The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-07

1t all began one winters night when
Stebson went to the theater. The scene
of the second act was laid at a sum-
mer resort. and the matinee hero made
his appearance clothed in a suit of
white flannel, while his head was sur
mounted by one of those flexible,
d-brimmed creations--a real Pam
anna.
When the leading lady entered and
the hero began making her a pretty
speech, Stebson's heart yearned with
envy as he saw the actor crush his
costly headpiece together as IL II were
so much cloth, roll IL up, and put IL
in his pocket. That was the begin
ming; the seed which later was to
bear such fruit of discomfort was sown.
Stebson was shipping clerk in a
large manufacturing concern, and his
little envelope at the end of each week
contained just $3.50 Nine dollars OF
this went to his landladY for board
and room, but on the remainder he
managed to get along fairly well, run
ming just about even after buying
clothes and taking Her out occasion
ally.
Stebson was not extravagant in
dress. He went to an unpretentious
little tailor who fitted him out with
modest suits for about S25. He was
not saving much money, though he did
have small account at the bank. but
neither was he in debt. which isn't so
bad for the ordinary young man OF %.
He expected a raise in salary in the
/ spring. Then he intended to begin
course of rigid economy, and he
hoped within a short time to have
enough laid by to warrant his asking
an important question.
In the cold wintry months following
his visit to the theater there was
not much thought of straw hats. But
when the warm spring days came and
every clothing store down the avenue
blossomed out with summer attrac-
tons, the little seed before mentioned
began to sDrout.
Stebson walked the streets after
hours and joined an ever increasing
throng on the sidewalks inspecting
Panamas. From the little stores with
their warranted genuine articles" for
$3.50 to the exhibits of the swell hat
tiers, some OF which contained hats
for $500, everything was Panamas
There were hats immersed in pals
of water above which were signs read
ing: with the genuine Panama this
treatment does no harm. These hats
are woven under water"
There were hats folded tightly into
cornucopia form and tied with string.
THE genuine can be carried in the
pocket like this" the signs read.
Then there were unlocked, band
less hats without even the sweat
bands, Just as imported" which could
be bought somewhat cheaper than the
others.
AS a result of much walking and
comparing of different hats and cor
responding prices, Stebson soon be-
came a sidewalk connoisseur on the
subject. He found that the lowest price
for which he could purchase the genu-
inc article was about 81. The weave
of these hats, however. was coarse
and plainly showed their cheap quail
ty. Proportionately as the weave be-
came finer the prices rose up to certain
point corresponding to about 1856. Above
this 1t was hard for him to distinguish
one hat from another.
Stebson began by promising himself
So hat. That was before he
became a connoisseur. Then, when
he saw the kind of people who wore
the limitations, he became dissatisfied.
He knew that, in view of the fact that
he needed a new summer suit. he
really ought to make his last years
straw do service again, or else get an
other of the same style for about So.
That would buy him a very good hat
of the old model.
The little seed had been growing
wonderfully, however. and he finally
decided to get one of the better hats.
Then came another discussion between
his desire and his pocket book. Rea-
son still family urged him not to pay
more than eight or ten dollars for a
hat, but the struggle had been long,
reason had grown weak. and when on
pay night he sought the nearest hat
ter's. he was still undecided.
Half an hour later he walked away
with just fifty cents in his pocket, but
he left behind an SIS Panama. mark
ed with his name and waiting to be
blocked. He hushed the still small
voice by telling ii that he wouldn't get
new suit. His last years serge was
in pretty good condition and could be
made to do for another summer.
That week Stebson had to draw on
the slim bank account to square HIM
self with his landlady.
The first of the week the Panama
arrived. 1t was one of those low
crowned, wide brimmed affairs which
are really suitable for the stage or for
show windows. The amount of surface
which one of them exposes to any lit
tie wandering gust Of wind is some
times enormous.
After he returned from the store that
night he tried on his purchase. From
the shoulders UP the effect was fine.
he told himself. That last years blue
serge, however, spoiled 1t all. IT wasn't
the right style and IL looked shiny in
places. Stebson thought 1t over for a
long while, then he started for his lit
tie tailor.
On the way he stopped for a minute
at Halls. the best tailor in the city.
He had stopped just to look in the
window and see how his hat looked.
but as he started to turn away his eye
fell on piece of light gray home
spun. That would look fine with his
hat, he thought.
Guess I'll ask the price. anyway"
he muttered. and walked into the
store.
IT was all over in a jiffy. He re-
membered afterward that a remarka-
bly, We'll dressed young man of about
his own age had shown him the cloth
admired his Panama, and next instant
he was in the hands Of the head cut
ter The suit would be ready in a cou-
pie OF weeks. and incidentally he was
to pay $55 for ii.
In the fortnight intervening before
the suit arrived II must be admitted
that Stebson was economical. He
didn't spend cent outside HIS car-fare
and what the red-faced landlady exact.
ed as her due. In fact. he didn't even
go to see Her. for he knew he would
probably make an engagement to 20
out on the river, or something of that
sort And, with that bill of S55 coming
due he felt that he absolutely couldn't
waste a cent.
At the end of two weeks the home