Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-20
Trey MAKE STRAW HATS.
- EapIeyuens for Young women That
n Pleasant and Remnnerssive.


- EapIeyuens for Young women That
n Pleasant and Remnnerssive.
Never was there time when the hats
and bonnets Of the fair sex were more
beautifai ca Artistic than at the present
day. Have you ever stopped 70 think
that the fair creatures are following the
Bible teachings in so adjoining them
selves In olden times the bonnet was
conferred a. = mark of honor, a. in
Exodus it Gays. 'And for Aaron's sons
thou shall make coats. and bonnets shall
b. made for them, for glory and
beanty." 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 brsidiug straw. So there was
evidently q 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were superseded by the hat in the Six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
we're made If thick milled wool without
seam or Inning. and so exceeding dur
able that with reasonsblecare q single
bonnet wonld last 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 days work. for which
they received Ave cents.
When the work first began in this
country. IL was mostly done by farmers
wives i'm Massachusetts, in their own
homes. The rye straw was used for the
hraisi and the hats were sewed by hand.
In those DAYS our ancestors wore bon
net n couple 81 years. But a. time al.
vancesl it was thought necessary To have
1T least one year. and finally one A
eaeon: factories were formed. and
fir.Ily machinery was used. until today
IL lss become fine art. and Is one OF
our most profitable industries.
A the demands Of fashionable
wardrobe require a. many hats in sea
SIN "A oHr grandnlothers possessed in q
lifetime. the cssndition Of those who
raake them has also improved. In a
bright. snnny renf on Hudson street
New Ycrk. vas recently found about
100 girIs 81 young women hnsily engaged
IN raaking straw hats: so bright and sun
SHINY w-as the room. -, merry was tbs
laughter and happy the faces thai
greeted vou GA ali sides. one could
scarcely realize Il % be large factor,
where persons were t0ilinz for daily
bressis The writer was surprised at ths
rsfinensent and intelligence Of the work
efS. fpr turing q iuii II the buzz Of ma
cEsinery va heard TIE discussion of Al
ere most interesting topics Fl the lay :
masie. literature. fashion and even pol
ffss. AMI some ef the workers seeHae,
~ dainty ss tire creations upon whicf
they were engaged
Ies. ssid my guide. I'VE have ths
rsrss Intelligent AMI independent elias,
Of wesnea IN ear employ. One cut q
twenty fnaSe< Successful straw @ewer
bat whea tbey a. they receive sue..
ray. They make from sixteen 81 swpss
~ seven asd even thirty -three dollar;
ref week while he Season lssfs. whict
h FROM Jsnssry b June. Many Il them
eS1se from MASSACHUSETTS,. and ~ haca
nna hecasne students darinx she ~ -
ths year We have artists. Tsu~5ei,sass
al even literary wemen snsong them
Tbev save pleasant hcn1es and sires,