Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-10
. CAPTAIN kAY'S HAT.
1t Was Battered and Antiquated, but
 Struggled Hard For Existence.

Struggled Hard For Existence.
 Captain Kay, as we will call him, then in command of H. M. $. S--, at anchor in Alden harbor. having been three years On tho East Indian station, was clearing out his cabin prior to be- ing ordered home, and finding his Lon don hat caso opened it, and, as may easily be credited, three years moth and dampness had reduced its tenant to a dilapidated condition, besides which sundry pictures in illustrated journals had made tho gallant captain aware that his onco fashionable tile had been superseded by shorter and more curly brimmed description of the hatty genus.
 Wanting in shape, color and condi- jon, the captain said to his servant, ''Throw it overboard," and overheard 1t went, but was pot got rid of, as events quickly showed. One of the crew of boat from the flagship coming from the shore, cspying tho hat floating in the water, picked it up, and seeing the name inside the coxswain brought it to the commander of his ship, and he sent it on board Captain Kay's ship with his compliments, thinking of course that it had fallen overheard by accident.
 "Dash the hat!'' said Captain Kay; there, chuck it overheard again, and tell your commander I'm very much obliged,' and down he went to his cabin.
 Two hours afterward the hat return ed, looking sadly out of repair, with Cantain M @ conn Il t;r,o it had been picked up by the boatkeeper in ono of the boats lying astern of Cap tain N. ship, an American man -of-war lying farther down Alden harbor, and having been dried in the sun was sent back to its proper ship and owner. "Tell Captain N. I'm very much obliged to him, said the now wrathful captain, and the American officer departed. "Confound the hat!" said Captain Kay. II shall have to ask N. to dinner. Here, bring me a shot or a lump of coal or something else heavy" A lump of coal was produced, it was placed in- hat was taken down the accommodation ladder, carefully allowed to fill with water, and it sank!
 Well, I've seen the last of that blessed hat,' said Captain, Kay, and whistling cheerfully descended to the cabin, but again he underestimated that hats resurrective powers, for two days afterward parcel arrived addressed to Captain Kay, H. M. s. S--,' with 3 rupees 8 annas to pay. The money paid, the parcel was opened, and inside, looking still more disreputable and dis sipated, was the hat again, together with a very civil note from the superintend- ent of police. saying that one of the diving boys-and there arc swarms of them, as any one who has been in Alden harbor knows-had found the inclosed hat, which he saw from tue name inside belonged to Captain Kay, and as he knew Captain Kay would wish the div ing boy to be rewarded for his honesty he had presented him With rupee. which action he hoped would meet with the captains approval. Police station fees, 1 rupee and boat hire, 1 rupee s annas.
 Then Captain Kay smiled graciously at tho hat, and he ordered big fro to be lit in the stokehold, and wien it was having jumped on it directed it to be pushed into tho hottest part of the fur mace, and then he gloated over its de- struction, but even as it crumbled to ashes, ,,"Captain Kay, R. N" was seen inside to the last. st.-Westminster Ga