Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1887 — Hats in Old Times. [ARTICLE]

Hats in Old Times.

Tlie Hatters have a tradition that the art of felting originated with St. Clement, the fourth bishop of Borne. Under this impression, in Catholic countries, they adopt him as their patron saint, and hold an annual festival in his honor. The principle of- felting is said to have been suggested to him, by the following circumstances: while fleeing from -his persecutors, bis feet became blistered, and to obtain relief, he placed wool between them and liis sandals. On continuing his journey, the wool, by the perspiration motion and pressure of the feet, • assumed a compact form. Notwithstanding this tradition, it appears that felt hats were invented at Paris, by a Swiss, about the commencement of the fifteenth century; but they were not generally known, until Charles the Seventh made his triumphal entry into Boueu, in the year 149*2; when he astonished the people, by wearing a hat, lined with red silk, and surmounted with a plume of feathers. , When some of the clergy first adopted this article of dress, it was considered an unwarrantable indulgence; councils were held, -and regulations published, forbidding any priest, or monk, to appear abroad, wearing a hat; and enjoining them to k§ep to the use of chapercjns, or hoods, made of black jaß>th, with decent coronets; if they were poor, they were at least to have cornets fastened to their hats, upon penalty of suspension and excommunication. At length, however, permitted the cardinals to wear hats ; but enjoined them to wear those of a reel-color, at public ceremonials, in token that they were ready to spill their blood for their religion. In England, considerable opposition was made to the use df* the hat. By a statue, enacted in the thirteenth year of the reign of Elizabeth, every person between certain ages was obliged, on Sundays and holidays, to wear a woolen cap, under penalty of -three shillings and four-pence for every day’s neglect. The manufacture of—hats was commenced, in England, in the time of Henry the Eighth, by Dutchmen and Spaniards. “Arthur, this is a momentous ques tion. You ask me to give my life into your keeping. ” ; “Aurelia, I will answer you frankly. Speaking for a tailor or a hotel mpi, I would say ‘no,’ but as a maiden I think you can-venture.”— Philadelphia Call,