New-York tribune., 1902-06-08
THE POPULAR PANAMA.
HOW THE PRESENT HAT HABIT GREW
UP-WHERE THE PALM LEAF
HEADGEAR Is MADE.

The moth eaten and threadbare jokes about the
expensive hats for women in comparison with the
democratic headgear of the men of q family must
be laid away for while. For many years there
has been little change in the prices of mems straw
hats. The regular article ranged from 81 % to 0'
with bargain counter variations The man VINO
waits for bargains until the season is well ad-
vanced is rewarded by securing "hrst class di u
cle' from a hucksters wagon at % cents
But this summer has brought new stra" NAT
condition. because of the popularity OF the Panama
discussing the matter hat dealer said that the
Panama hat habit outgrowth of expansion
"Our people have been going to the tropical posses
sions of late he said. 'and the big. light straw
hats. which are called Panama, because they come
from almost any old place down South except
Panama, among the souvenirs which they
bring back with them. One person in famly
having one Of these hats made. the others want
the same kind and in that way little orders became
large ones, hats made in large quantities
for Yankee trade and the Panama hat habit be-
established
The chief shipping point for Panama hats is
Guayaquil and It the order of merchant
that point that the first South American hats OF
the Alpine shape made. Before 1887 all OF
these hats were of the shapeless sombrero shape
with across the top OF the crown Inc
shape has been improved. but the method OF max
ing the hats is the 1t was many years ago
when thew received the name Panama because
they by way of that place TO the Cnl'eo
States and other distant countries. The materlal
used in the making of Panama hats is the screw
palm. called by naturasts CarIudovica palmata
1t is of the palm family, and is described by
Charles R. Dodge. expert for the United states
on fbres, follows:
1T is a stemess species common in shady places
all over Panama and along the coast OF New
Granada and Ecuador The leaves, pieated IKE
fan, are borne on three cornered stalks. SIX TO
fourteen feet high. They about four feet In
diameter and deeply cut into four or 1ve divisions
cred while young and stiff and the parallel veins
removed after which they are spit INTO
In boiling water for a short time and bleached IN
These strands are bout yard long and about t, a
half inch wide Before they are rea9s @ od inf fo he
come round and then they are again pressed , nat
and ready for the weaver In order @ 10 eyer
few minutes If this is not done the strands d biS 5e
1pee must bs ana peree and IN order that
and have no loose strand no broken N fb da
and many of them do their weaving only at nish''
BY candle light; 49, blvd orArAd in this
city a the presen time for @ Usually about
SIX @Hths dirty 5q mak ahd uns nnd
The expert can c4oh ssl 6y BY the the
hat Where the weaver begins the work in Which Which
eountry bas it's peculiar style which taught to
the children when they begin to work. Ineg s
PF5aedSf W5en e1 ON haTe l9~ aeaared aacen skin they
Wbaf grade of hat they make the button is
always made in the same way .,o o,s
which was worn by Louis Napoleon some time in in
the ffties It had great breadth of brirn was firm
The hat was valued $500 It took a long time
in those days to order merchandise from south
Of possessing the only hat of the kind in n, Paris
hats We're popular with persons who could afford
to nav high prices for the luxury. and the same
thing ha ppened in that has taken place mere
straw hat makers put imitation hats on the mar
ket and the original article suffered IN popqiaI[E I
The hat makers in Southern France and ltaly
flooded the country with Panama hats, and
7 he fashion its death stroke Dy
presenting his famous specimen to the head gar
dener of the Tuileries ,--. x
Panama hats before the Civil War, and the place
where they were sold largely the French Mar
ket In those days ice was sent to Havana in
casks padded and packed with straw The empty
casks were returned to New-Orleans, and usually
contained. besides the refuse straw, bundles or
Panama hats the profits in which were divide9 VIC q
them into port. ~ o..
One of the finest specimens that ever came 10
NeW-York was owned by a man who was one OF
the American agents of the Havana lottery.