The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-07-16
WHAT BECOMES OF OLD HATS.
The Way They Are Doctored and Made
to Look Like New

to Look Like New.
There are millions of hats manufac-
tured and thousands imported to this
country. The fact that the styles
change twice a year tends to increase
the consumption of this wearing APP
parel to a considerable extent,
as there are many people who
change their headgear with the
season, whether the old article is
worn out or not. The hat is one of the
most important parts of a well-dressed
mans toilet, and becomes of more i'm
portance yet when considered in con-
nection with poor mans get-up.
Many defects in the toilet of the latter
may be overlooked if the wearer but
wears, psxt TO good pair of shoes, a
good hat.
Formerly the United States imported
the major part of the hats used within
its borders from Europe, especially
from England, Germany and France,
the latter and Vienna furnishing the
best quality of silk hats To-day the
hat industry in the United States has
assumed such enormous proportions
that it not only supplies the home de-
mand, but many thousands of American
hats find their way across the ocean to
foreign customers. There are factories
in this country, like the Stetson COM
pany in Philadelphia, that produce in
! 1.-THE neighborhood of &c, 900 dozen year,
while the American styles are freely ac-
llnowledged 70 be superior to those of
Europe. The quality of hats manufac-
tured in this country is also superior to
that manufactured abroad, with the oX-
ception of the silk hat. the consumption
of which has of late decreased consider
ably. The fact seems to be that foreign
hats are imported solely for a certain
class of American consumers who pre-
fer anything foreign to domestic arti-
Gle. For what with the quality, style
and quantity of hats produced in the
United States. there seems to be no
necessity for importation.
The material from which the better
class of hats is made is imported largely
from several European couDtries and
from South America, the latter furnish
ing the exceedingly fine quality of
white and yellow carrot, and beaver in
raw and carrot state also enter largely
in the manufacture.
Considering the good material hats
are made of, it will be interesting to
note what becomes Of the millions of
hats that areannually, or even monthly,
discarded by their owners in a condition
| w 81 oil
wearing for a considerable time to
come.
The discarded hats of the rich man
rarely fall into other hands than those
of his valet, who either uses them him
self or disposes of them, together with
other pieces of his masters discarded
wardrobe, to friends or dealers in sec
ond-hand clothing AS these hats are
generally in very good condition, they
ind ready sale without the process of
renovation which other hats coming
. from less distinguished sources have to
undergo, and they share their fate only
4 - al second change OF owners.
The average professional and bust
ness man does not trouble himself
about the disposal of discarded hats.
They remain generally in some closer in
the Office at home until an applicant for
. the same appears. But there are many
men OF this class with an economical
turn of mind, who do not disdain to
. enter into negotiations with the hat
. doctor This individual makes canvass
in the downtown office buildings,
where he contracts for the regeneration
OF worn headpiecas, guaranteeing to re-
turn them, for a certain Considera ton
las good as new" He does not buy
hats; he is only a sort of broker, rs the
actual work CT rejuvenating a hat is
, done by some dyeing and repairing es.
adjustment, which makes a speciality
of this business.
These establishments form the mael-
, strom toward which are drawn the dis
, carded hats from all sources. Here the
, hat of the plutocrat mixes with that OF
the lawyer, the merchant and the dry
goods clerk, undergoing the same proc
. ess of cleaning or dyeing. All distiI-,-
tions of rank disappear in the dyeing
vat where nutria, hare and shoddy are
on an equal footing, all soaking in the
new color, which, together with a fresh
J binding, assures them a new lease OF
: life.
The career of a hat is short one, its
. average of life after leaving the factory
and up to the time it gets into the hands
Of the hat doctor being not more chan
siXmonths. The silk hat lasts somewhat
-, longer, and its experience is generally a
| little more varied than that of the derby
or soft hat. When a silk hat reaches
the rejnvenating stage it is a more plia-
bic subject than any of its comrades
- [-Chicago Tribune.
Catching Sharks.
10, 4. G..l.s