate only at a second change of owners. The average professional and business man does not trouble himself about the disposal of discarded hats. They generally remain in some closet in the office or at home until an applicant for the same appears. But there are many men of this class with an economical turn of mind who do not disdain to enter into negotiations with the hat doctor. This individual makes a canvass in the down-town office buildings, where he contracts for the rejuvenation of worn headpieces, guaranteeing to return them, for a certain consideration, “as good as new.” He does not buy hats; he is only a sort of broker, as the actual work of rejuvenating a hat is done by some dyeing and repairing establishment wiiich makes a specialty of this business.

These establishments form the maeltrom toward which are drawn the discarded hats from all sources. Here the hat of the plutocrat mixes with that of the lawyer, the merchant and the dry goods clerk, undergoing the same process of cleaning or dyeing. All distinctions of rank disappear ia the dyeing vat, where nutria, hair and shoddy are on an equal footing, all soaking in the new color, which, together with a fresh binding, assures them a new lease of life. The career of a hat is a short one, its average of life after leaving the factory and up to the time it gets into the hands of the hat doctor being not more than six months. The silk hat lasts somewhat longer, and its experience is generally a little more varied than that of the derby or soft hat. When a silk hat reaches the rejuvenating stage it >3 a more pliable subject than any of its comrades.