Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1892-10-21
THEY MAKE STRAW FATS.

An Employment for Young Women That
Is Pleasant aud Remunerative.
Never was there time when the hats
and bonnets of the fair sex were more
beautiful or artistic than at the present
day. Have you ever stopped TO think
that the fair creatures are following the
Bible teachings in so adjoining them
selves? In olden times the bonnet was
conferred as a mark of honor, as in
Exodus it says, "And for Aaron's sons
thou shall make coats, and bOnnets shall
be made for them, for glory and
beauty" Again it speaks of "Goodly
bonnets Of fine linen" and yet again,
"And put bonnets on them as the Lord
commanded" 1t speaks of the children
of Egypt braiding straw. So there was
evidently straw hat later. After the
linen bonnets of Bible fame were the
English bonnets, made of cloth or silk,
according to the wearer's means These
were superseded by the hat in the Six
teenth century. In Scotland bonnets
were made of thick milled wool without
seam or lining, and 50 exceeding dur
able that with reasonable care a single
bonnet would last a lifetime.
In early times the straw was braided
in China and Italy, and in Italy today
the women braid the fine straw, ten
yards being a days work, for which
they received five cents.
When the work first began in this
country, it was mostly done by farmers
wives in Massachusetts in their own
homes. The rye straw was used for the
braid and the hats were sewed by hand.
In those days our ancestors wore a bon
net a couple of years. But as time adj
vanced it was thought necessary to have
at least one year, and finally one
season; factories were formed, and
finally machinery was used, until today
it has become a fine art, and is one of
our most profitable industries.
AS the demands of fashionable
wardrobe require as many hats in sea-
son as our grandmothers possessed in a
lifetime, the condition of those who
make them has also improved. In
bright, sunny room on Hudson street,
New York, was recently found about
100 girls or young women busily engaged
in making straw hats; so bright and sun
shiny was the room, so merry was the
laughter and happy the faces that
greeted you on all sides, one could
scarcely realize it TO be a large factory
where persons were toiling for daily
bread. The writer was surprised at the
refinement and intelligence Of the work
ers, for during lull Of the buzz of ma
chinery was heard the discussion Of all
the most interesting topics of the day
music, literature. fashion and even pol
itics, and some Of the workers seemed
as Jainty rs the creations upon which
they were engaged.
Eyes" said my guide, I'VE have tho
most intelligent and Independent class
Of women in our employ. One out of
twenty makes successful straw sewer,
but when they do they receive good
pay. They make from sixteen to TWEEN
ty-seven and even thirty-three dollars
per week while the season lasts, which
is from January to June. Many of them
come from Massachusetts,, and 90 back
and become students during the rest Of
the year We have artists, musicians
and even literary women among them,
They have pleasant homes and dress
well. Here in the workroom they wear
plain dresses, but when they step into