The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-03
Tnen my friend nodded and TOOK his

the society faneur and the gentlemen
the profession to which for the nome,
/ belonged-I mean, of course, the san,
wich-men.
l arrived at Shoreditch. I WASH
long in finding Wilkins; there was
crowd in front of the window. In til
window were hundreds of hats; ever
one of them had a ticket bearing th
same legend: wilkins Ventilatin
Hat" then followed the price. At frs
didn't see any particular reason fo
the crowd, which was staring into II
Wilkins window in astonishmen
mingled with delight: but 1 gradual
elbowed MY way to the front row, an
then perceived what was the natur
of the exhibition that gave SO nue.
/. pleasure to the inhabitants OF Shore
ditch.
In the center of the array of hat.
were two human heads, which wer.
protruded through two artfully con
structed holes in the polished mahog
any which formed the flooring of the
shoP-front. Each head was covered By
what appeared to be an ordinary tai
hat. The head on the right had a large
window ticket behind it, on which were
the following words:
wilkins Ventilating Hat Perfec,
comfort. No suffering from heat bv
want OF ventilation The wearer OF
this article enjoys life. The head is
! human, there is no deception. The
only establishment in which wilkins
Nentilating Hat may be obtained. 1T
! comes as boon and blessing to men.
like the Pickwick, the Owl, and the
Waverly PEN"
There was similar ticket behind
the head on the left
The Ordinary Silk Hat Observe
how the unfortunate wearer suffers
from the heat. Poor fellow. He evil
IDENTIFY wishes himself dead. The
common unVentilated hat of commerce
is fiendish invention, worthy of the
atrocities of the worst DAYS of the
Spanish Inquisition. The wearer of
an unventilated hat is hurrying to an
early grave. The head is human, there
is no deception"
noticed that the mahogany plank
ing of the shop-front below the heads
was perforated with innumerable
small holes; then observed that there
was very great difference IN the ap-
pearance of the faces of those wearing
the hats. The gentleman wearing
wilkins ventilating hat looked the
picture of contentment- He smiled; he
seemed as # he had attained the sum
init of human bliss. He was evil
IDENTIFY very comfortable, indeed. The
other head presented a striking con-
trast- Never till now had | the least
idea that such dreadful effects were
produced by the wearing of an unven-
tilated kat. The face was as pale
as death. a cold perspiration /
seemed to trickle from every pore.
The mouth was set, as though in agony,
and all through an unventilated hat.
l went away to a neigh boring cook
shop to get bit of dinner When I
came back to the hatter's window.
there were two fresh human heads in
i; there evidently was no deception,
and the unventilated hat was again
producing the same dreadful effects
lpon totally different victim.
was puzzled; there was mystery
omewherel I determined to unrayel
t, and | boldly entered the shop.
What can l show you, sir?" said an
-ssis tant, with excessive urbanity.
We'll, want to see Mr.. Wilkins" I
eplied.
That is Mr.. Wilkins" said the man.
Indicating a portly and benevolent
ooking gentleman in black silk waist
oat.
What can Go for you, my man?" .
aid Mr.. Wilkins.
I'D like to be in the way of earning
n honest half-crown, SIR" 1 replied.
Very good, my man." said Mr.. VIII
ms, with smile. rs there a vacan- +.
y to-day Boldger?" said Mr.. Wilkins,
lrning to foreman.
''1 es sir, certainly SIR" replied the
IAN; 1--WE shall be ready for the gem J
eman in about twenty minutes"
Been here before, my man?' said
lr, Wilkins to me, not unkiadly. :
Not l." Ireplied. !
Then you'd better put him through
lie mill, Boldger," said Mr. Wilkins to =,
lie foreman.
step this way, young man, " said the ,
'reman to me. !.
l folio wed him into lavatorv. :,
There you are" he said. You're 7
luck, young man." he went on; half >,
crown for wearing a new hat for T.
rec hours is good pay. You'll be on
three and you'll be off at six This
is waiting MS turn; he Is
one of our regulars" II
The gentleman who was waiting p
; turn was tatterdemalion wretch, "a
/ his neck and face had been careful n
washed. and his hair well combed "
d brushed l washed my face and re
ushed my hair, and in my heart I o.
ought that to wear an unventilated ID
I, even for three whole hours, could
be so very dreadful a punishment w
er all. 70
had reckoped without my host. ha
This way, gentlemen, if you please fe
d the hatter's assistant, as he mo- tri
ned US to follow him through door Ia
ding towards the basement. on
1t the end of a passage was a sort of on
lie room with slopipg roof: il was pr
ietIy under the shop-front. Side BY
e were two easy chairs, beneath each
which was winch for raising or
7ering the chair TO any required M
ght.
" companion took his seat at once: er:
was evidently used TO the ways of to
place; then the assistant strapped
IN by means of two thick leather
Ids with massive buckles. one at the