The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-11-29
" Stovepipe" Hats.

The style in silk hats is regulated by
an Association, and it is this regulation
which insures their being uniform, or
nearly SO, throughout the country. The
fashions in tall hats are changed twice
a year, and the Association meets semi
annually for the purpose of determin-
ing what the styles shall be. At these
meetings manufacturers who belong to
the Association Tor as many as see fifty
each hand in Il model hat for the con-
sideration of those present. The various
hats handed in are considered by the
members, and any variations in the
models which strike the fancy of any
of those present are suggested and dis
cussed, and it is then determined by
vote what shall be the style of the
fashion for the season. The meeting
of the Association for the determines
ton of the fall and winter style is gen.
orally held in the latter part Of July,
and that for the determination of the
spring and summer style during the
latter part of January. The manufac-
turers who belong to the Association
are generally notified as to the styles
determined upon by the 10th of August
and February respectively, and they
thus have time to manufacture stocks
to be ready to meet the demands of the
trade. All the silk-hat manufacturers
OF the country do not belong to the Asso-
citation, and the intent is that those who
forthcoming style ten days sooner than
others, but this intent is often frustrated.
The style is very apt to be impaired
by the employees Of those who are in the
Association, and the members them
selves are apt to put their goods upon
the market as soon as possible, even
though ten days may not have elapsed
since the time of their notification. From
tho fact that all the silk hat manufac-
turers do not belong to the Association,
it might perhaps be supposed that those
manufacturers who are not members
would manufacture styles of their own,
and that there would be various fash
ions. The Association, however, al
though not embracing all the manufact-
'lrers OF the country, is yet very intlu-
entail, and hat-makers find it to their
advantage as II rule to follow their lead
rather than to affect any individuality
in the matter. 1t should not be UNDER
stood, however, that there are never
any tall hats to be had outside of the
general style. If any individual re.
taller thinks that he has sufficient trade
and influence to warrant his putting a
different style of his own upon the mar
ket, he is ut perfect liberty to do SO.
Although exceptional and in the aggre.
gate amounting to but little as COM
pared with the whole trade in silk hats,
many retailers-several in Boston
among the rest-make a practice of
having styles of their own with the rest,
and find it to their advantage to do SO.
There have latterly, also, been more
or less English silk hats OH the market
every year, and these, differing as they
do from the other fashions, go to add
to the varieties in the styles from which
one can make a choice to suit his tastes
In addition to the two styles of silk hat.
introduced in the fall and spring, it has
been customary for manufacturers,
without much if anv changing the
shape of the hats, to make some little
modification in the finish just before
the holiday season, and call the hats the
holiday style. The hard times, how
ever, which have prevailed during the
last few years, have had strong ten
dency to discourage the multiplication
of styles, and what are known as holt
day fashions i'm hats have latterly been
in vogue much less than formerly.
People do not feel like changing their
fall style for holiday style which diff
fers from it only in some such minor
detail as color of lining, width of band,
and the like, and very little will be
done this year in the way of holiday
styles. Manufacturers and dealers
generally have no trouble in dispOsing
Of styles which have been superseded
by something later. The most Of peo-
pie prefer, to be sure, to buy hats
which are in style, but there are many
who take dislikes to the fashion which
may be in vogue, or who may have
such an abiding fancy for some fashion
that has passed by that they buy some
other style than the prevailing one.
Nor should it be understood that
those who buy hats which are not of
the prevailing fashion are all old " cod
gers who would just as lief look like
scarecrows as not, provided they feel
comfortable. American manufacturers
used to borrow their styles from
abroad, but this is no longer the case.
Silk hats made in this country are
equal to any, and, instead of adopting
foreign styles as formerly, our manu-
facturers now regard foreign hatters
as behind the age. The silk hat man.
ufacturers do more or less business
! through the whole year, but the bulk is
done at the opening of the two seasons,
when new styles are put upon the mar
ket, and they do Il very light business
in fall and winter goods after the mid
die of November, or on spring and sum-
mer goods after the first of May. The
fall and winter trade is heavier than
that of the spring and summer, as,
while silk hats are worn through the
former two seasons, their sale is very
slight during the summer on account
of the use of straw goods. In addition
to the difference of style, it may be re-
marked that fall-winter hats are gen.
orally heavier than spring-summer
styles. 1t is getting to be customary
now among the manufacturers to make
only upon order, and in this way they
avoid having stock left over at the end
of the season.-Bostoa Herald.
The property left by Theirs, be-
side the library and objects of art, which
are left to the State, is estimated at
about $2,7OO,O0O. 1t comprises the
Hotel of the Place St. Georges, in
Paris, three neighbOring houses, lots in
Il %lo Ax,or,,o do characterization mining