The Van Buren press., 1894-08-11

Of q iniliiner'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-making in this country. How
the straw was too ripe, and consequent
ly so brittle it would break until her
patience was nearly exhausted. With
few directions from the milliner Miss
Metcalf finally succeeded in sewing
the braid together and getting 1t into
the desired form with the aid of -four
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
ARTICLES still shown with pride In
Providence.
Miss Betscy was much sought after
when her success in bonnet-making
was made known, and straw-braiding
became the fad of the day; and use
full fad 1t 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, 1t 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 warmed their fair hear
ers to flee from the power of Satan as
manifested in this new fashion of bon
net making. 1t was an invention OF
the evil one to foster pride in their
hearts, and thus draw them away from
the right path. Some pointed ont the
danger of famine, as 1t 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 a
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 a monopoly
of the business, orders coming to her
from within radius of fifty miles, and
help had to be employed to supply the
demand. Her friends thought it i'm
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
agent went out at certain intervals to
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 it had birth; but soon Mnssachu-
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 Metcnlf married Mr.. William
Baker, and removed with him to Mas
sachusetts, where she lived to very
old age. She lived to sec 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 meet the first maker OF
American straw bonnets.-Once aWeek.