The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01


almost impossible when one stops to look
at the fine straws, If such they can he
called, which are so closely and evenly
woven together that where they are ioined
can hardly be perceived
The genuine Panama hat is made Of the
young leaves Of the stemIess screw nine
which grows in Central America. II Is M,
tail IKE other pines. and resembles a bush
more than II does a tree It derives its
name from the screw-lixe ARRANGEMENT OF
the clustered leaves which grow sheatbinz
and IN three rows. There are different spe
cies or this plant and all are remarkable
Tor their aerial roots. The natives OF the
old fortified city of Panama, which is one
OF the principal scaports of Central Ameri-
"a, largely make their living by weaving
hats and other articles, such as baskets
This old city, with which every one is more
or less acquainted on account of its con-
nection with the isthmus which has beer
discussed in this country so long as a
canal route Is situated on rocky penin-
sula, projecting into Panama BAY. and nre
sents an imposing aspect as seen from the
sea OF all Of those old Spanish-American
cities this one probably has the best streets
and Is by far the cleanest. 1t has fallen
into decadence, compared 10 what IL was
years ago, but persons who have visited 1t
recently say that its buildings retain some
thing Of their former magnifcence. for
they were built of stone and have court
yards Of the old Spanish style.
Previous 70 1740 when the trade with the
Pacific first began 10 be carried on around
Cape Horn, this was the principal dlstribut-
Ing commercial center OF the trade be-
tween Europe and the west coast of Ameri-
ca After that time trade fell off, and the
decline Of the once famous city has been
rapid since the independence OF the Span
1sh-American states and the opening of the
other ports OF the Pacific Dating from the
time gold discovered in California il
has again recovered TO a considerable ex-
Kent its former position. as the harbor OF
Panama is one Of the finest in the world.
because OF the rising and falling Of the
tide which is usually from twenty 10 twen-
dy-seven feet. shipbuilding is largely car
ried on 1t is not known yet whether the
manufacture Of hats will increase the trade
of that city or not. but il is supposed that
1t will.
HOW THE HATS ARE MADE
The inhabitants of Panama, in making
these hats first take the young leaves of
Hhe screw pine and bleach them. for their
original color is far from being what 1t is
gone through with the leaves are tough
ened so that they can be worked and in
this way made durable. Just what this
aoughening process consists of is not
known. but the solution used is similar to
Sannic acid. After these preliminaries the
leaves are split and made into fine straws,
and then the weaving is begun, which is
very tedious and requires a great amount
OF time and skill. Sometimes the making OF
one hat takes over three months The
straws. while being woven into the braids,
are held under water so that the material
will remain soft. and the hat is kept on a
form while being made. so that it will not
lose shape. It is then taken out and dried
ana rewct several times before finished.
Vixen the hats are completed they are sent
10 'h's country. where the manufacturers
HI and make them into the desired
.anams there are factories where ez-
p seavevs are employed making hats
al ~ the time. They are not as ambitious
as americans, and that accounts partly
for the amount of time that il takes for
them TO make one hat. Each Of these weav-
ers has individuality in his work, as an art
1st has in a picture that he paints They
also receive good pay for their work, it Is
said, and that is the reason that the prices
of those hats are held so high in this coun-
try. Some persons attribute the high price
40 the duty which is levied on the hats
when they are imported. but this is En-
roneous. The government OF this country
puts duty on them OF IS per cent Of the
market price where they are made and
packed. So that it is to the people who do
the making that the largest revenue goes.
The members Of a whole family may be
engaged in making hats. The man will be
a skilled workman and make fine grade
of hats; his wife. who is not so skilled.
will make another grade, and the children
will weave a still poorer quality.
The natives OF Panama are just like all
the inhabitants OF that part of the world
whenever they find that white wants
anything that they can make they will
hardly part with it for any sum. 1t is said
that these natives understand the demand
for these hats in the United States and
that they can't be bought on the ground
much cheaper than here. 1t is also said by
people who have travelled in Panama that
The finest hats are not sent to this coun-
fry; IN fact. they are so expensive that they
are only made special orders. The Sui
tan of Turkey has about the finest collec-
HON m the world. the cheapest that ne
owns being valued at $500. Every one who
has seen these hats say that the weaving
Of them IS something marvellous, and each
bne OF them displays the distinct individu-
ality OF the weaver. Emperor William OF
Germany also has a fine collection, and
there is one in the Kensington Museum,
london.
Persons who contemplate buying Pana-
ma hats should be careful that the mer-
rhant does not sell them inferior hat
Tor one OF the better ones. This can very
easily be done and the customer be IN ig-
norance OF II. The way these hats are
graded IS by the whiteness OF the straw or
leaves which they are made Of and the
rloseness and fneness Of the weave. II
there is the slightest blemish on the hat,
such as a small brown spot no larger than
a pfnhead, IL decreases the hat in value,
and the larger the marred place OF course
the more it decreases its worth. Sometimes
In one bale of hats there VIII be six or sew
en- different grades and they will range IN
price from SO to 500