Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1896-09-10
THE USE OF OLD HATS.
One Of the Mos. important Parts Of Mans
Costume

Costume
Formerly the United States imported
the major part of the hats used within
lis borders from Europe. especially
from England. Germany and France,
the latter and Vienna furnishing the
best quality of silk hate. 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 Ameri-
can hats iind their way across the
ocean to foreign customers. There
are factories in this country. like the
Stetson company in Philadelphia. that
produce in the neis hhorhOOd Of 10000
GoZcn year. while the American styles
arc freely acknowledged TO be supe-
Ilor to those of Europe. The quality
of hats manufactured in this country
i also superior to that manufactured
:'brold with the exception of the silk
hat The consumption of which has OF
late decreased considerably. The fact
seems to 10 that foreign hats are inn
ported solely for q certain class of
American consumers who prefer any
thin" foreign TO Il domestic article
For what with the quality. style and
quantity Of hats produced in the Unit
'h States there seems to be no neces-
Slty for lmpOrtatiOn
The material from which the better
class Of hats s made is imported
largely from several European coun-
Tries and from South America. the lat
ter furnishing the exceedingly fine
quality Of nntria fur. Russian and Ger
man harcS, white and yellow carrot,
and beaver il raw and carrot state.
also enter largely in the manufa cture
Considering the good material hats
are made of. it VIII be interesting to
note what becomes of the millions of
mats thai are annually. or even month
~. discarded by their owners in a con-
Li1ion which should allow their con-
'inued wearing for a considerable time
10 come.
The discarded hats of the rich man
rarely fall into other hands than those
ni his valet. who either uses them
himself or disposes of them. together
viii other pieces of hind snsters dis
1artled wardrobe - ITle"o" o,. 1oo1or.
= r"cond hand clothing.
hats are 1>-nrally in very soou cohul-
1ion. they find a ready sale without
the process Of renovation which other
hats comm. from less distinguished
sources have TO undergo. and they
share their fate only at a second
! change of owners.
1,h .l,r1 f.C l.
ness man does not trouble himself
about the disposal OF discarded hats.
They generally remain in some closet
i'm the office or ut home until an appli-
cant for tho same appears. But there
are many men of this class with an
economical turn of mind who DO not
ii>,lain to enter into negotiations witt
The hat doctor This individual makes
:, canvass in the downtown Ofhct
buildings where he contracts for the
rrinvpnalion of worn headpleceS
guaranteeing to return them, for Ger
tain consideration. AS good as new
He does not buy hats; he is only ;
sort Of broker. AZ the actual work o
rpiutena1llg a hat is done by som
,lyeinr and repairing establishment
which makes specially of this husi
ness.
These establishments form the mael
from toward which are drawn the dis
carded hats from all sources Her
the hat of the plutocrft mikes. wit
that of the lawyer. the merchant an
the dry goods clerk, undergoing Ia
same process Of cleaning or dyeln:
MI distinctions of rank disappear /
the dyciny vat, where nutrIa halr
~holdy are on an equal 1oo'ihS,[>l
soaking in the new color. which, t
.ether with fresh binding, assure
them a new lease of life.
The career of a hat is short on
lis average of life after leaving Il
factory and up TO the time II gets mi
flr hands Of the hat doctor being IL
more than six months. The silk IL;
LASTS somewhat longer. and IFS {,
Ierience i> generally a little more va
led tnan thar Of the derby or soft Ia
: When 4 silk hat reaches he reJuNena
ing stage il is a more rliabie supJe
than any of its comrades.