Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06
SOMEBODY WILL GIVE CHASE.
No Cause tor Anxiety When a Mans
Hat Is Blown Away.

Two fashionably dressed young men
were standing in the doorway Of
South Side club house. One of them
wore a white, soft hat; the other
straw. The day was hot and sultry
and the man with the felt hat was
perspiring freely.
why don't you wear a straw hat?"
asked his companion. 1T is lighter
and much cooler these hot days"
I would, only it is so much trouble
you know replied the other. "One
is always afraid a straw hat will blow
off"
mo trouble at ALL" retorted the
first. Let other people run after
your hat, You'll find hundreds Of men
who seem to take a delight in running
after hats not their own. Just try it
and see.''
A reporter tried it on a windy day.
With a brand-new hat of oat straw,
light as a feather, tilted carelessly on
the back of his head so as to give the
wind ample chance, he boarded a West
Madison street car and started down
avenue. A gust Of wind swept along
and off went the hat. The reporter
grabbed for it-but too late! Slap
went the tightly woven straw into
fat woman's face. She screamed;
clutched the hat with both hands, and
looked daggers at the owner as he
walked back three seats to claim it.
"Why don't you get those 'ninny'
strings to keep your hat out of other
peoples faces?' she cried angrily.
The owner nervously resumed his
seat. Just before Halsted street was
reached the passengers were startled
by a woman's cries followed by sig
nal to stop the car.
"Oh! my hat! my hat! won't some
one get it?" she screamed at the top
Of her voice. The reporter did not stir.
He knew the voice; it, as we'll as the
hat, belonged to the fat. woman. 1t
was his turn to laugh this time and
though he did not do 50 he felt
tempted to say something abont
''ninny'' strings.
The conductor ran half a block be-
fore he caught up with the hat. He
bent down to pick it up, when another
gust of wind blew it out of his reach
He ran fifty feet further and finally
succeeded in stopping it's fight and
spelling its shape with his foot.
The test was next resumed along
State street. With the hat placed
ready for action the reporter started to
cross Madison street. The wind was
blowing from the lake and by simply
| turning around at sharp angle the
feat was accomplished. Up few the
hat Ten feet in the air it sailed and
made a curve which would have de-
| lighted "OId Uncle Anse." Just then
| the vigilant eye Of a policeman caught
sight of it and he took a ''sWipe" at
! it with his club. If he had not it
would have struck his face and there
would have been more trouble. Per
| suaded by the club the hat changed its
course, and with a twirling motion the
| hat landed in the middle Of the street.
/ Just as it was bobbing up and down
| ready to resume its journey three
/ neWsboyS made a rush for it. One Of
| them grabbed it. The other two tried
! to get it away from him, and the hat
would probably have been torn to
| pieces had not its owner claimed it in
| time. "Give Us de butt, mister" said
| the boy who had hold Of the hat, at
| the same time pointing at the re-
porter's cigar stump. The exchange
was made.
The straw hat was next taken to
Michigan avenue, but before Wabash
! avenue was reached off it few again.
Three men chased after it. Two OF
them after running half a block gave
| it up; the third one, more persistent
! followed it. On rolled the hat. The
reporter was standing on the corner
watching the fun. The man appar-
emily thinking it was within reach
grabbed for it, but it fooled him.
Away it went with the man closely
| following, and he in turn followed by
half a dozen other sprinters-but too
| late. It landed under the wheel of a
heavily laden truck.
C-r-r-rack! What was before a fash
ionable hat and the pride of the hour