Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-09
MY FIRST PLUG HAT.
The Looks Of Astonishment it o.
casioned from Friends,


casion upon which 1t was first worn.
had gone to the hat store to buy
something nobby. The halter had
several plug hats in stock. They had
come down to him from his father,
who left him the store at his death,
and bore the wholesale cost-mark of
five generations ago, but as there was
but one hat of the kind in the village,
and as it had been worn only on Sum
days by the preacher who owned it
for more than 30 years, there was no
earthly means by which / should
know that the several antediluvian
plug hats were out of style, and
when the enterprising merchant
pulled down one of the old boxes and
remarked
"There, sir, is the finest and toniest
hat in this town." / did not doubt
him.
at is the most stylish hat ever
made" he continued, land young
man like you who is about to launch
forth into great profession, needs
just that kind Of hat"
| observed that the box had label
on it inscribed "G3i Corona, 1852" |
told him that | was afraid the hat
might not be up TO the present fash
ions, but he said it was just the thing.
He said that the style of 1852 was
just the same as the style Of 1885 so
lar as the shape of silk hat was con-
ccrned, and taking out the shining
tile, lie caresscd it little with his
Coat-sleeve then set ii on his head.
lie was round faced man with Il
heavy moustache, and il looked well
on him. lie said it looked far better
on me, and becoming confidential,
told me on the sly that that hat cost
him nearly six dollars and iiily-iive
cents, but AS he wished some good
looking young fellow 10 start the silk
hat business and establish trade, he
would let me have it on four months
time for five dollars, the only condi-
ton being that should wear ii every
time | went into public place with
otherwise good clothes Oh.
was young and susceptible, and
could not help looking upon the offer
as the chance of u lifetime. II a
man were to approach me now as
that hat-merchant approached Inc
then, ] would know he expected TO
make three dollars clear of lie and Il
blank fool of me. but then, regarded
the hcartlcss highwayman who sold
me that hat, Us my most noble bene-
factor. put on the hat and went
down TO the old school house, where
the last day Of the term was expiring
amidst dccanations and essays and
oratioms enough TO express the ago
nics of a massacrcd army. When |
walked into the hall | could not help
feeling that was somewhat different
in appearance from anything the
pupils had ever seen. They gazcd at
me rs if they wondered what the
price of admission would be when
the rest of the show should arrive,
aud felt as if it would be very cheap
ii were to fix it,
| was yearning to have the eyes of
an admiring world upon me, but l
could not help thinking that that
darmed hat was getting all the glory,
while was standing around as Il
mere post on which TO hang it up in
the presence of wondering, not to
say thunderstruck community. |
had often noticed that silk hat was
u characteristic of great men, but in
this case, it was ten to one that very
unimportant youth was rather mark
ed characteristic of pretty good
looking hat.
My young friends looked at me
only long enough to find out to whom
the hat, for which they seemed to
entertain a high regard, belonged,
and so soon as they found out who
owned it, | was forgotten again, and
the admiration for my hat went on,
and my hat won all the approving
glances which | had sought for my
self alone. The girls were in love
with my hat the boys were jealous
of my hat the master awarded the
first prize for scoarship "to the high
art" and when l was run over by u
butchers cart, everybody, inclnding
myself, was sorry for the hat, but not
a soul had anything to say about my
broken ley. The hat was carefully
picked up and brushed, while | lay
,nangled and bleeding in the road,
without u comforter or sympathizer
Ny hat got all the attentions and
was left out in the cold.
/ For time the hat that from it;
proud place on my head commanded
the admiration of the world, held
undisputed away; it was monarch
of all it surveyed, and |, being so
intimately B connected with it
seemed :, to be getting pretty
close TO theapublic heart once i'll Il
while, but one day the climax Of my
greatness was reached and my ina
came TO the jumping-oil place. A
puny, sickly, ignorant, sore-eyed
crooked-nosed, spring-halt, measley
lousy, NANCY, uncouth, dirty school
mate of mine bought Que of the othcl
silk hats of the halter, as | alterwarC
learned, on the same terms | haC
bought mine, and he made his debu
; in society. My star began waning
the girls and boys went off after th'
the other hat and mine lost its lustre
l saw the end approaching, ant
bought hat of my size and lnenta
attainments. | then began to b,
known and loved for myself alone