The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-08-02

of milliner's shop in that city. Miss Betsey wished to buy it, but as that was out of the question she determined to make one like it, In her old age she used to relate the many difficulties she encountered in this first attempt at bonnet-malIing in this country. How the straw was too ripe, and consequent ly so brittle it would break until her patience was nearly exhausted. With Q few directions from the milliner Miss Metcalf finally succeeded in sewing the braid together and getting it into the desired form with the aid of flour starch to stiffen it and hot flatiron to press it into shape. A fac-simile of this first American straw bonnet-a drawing of which accompanies this article-iS still shown with pride in Providence.
 Miss Betsey was much sought after when her success in bonnet-mal1ing was made known, and straw-braiding became the fad of the day; and use- ful fad it was, too, for it soon developed into an industry by which many earned their living.
 When we recall the Puritanical no- tions of the day, it does not seem strange that this straw work was as- sailed from the pulpit and by the press. Many ministers preached long sermons in which they warned their fair hear CTS to flee from the power of Satan as manifested in this new fashion of bon net making. It was an invention of the evil one to foster pride in their hearts, and thus draw them away from the right path. Some pointed out the danger of famine, as it had now been discovered that, in order to braid it easily, the straw should be cut before the grain was fully ripe. After straw braiding had continued many years learned essay was written "On the Manufacture of Straw Bonnets," and after proving that straw bonnets were the root of all evil, ended with some -'moral, political, miscellaneous and concluding remarks" But the straw braiding kept right on!
 At first Miss Metcalf had monopoly of the business, orders coming to her from within a radius of fifty miles, and help had to be employed to supply the demand. Her friends thought it inn modest to allow a young woman's name to go before congress, so the process was not patented, and straw braiding became general,
 The bonnet-makers would take them along with butter, eggs and other farm products to the village store, where they would be exchanged for dry goods and groceries. Soon, however, large establishments became necessary for carrying on the traffic, though much of the work was still done at home. An deliver straw to the workers and to collect the bonnets and hats made, which were sold by this establishment to all parts of the country.
 It was natural that at first this in- dustry should flourish in the state where 1t had birth; but soon Massachu- setts became formidable rival, and to- day more than half the American straw goods are manufactured in the latter state. The bonnets are now sewed by machines run by steam, the machines being of American invention.
 Miss Metcalf married MT. William Baker, and removed with him to Mas sachusetts, where she lived to very old age. She lived tQ see the large re- suits that came from her first small efforts in straw work. She was visited by many distinguished people, who were glad to neet the first maker of American straw bonnets.-Once aWeek.